First off, can you let us know about the work you’ve been doing to support families with children suffering from pediatric cancer?
After I retired from football we started a foundation – Still Strong – to help families with kids who have pediatric cancer. We help pay for the bills outside of the treatment itself – food, rent, gas… anything outside of the treatment.
Going through what we did with our daughter Leah – we knew what it was like to go through this and wanted to help others.
Since we started the foundation I also went back to Penn State and got my degree in Applied Positive Psychology. I traveled a lot internationally working with organizations to help teach resiliency in their employees. I’m now working on my own business-to-consumer business helping individuals with their personal growth journeys. We’re getting out of the focus group stage now – I’m hoping to be able to teach people what I learned from the degree I earned.
I’m sure this can also help athletes as they deal with the stress that comes with the professional sports?
I had to overcome a lot of adversity over my career – my two injuries at Penn State, a tough childhood and having a daughter who was dealing with cancer. I learned a lot of lessons on how to cope with that stress. I’ve been talking to the NFLPA and D1 programs to help their athletes cope with stress. With NIL now there’s even more stress – I’m working on being able to give them the knowledge on how to cope.
How is your daughter Leah now?
She’s past cancer now – last March marked 10 years of her recovery. She wants to be an OBGYN now – she’s turned the corner and is enjoying life.
As an NFL player, how did you navigate all of that stress of having a daughter going through cancer while trying to establish yourself?
Two main things helped me to cope. My relationship with my wife – she offered me a source of strength when I felt weak. And my faith gave me hope that it would be temporary.
The support of the organization and my family – and fans around the world really helped. There is a big rivalry of course between the Bengals and Steelers but this crossed those lines. The Steelers and Bengals fans supported me and my family. I am appreciative of that support – it showed football in a different light for sure.
How did the Bengals organization support you?
The best thing they did was to help me focus on my daughter. Leah was in Delaware and with me in Cincinnati it was hard to balance my support of her and my ability to play at my highest level. It’s hard enough to make the team as it is. They kept me on the team so I could keep our insurance and help in many other ways as well.
Were there specific players that helped you – on and off the field?
Domata Peko – he was a strong leader on and off the field. He and his family were gracious with us especially when Leah was first diagnosed. Brandon Thompson and Carlos Dunlap helped too. Carlos helped me to understand defenses better. Domata helped show me how to carry myself as a professional. And in Houston JJ Watt took me under his wing before I was injured.
Were you aware of the Steelers-Bengals rivalry when you were drafted by the Bengals?
I was very aware of it yes – I grew up on the East coast – in New Jersey. I was a Steelers fan growing up – my father was a big Steelers fan – I came home after I was born in a Steelers jersey. I had to let go of my disdain of the Bengals though when I was drafted. My first NFL sack was against the Steelers – I sacked Big Ben. I’m not sure if my dad was more excited or pissed when I got that sack!
Who were the toughest guys you lined up against in those Steelers games?
Kelvin Beachum and Ramon Foster. Foster was a technician and strong – that was a tough combination to go against.
I came from rivalry games in college – Penn State and Ohio State are big rivals. But the Steelers-Bengals rivalry ran much deeper. There was real hatred between the two teams – and not just on game days. I have no idea why the hatred ran that deep but it did.
When NFL players retire you often hear them talk about the friends they had on other teams. But that wasn’t the case with the Steelers and Bengals guys. That’s why it was really interesting when James Harrison came to the Bengals. He was the poster guy for the Steelers – it was interesting to see how he meshed with the team. It took a while for the locker room to accept him.
Were there any funny moments in those games?
It was never funny! There was a lot of trash-talking – and there was some respect for each other – we were both physical and talented teams. But there was a lot of disrespect too. Harrison, Vontaze Burfict, PacMan – it was the usual trash-talking suspects.
Are you a fan of the Steelers or Bengals now?
I’m just a fan of the game now – not of any specific team. Once you retire it’s hard to be a fan of one team – you are so busy analyzing what each player does – you become less a fan of a team and more a fan of the game in general.
Did you ever consider coaching?
I thought about coaching but coaches spend more time in the building than players do. I have three girls at home – I want to be there for them.
Are you a fan of the way the game has changed since you played?
From a fan’s perspective the game is softer – the allure of football used to be its physicality. They are taming that down and taking it away from the game. But as a player, it allows you to live out your dream but still gives them the chance to have a certain quality of life once they are done playing.
How can people learn more about StillStrong?
You can visit the site at StillStrongFoundation.org and check out the work we do and donate. At the Penn State-Oregon game we’ll have a raffle. For $100 you can get two tickets to our golf tournament, a meet-and-greet and hang out with me pre-game. People can get involved with the foundation in a lot of ways.