First, can you let readers know about your post-NFL life. What have you been doing since the NFL and how you got started?

Well the first job I had after playing in the NFL was in the construction field. One of my
college teammates had his own company so I worked with him for several years. My next job was working as a counselor in a residential treatment center. This took place in
Houston, Texas. I moved to Jersey City, NJ in 1997 and worked for the Urban League of
Hudson County. In 2005 I started teaching and coaching football. I have coached football at Lincoln High for eleven years and have enjoyed it tremendously. It took me a while to find my niche but I found it.

How hard was it for you to adjust to life after the NFL and how did you do so? What about your time in he NFL helped you?

Life after playing in the NFL was hard. It was a big adjustment to life in general. I didn’t
know what I wanted to do so I ended up taking what was available. I sort of took the easy way out. But once I got focused on what I felt was of value to me things took a turn in the right direction.

What helped me in life after the NFL, was perseverance. I have been a person that strives to obtain something others thought was impossible. But through perseverance I was able to play in the NFL and this was my mindset about life after the NFL. My motto is, “If you put in the work, anything is possible.”

As a coach, what coaches and coaching lessons influenced you most – what do you find yourself falling back on now as you work with kids, and why?

The coaches that influenced me the most were Coach Chuck Noll and Coach Buddy Ryan. They saw something in me that I didn’t see within myself. I could always pick up coverages easily and this gave me the confidence to just go out and play football.

I let my kids know that they are capable of great things only if they are willing to put in the work. There is a saying that states, “The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.” I chose to coach high school football because I wanted to see kids go to college and make a better life for themselves. If they end up staying in Jersey City there outcome   would not be good.

You were a very accomplished in track and field and basketball in high school – why did you choose football when you went to Ferrum Junior College – and why Ferrum?

Believe it or not I did not choose football, football chose me. For whatever reason, I did not receive any scholarships in basketball or track. Why, I don’t know.

I had an ex-high school teammate that was going to Ferrum. At this time I was at home working and didn’t know if going to college was in the cards for me. He came home for the weekend and I saw him and he told me that Ferrum needed some defensive backs and did I want to go there? I went back with him and that’s how I ended up at Ferrum. Never recruited by them but ended up going there on the strength of my ex-teammate.

How did that track and field background help you as a football player later on – especially in the NFL?

With my track and field background I knew how to train on my own. When I ran track in high school my coaches didn’t know anything about the hurdles or long jumping. I taught myself how to be competitive in the events. Same thing with football. I have tried a lot of different techniques and have learned what will work and what won’t.

You were drafted by the Steelers in 1976. Were you surprised to be drafted by the Steelers? With such a deep defensive roster, how hard and frustrating was it for you to get a real look by the coaching staff?

I was somewhat surprised to get drafted by the Steelers but I knew I could play there, even with their deep defensive back roster. I was given a look from the onset of camp. I think what helped me was I ran a 4.3 forty yard dash. I received a lot of coaching from Bud Carson, my position coach and defensive coordinator. My fault was I kept getting injured.

The opportunity was there and I was thankful for it.

As a new Steeler, who helped mentor you most and helped you adjust to the team – both on and off the field – and how did they do so?

My biggest mentors were Mel Blount and Glen Edwards. Their help was invaluable. They treated me like a younger brother. They gave me tips on how to cover certain players and certain keys to look for. They helped me adjust to life on the field and off. Since Mel and Glen were from the south I think they felt it was their duty to mentor the up and coming youngsters.

Reggie Harrison was also a big help. We played college football at Cincinnati together. He treated me also like a younger brother. They were there to mentor me and guide me own the path of righteousness.

You were given the nickname “Mombo”. How did that come about?

I forgot I got the nickname “Mumbo.” All I remember is everyone had a nickname. Somehow I got stuck with Mumbo. When I go home everyone still call me Mumbo.

You suffered a few injuries early in your career in Pittsburgh. How did that set you back and what did the coaching staff tell you?

Most of the injuries were nagging injuries. For the two years that I was injured in Pittsburgh, I was very disappointed because I had the team made each year but because of the injuries I was placed on injured reserved.  Because of being placed on injured reserved I was able to learn the safety position. My setback was more mental. Why do I keep getting injured? Is playing in the NFL in the cards for me? These are the type of questions I would ask myself.  I knew if this continued I wouldn’t  be in Pittsburgh long and eventually I was released.

Now when I went to Chicago and had a couple of injuries I was told my Coach Buddy Ryan I should go into coaching. That was in 1979 and it was 2005 when I decided to get into coaching.

How much did humor play a part on the team – can you offer some examples of the hijinks or funny occurrences?

Humor has always been how I handled certain situations. Guys on the team were always playing around. But to offer some examples of hijinks or funny occurrences I don’t have any.

You have two sons that tried out for the NFL. What advice did you give them, having been a former NFL player? Did you encourage them to play the sport?

The advice I gave my sons was if you are going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. You are not always going to win but learn from it and hopefully you won’t make the same mistake twice. It’s only a game so treat it as such.  I also told that the best doesn’t always get the opportunity; it has a lot to do with character. A bad attitude will not get you anywhere. Life in general has to be viewed the same way. It took me a long time to learn this.

No I never encouraged my sons to play football. It was on them. I didn’t try to live my life through my sons. If they want to play some other sport it was fine with me. As long as they were happy, I was fine.

Steelers Takeaways fundraising drive!

Help keep these free interviews coming! If you can, please donate as little (or as much!) as you like by contributing to Steelers Takeaways here:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/pittsburghsports

Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades.  To order, just click on the book: