First off, I know you’ve become a successful high school coach – tell me a bit about that coaching journey?
I’m currently the head coach at Notre Dame High School, in Easton, PA. We play Class 3A football.
I’ve been coaching for over 26 years now. Even when I was playing as a pro I would coach when I was released. I spent 2000 to 2002 as an offensive assistant at Pius X High School in the off-seasons – that was where I played as a kid.
When I was released by the Steelers in 2003 I became the offensive coordinator then in 2010 I became the head coach there. Then unfortunately the school closed down. We had just won a district title. After the I found the opportunity to coach at Notre Dame. It was very similar to Pius X – small school, close community and great family environment. That’s what I’ve really enjoyed.
I’ve been there for 10 years now. When we win our first game next season I’ll become the all-time wins leader there!
It sounds like coaching was always something you wanted to do?
My father, uncle and even my mother were all coaches. I knew I wanted to coach early on and immersed myself in the day-to-day wherever I played. I would try and soak up how coaches ran practices and gameplanned and watched film. I didn’t always get a lot of reps in the NFL especially as the third or fourth guy, but I saw the big picture. I used my time being around great players and coaches as an opportunity to learn how to coach down the road.
Do you want to coach at a different level at some point?
I did interview with some other larger programs but it didn’t work out. And I’ve played for so many teams and travelled all over – I’m not sure I would want to do that as a coach. Maybe if I went back to where I played in college – at Lehigh – that would be like going back home. But I really enjoy the kids and families here and we’ve built something. I’m committed to that long-term and want to see this program become tops in the state.
Stepping back, were there players who helped you when you got to the NFL?
It was surreal when I started in Buffalo and had a locker next to Doug Flutie. I watched him on TV. He couldn’t have been a better guy. I watched how he slowed the game down. He wasn’t a big guy but he stood in the pocket and saw everything. He had seen it all and stayed cool, calm and collected. He’d step back from his reps and talked to me about what I needed to do. He never big-timed me – he took the time and explained things to me. I learned what it was like to be posted in competition from him.
You had an extensive journey through the NFL/pro football. How did you end up in Pittsburgh?
After Buffalo I was signed by New Orleans who allocated me to NFL Europe. I didn’t have the season I wished I had – it was a good experience but I wanted to get better. New Orleans later released me – I was behind three quarterbacks who had been to a Super Bowl in Aaron brooks, Jeff Blake and Jake Delhomme. So I wasn’t getting many reps there. But Jim Haslett told me that I did everything they asked me to do and had a good attitude.. He asked what I was going to do next and I told him I was going home. He told me instead to start driving to Florida and keep my phone on. He called Jacksonville and had them sign me and I spent the rest of the season there.
What happened after that?
They had a change in management and released me and other guys. I played Arena Ball after that then went to the Giants.
Arena Ball was a mistake. I was bored at home and got a call for tryouts. When I went there guys asked what I was doing there. I should have spent the offseason training or went to the CFL. Everyone else there had jobs and would come to practice after work. It was almost recreational for them. I got hurt there too – injured my shoulder. But I went to the Giants after that and rehabbed there and made the camp roster.
I felt so close to making it there and had the opportunities in practice. But then they re-signed Jason Garrett and I was the odd man out. That was the most disappointing experience for me since I was so close.
In 2003 Peter Voss called me to go back to NFL Europe. Peter recruited me to try and get me to play at Holy Cross. I told myself after the first time I’d never go back – it was far away from home and and it wasn’t a good season that first time. But the competitor in me said I should give it a try.
How did the second go-around go?
It was a complete 180. It was such a positive experience. I played better – I was more comfortable after the experiences I had in the NFL. I had more experience under my belt. The first time I had put so much pressure on myself – this time I stayed more relaxed. I wasn’t supposed to even make the team but I ended up starting for Berlin. I felt more connected there to the players and coaches and afterwards felt ready to make a roster.
That was a good launching point for getting back to the NFL?
I was rated the number one free agent out of NFL Europe – that felt great. But no one signed me.
But the Steelers had a kid get hurt at quarterback -Tim Levcik – and they brought me in two weeks into camp. I didn’t know the offense but I got on the plane, landed, buckled my chinstrap and ran on the field for practice. It went from 0 to 60. I immersed myself in the playbook – I knew now what I needed to do to get through practice. All of those other experiences helped prepare me.
I loved the culture there – the vets were welcoming. I got along well with Chris Doering and got to take snaps with Jerome Bettis in the backfield and throw passes to Plaxico Burress. The defense was so big and fast – that was intimidating.
What was the experience like there for you?
I wanted an opportunity but I felt like an extra. That was my eighth team at that point – I didn’t know how much longer I had to get an opportunity. I thought I’d get more reps and knew I could do well but I never got the chance. The first three preseason games I was the only guy who didn’t play. It got to the point where if I wasn’t going to play I just wanted them to release me.
Every week in camp they’d lay out the reps for the next game. Maddox first, then Charlie Batch, then St. Pierre got everything else. I knew barring injury I wasn’t going to play. In warmups they’d come up to you and tell you they’d try and get you in, but after the second week I knew that probably wasn’t true. I was a competitor – I was so close but couldn’t get there.
How did you handle that?
I just wanted to get on film. I wanted something to build a resume with and the chance to learn a system for a year or two. I just wanted to be part of something.
I had a candid conversation with Bill Cowher – I sought him out. I told him that if they weren’t going to use me to release me. My time was running out. I wanted to get a real opportunity elsewhere. He looked at me like he had no idea what I meant. I told him I had been on eight teams -I wasn’t just happy to be there. After that they did let me go a week earlier than they had to, which I was appreciative of.
Did you land somewhere afterwards?
I was signed by the Eagles the following year. I talked to my agent and asked if this was the real deal – would I really get an opportunity this time or was it going to be more of the same? I had coaching aspirations and was thinking of just coaching. But the competitor in me again said to give it a try.
It was a great experience. I was there for the rookie and first-year players camp and did well – it was a very similar system as New York. Afterwards Coach Schurmer told me he was bringing me into camp. I was excited – it was close to home so my family and friends could see me play and I knew the offense.
I left after that and about thirty minutes later called my agent and told him how glad I was that I did this. He didn’t say anything. There was this long pause, then he said “I guess you didn’t hear the news?” They had just signed Jeff Blake – so I was the odd man out again and was released. I had to drive back again to be officially released.
What memories of your time in Pittsburgh stand out?
It came full circle in Pittsburgh. When I was with Jacksonville we played the Steelers at Heinz Field and I was the second-string quarterback – Mark Brunell was inactive that game. I was so close to playing in that game. Then two years later I was in Pittsburgh on the sidelines, and was again close to getting on the field but didn’t play then either.
One great memory was practicing at a local high school for a night. That was a great way to build a community and fanbase. I remember vividly talking for a long time with Jerome Bettis that night.
I liked Hines Ward. He and Antwan Randel El – they were practicing in having them line up in the backfield together – they were trying to put together a Wing T. They had to slow down those practices because Hines and Antwan were so shifty the defense couldn’t keep up with them. But to my knowledge they never used that play.
Alan Faneca was my roommate – he was welcoming enough to let me share his room since I got there later in camp. I learned a lot from him. He helped me through those difficult days when I struggled to get opportunities and was frustrated. He told me not to get caught up in things I couldn’t control. He showed me kindness and understanding – he took time to talk to me which he didn’t have to do.
One funny thing. I was the last Steelers player to wear number seven before Ben, and the last player to wear number 10 for the Giants before Eli Manning.
Lastly – what advice would you give to small-school guys like yourself who are trying to make it in the NFL?
Everything about my career at Lehigh was a positive experience, but I don’t feel I was really prepared for the pros. I would tell players to try and find someone who’s been there and done that to help prepare you for what’s it like. My agent worked with Pat Kirwan to get me into some camps, but it’s not the same thing.
You have to prepare yourself for the opportunity before you get there and take advantage of every moment. I was able to string together glimpses of my time but it went by in a blink. I could have done more to prepare by working with someone who new what it was like for someone like me.
You also need to pick the right agent. I chose someone who had worked with NFL players instead of choosing someone who knew what it was like working with someone like me. If my agent had 32 clients I was 32nd. I feel like I needed a more small-school agent who would have helped prepare me more. I had no idea what I was doing.