First off, what did you get involved with after football?
Well, I got workers compensation after my NFL career. I’m bi-polar and had to overcome that to have my NFL career.
After the NFL I went back to school and got my MBA from San Diego State and got degrees from the University of Phoenix and my doctorate from USC in 2004. I stayed busy as possible.
After the 49ers Super Bowl, I talked to my San Diego State professor’s wife who recommended a doctor. I’ve been under treatment ever since.
Did you know the Steelers had interest in you when they drafted you?
Bill Curry was the offensive line coach at Green Bay asked me to fly to the mainland and brought me in for a workout, then Bill Schmidt asked me to do the same for the Steelers. He checked my physical movement and my 40 team – I ran it under 5 flat. They told me they saw film on me playing in Hawaii and were interested.
Did anyone help you out once you got there as a rookie?
Not exactly! I was kind of like the new kid on the block and the players then were worried about their jobs. They also drafted Ted Petersen and Steve Courson.
I remember when I was in my room one day Terry Bradshaw came by and he had a dachshund puppy. He said “Audick – Chuck will have my rear end if he catches me with this dog! Can you take care of it for a day?”
Better you than him?
I guess! But he picked it up a day later. A couple of weeks after that I was cut – but I guess he liked my Hawaiian style.
I roomed with a kicker when I got there -John Abate. He was a free agent from the East Coast and complained that there were no pizza places around – he said he was going to come back and start his own!
How did you fare in practice against those Steelers linemen?
I faced the best. They tried me at left and right guard. I faced Ernie Holmes and Joe Greene who wanted to make sure I had their respect. In an 11-on-11 drill Greene did a 360 spin move and elbowed me in my facemask. He nudged my helmet after then to let me know he was under control.
They were looking for a replacement then for Gerry Mullins and Jim Clack and Sam Davis. I think they found what they were looking for in Ted Petersen and Steve Courson and let me go. Courson was so strong – he benched 500 pounds – I benched 350! But he was quite fast as well.
I know you were interviewed as well for Michael Lewis’ Blind Side book -about your playing for the 49ers – what prompted that?
He initially wanted to do a chapter on the left tackle position and how left tackles blocked in the 3-4 scheme. The left tackle was responsible in the 3-4 for picking up the defensive end. That left Lawrence Taylor free and Lewis was trying to understand that. I informed him that it was the guard’s job in the 3-4 to block Taylor – not me.
We played the Giants twice the year we went to the Super Bowl – the second time in the playoffs. I faced Gary Jeter who was no slouch. But Lewis was still interested in talking to me – I was blocking Joe Montana’s blind side.
What was Joe Montana like to play with?
He was good guy. They other linemen joked a lot with him but I was only there two years – I wasn’t there long enough to do that!
In 1980 I played for the Chargers and blocked for Dan Fouts and started in the AFC Championship game against the Raiders.
So you blocked for three Hall of Fame quarterbacks!
It’s a tremendous personal satisfaction knowing I helped keep all three upright and healthy. And I did it at 6’3″ – only 255 pounds.
Dan Radakovich explained to me in Pittsburgh that they drafted offensive linemen more for athletic ability than size. At the time those bigger linemen weren’t as athletic as they are today. That’s why they drafted me, Petersen and Courson.
Do you watch the NFL today?
I’m a very big fan still – but I’m an NFL fan first. I root for teams I played for – typically the 49ers. But I root for the Steelers as well.
Any other good stories to share before I let you go?
Well, I’ll tell you about the time I wrestled a bear! I still have the video! It was right after I played for the Cardinals. Bud Wilkinson was the new coach there and he cut me. I went home afterwards to Virginia and a local kid came by one day to the house and asked if I would go to the mall and wrestle a bear? I didn’t know what he was talking about – then he explained it was an advertising thing to get people to go to the mall. I said “Sure. What the heck.”
I got there and it was a 6’8″ brown bear for the Appalachia mountains. I got into the ring with my tighty-white shorts on and pushed him. He pushed me back and then I pushed him. Then the people came in and told me I was disqualified! I had no idea why and didn’t ask.
Well, fast-forward to December and the Chargers picked me up. The sports information director asked me to fill out a form and asked if I had any interesting stories to share. I told him that I wrestled the bear and he asked me what happened. I told him I was disqualified and he wanted to know more – he kept persisting. I finally made up a story and said I was disqualified because I bit the bear’s ear! It was a joke- but it made it into the guidebook and it’s followed me for the rest of my life!