First, can you let me know what you’re doing with yourself since your time in the NFL?
Well, nothing now. I’m in Fort Myers, Florida and am retired now. I’ve had health issues – headaches and memory issues from my concussions in football. I was also diagnosed with diabetes. So I’ve had health issues on and off.
Has the NFL helped at all with the health concerns?
The NFL has been doing a great job helping, yes.
How was the post-NFL adjustment for you in general?
I adjusted pretty well I think. I went into the family business after football. We owned a liquor store, but when my mom passed away we sold that. I planned to succeed – not to fail. I learned to manage my time and money, and to stay humble.
Tell me about the draft. Were you surprised to be drafted by Pittsburgh?
I wasn’t – they talked to me before the draft. A scout came down there often – Bill Nunn. He was a great guy and came to a lot of our practices.
When the Steelers drafted me they called the house but I wasn’t home. My mom told me when I got back from fishing with my grandad and cousin that I was drafted and had tickets waiting for me to fly to Pittsburgh the next day.
I was excited because the Steelers were my childhood team. They and the Dolphins.
Did anyone help you adjust to life in the NFL and in Pittsburgh?
Rod Woodson did. He told me to just keep doing what i was doing and I’d make the team. He said I should just keep working. He was a helluva guy. David Little did too – he’s deceased now, sadly.
The Florida guys – we all stuck together. Little, Weegie Thompson – and I played against Rod in college too. Those three guys were good people.
They also taught me to manage my time. I had a lot of time on my hands then and had to learn to utilize it wisely.
You made the team as a sixth-round pick. What do you think sold the coaches on you and what was your biggest adjustment?
Just trying to be consistent when called upon to perform. I was a versatile back – I could play in the slot and in the backfield.
I was consistent and didn’t make a lot of mistakes. Dick Hoak helped me too – to not outrun my blocks. To be patient as a runner. He and Noll both taught me to slow down and let my blocks start up. To follow them. I used to rush everything. I had to learn to slow down and let the scheme work.
You were there for two pivotal moments in Steelers history – Art Rooney’s passing and Chuck Noll’s departure. How did both of those events affect you personally, and the team around you?
Mr. Rooney -I have nothing but positive things to say about him. When he talked to me he told me if I worked hard the sky was the limit for me.
He was the backbone of the organization, but Dan Rooney was good also. Art Rooney was a legend as far as I am concerned. I admired him. He gave so many of us an opportunity that we never would have had otherwise.
Noll was a teacher – he prepared us for life after football. He told me that after football you’ll either be successful or you’ll fail – it’s one of two things. So he told me to prepare for my future while I was playing. To do so in small steps – you don’t go from A to Z overnight. I worked various jobs when I was playing – for the Blue Cross, Boys and Girls Club – just learning what to do.
When Chuck Noll left I didn’t know what to expect. I was in my third year when it happened. The big question for me was what Cowher wanted from me. But he gave me the opportunity to play more on special teams. I helped win our game versus Houston with a fake punt.
Chuck leaving was good and bad. Noll was one of the best coaches ever in football. He and Jimmy Johnson, and Howard Schnellenberger.
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