First off what new projects are you working on now?
Now, my big thing is my transition back to Pittsburgh from L.A.. We moved back about six months ago and are getting re-established here. We have twin girls and a son so getting them in school and getting settled has been a major thing.
Professionally, I signed with a publishing company to produce a book of poetry. That will come out this year. My wife and I are also talking to a family friend who is selling their business. It’s called Salt of the Earth – it’s a salt cave and crystals shop in McMurray. We’re still talking to them about that.
Why did you move back to Pittsburgh?
The short of it is L.A. just ran its course for us. The things I was doing out there became repetitive. I was looking for a different challenge and raising three young kids in L.A. – we just wanted to do things differently. My wife is from Pittsburgh and she has family out here and I still have teammates and other friends here. It felt like we could settle back here and do a lot of the work here I was doing in L.A.
And you got out of LA just in time I guess – sad as that is to have to say?
Yeah my wife was glued to the TV watching the fires. I guess we got out right in time. We felt like it was the right time for us.
Ever consider coaching?
Coaching is not for me! I’m more of a player than a coach. At the college and NFL level you have to give so much of your life – I don’t want to win that bad! There are so many capable people doing that. At the high school level maybe someday – but I lie my role as the O.G. when I get to go places and give tidbits and get the respect as a former player.
How hard was post-NFL transition – it seems like you were ready for it? What made it easier/harder?
For me it was easier – I was already working in the writing space as a player and knew it was what I wanted to do, with the blog I was writing for the Huffington Post. Then I got the job with HBO writing and producing later for Ballers. After I retired, that first Spring I was in the writers room for Ballers at the exact time I would have been gearing up for football. So that made it easier.
As a writer then producer – that made the transition smooth since it all still had a lot to do with football. In 2020 when the show ended, that was the first time I had to navigate being fully out of football.
How did you land the job on Ballers?
I had written a piece on why I retired and it caught wind and landed on the head writer’s desk – Evan Riley. He brought it to the creator of the show and they gave me a call. They had me write a script along with a couple of others and selected me for the show. I thin having had football experience helped me.
Looking back – were you surprised the Steelers drafted you – what did they say to you at first?
I was pleasantly surprised yes. It’s a nerve-racking process but I was happy to go to an established, successful team like the Steelers. We had no conversations or meetings at the combine. But I had an open mind going into the draft. All the experts say you may go here or there, but no one knows. I got a call as Dallas was still on the clock – everyone was celebrating thinking Dallas was taking me, but they took Felix Jones. I couldn’t hear anything at first, then I heard “Is this Rashard? This is Mike Tomlin -are you ready to be a Steeler?” I said “Absolutely coach!”
Any early mentors – who took you under their wing and what did they show you that helped most?
My big brothers – Willie Parker and Carey Davis. Willie was to me like Jerome was to him. He paid it forward to me even though I’m sure it was tough for him. He loved the fish market and we’d both go and all about the league and life. He out his arm around me.
Hines Ward did too from a general level as a leader. And one thing that stands out is something Jerome Bettis said when we were at Hines Ward’s camp in Atlanta. He was on the field with us and told us young guys that we needed to wake up. That we were all fixed on the this girl with a short dress but that she’s trying to get us. We needed to realize that we were the catch even as she was trying to convince us that she was. He taught us that we’re the targets and we can’t get caught up in the sauce.
You played a lot in an open, spread offense at Illinois – I always wondered if the Steelers use of you best matched your style of play/college success? Was that frustrating?
Definitely – that’s a very poignant question. The transition was tougher. Even in high school I played in the Wing-T. I was never in the I-formation in my career. Before I was drafted they put together a tape of me playing behind the quarterback. I was always running sideways.
In the NFL that had be labeled as a power back because of my size. I knew I was expected to run inside. So, the transition to that just took some time. But I took it and ran with it and think I did pretty good with it. But I just wasn’t put in that same position as my peers were.
You had some successful seasons – do you feel those get overlooked?
Yes and no. People who watch football and love it – they have a different point of view than the common fan. I focus on the people who love the Steelers. I was top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns as a Steelers back when I left the game. I was there for five years and made a name for myself. I think that history has been written. Whether people realize or notice it – I don’t get caught up in that. I don’t think you can think of the Steelers from 2008-2012 without a thought of me too. And I do think some remember me for the one not-positive play – maybe that has overshadowed things for them.
It seems like injuries kept getting in the way just as things were going to take off – how much did those affect your career?
Two major injuries yeah. One at the beginning of my career – the separated scapula in my shoulder. That was tough – I wanted to show the team was I was about but had to wait. I had three years where I averaged 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns. Then week 17 of 2011 I got injured again and it took time to come back from that.
2012 was tough coming back from injury. I rest well knowing I did all I could – that brings me peace. I prepared my best – injuries are just a part of football.
Was it worse getting injured by Ray Lewis?
Not at all – TV made all of that stuff up. I wasn’t talking shit about the Ravens. I learned Willie wasn’t playing because of injury and they told me I was ready. I was so focused on preparing for that game – I wasn’t talking trash. Ray Rice let things get out of hand with his comments about me and later apologized. It made for great drama but it never happened.
And the way it happened – it was great. I wanted to show Ray Lewis what I was about. I met him head on in the hole – I did it at full speed and it was like hitting a brick wall!
It seems like you started butting heads a bit with the coaches. Is that accurate – what was behind the suspension from your perspective?
That was about respect in my last year. Baltimore was an away game the week before the game I didn’t show up for. I worked my way back from injury to be my best self and prepared to play. I found out only when I got to Baltimore and saw there was no uniform in my locker that I was a game-day scratch. Why didn’t they say anything to me sooner? I wondered if it was just men who felt that way, but Kirby Wilson told me it shouldn’t have happened like that and that I should take it personally.
The next wee I asked if I was dressing for the game and they said “No.” That’s just the business of the game. Sometimes as a player there’s not much you can do. Not showing yup was my statement. But the following week behind closed doors we got right.
What are the best/funniest memories you have of Pittsburgh, looking back on that time there?
I’ll start with my proudest moment – being on stage for the AFC Championship game with Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier and Ben and Mr. Rooney.
Did you get a chance to get to know Franco?
We had a relationship – he and I and our wives. He was somebody I got to spend some close time with. When I went back for the 10-year Super Bowl reunion the ’78 team was also celebrating their 40th year reunion – they did a joint one. I spent time with Franco there – we spoke for a long time. Two running backs kicking it. He was larger than life and cared about everyone – he offered little gems to us.
A fun one is just being in the meeting room with AB {Antonio Brown}. I’d sit in the corner and had books in my playbook and would read those while he listened to music. It felt like being back in class at high school!
You’re on social media often now – is that heartfelt, a bit of having fun with fans….? What’s behind your social media comments?
It’d an effective way to discuss issues that come to me. It was always in it to me to connect with fans and audiences. I realized that heartfelt stuff doesn’t always attract people – they like to beef on social media instead.
If I was in high school and in the lunch room and someone tried to make fun of me, I’d grill them. I wouldn’t let someone play in my face. So when people bring me stuff on social media I use it as an opportunity to out something out there that I wanted to discuss. I just want to be effective when I do it. That’s why I used Ben’s name – to get a point across and to make sure it was heard and understood that way.
I spoke to Baron Batch who commented on his frustration on how fans don’t like players to have real opinions on things – is that something that bothers you as well?
I really think that the time I played had a lot to do with the way people viewed players off the field. When I came into the league players were told not to say anything outside of football – to the their playbooks some and not talk about things. But we have interests outside of football – we have our own viewpoints and some of us wanted to share those. I noticed that and worked at it. I was good at football but I enjoyed the arts and reading as well. I was a 3-D player. That’s what the blog I wrote was about. Like Baron, I think you should be able to talk about non-football things, as long as it isn’t detrimental to the team.
When does the book come out?
It should be out later on this year! It’s in the editing process now!