First, can you let us know what you’re up to now and how you’re doing?
I’ve been doing the speaking and motivational thing now for 35 years, though the pandemic has dried things up a little. I also manage a non-profit – I helped build a football stadium for the community I grew up in so do fundraising for that.
I also wrote two books – Out of Control, and In Control.
And most importantly. as of the eight of this month, it’ll be my anniversary of staying clean and sober for over two decades now.
How did you handle the post-NFL adjustment at first?
It was hard for me. I was struggling with addiction and blackouts. I didn’t do very well with post-NFL life. I was a blackout alcoholic and drug addict. No one is taking resumes from people like that.
How do you feel the NFL has helped guys back then and now with drug and other issues?
They are doing a fantastic job now, but I don’t believe the NFL of the 70’s and 80’s was doing interventions. I think they felt that those issues weren’t their fault or business then.
When you look at the trends, there were whispers – the league started to see that there were substance abuse, steroid, marijuana, pain medication issues. I think the league noticed but felt while they may have enhanced some of those issues, they weren’t responsible for them.
I was raised in an alcoholic home. I started off with wine and beer and ended up drinking 151 rum. I was born in that community and saw drunks on the street and said that would never be me, Lo and behold…..
Looking at the rivalry between the Steelers and Cowboys then, how much of that was centered on the “America’s tea, versus Blue Collar” team labels and identities?
The PR machine of the NFL is exceptional. We had real rivalries like St. Louis, Washington, Philadelphia and New York. Of course we had Captain America at quarterback in Roger Staubach.
I was in an elevator once and our GM was in there talking to a reporter. I was in the back of the elevator. He told the reporter to go talk to Waters. I thought, “Oh, so that’s how it’s done.” I decided to be my own PR man then – it was my negligent attempt to brand myself since I didn’t think Dallas would do it for me.
Gil Brandt on the plane a week or so before the Super Bowl told me that Bradshaw couldn’t get into LSU due to poor SAT scores – that’s why he ended up going to Louisiana Tech. That’s when I came up with the line “He probably couldn’t spell cat if you gave him the c and the a.” The quote was unbelievably manufactured.
Did you ever talk to Terry about it?
Terry came to Austin in 2000 – that was after I won the Texas lottery. He interviewed me and I pulled him aside then to talk to him – I had read about his medical issues. I told him I regretted saying that – he started pulling away and said no big deal, but I looked him in the eyes and apologized. I think he accepted it. When a man tries to make amends all you can do is hope it’s accepted.
When you look at those Steelers games, what stands out most to you?
They had good tight ends, a good offensive line, Stallworth and Swann and had to contend with Franco. I think the first play they ran Franco up the middle to run the ball down my mouth. Chuck probably wanted to shut up that asshole linebacker! That’s how I made the first tackle of the game.
I’ll tell you – that Franco draw play for a touchdown – that was after he and I were yapping at each other. This is the first time I ever said this to anyone in the media. That was a third down play and I was supposed to be lined up in the gap there, but Waters had the right to move me where he wanted me and he had me move over the tight end. I was supposed to be in that gap. I would have bowled over the ref that gone in Charlie’s way and been in the right spot to make the play.
Waters and Cliff Harris were playing games with Bradshaw all game, but Bradshaw burned their ass on that one. It turned out Bradshaw was smarter than both of those guys!
Any other thoughts stand out to you about the Super Bowl games?
I had a bloody nose during that game from the cocaine abuse by then. My septum was all scabbed over. I had made a small spray of water and cocaine that I used on my nose during the game. I was feeling the effects of addiction that much and regret focusing more on that than I did preparing for the game.
Did anyone know and try to help you?
I think they knew – like I said though, it wasn’t like they were doing interventions then. And it’s not like I did it at my locker in front of everyone. But I came to work a wreck and wild-eyed.
Tom Landry and the Cowboys gave me a great opportunity and I regret how I handled the addiction. Coming from an addict family, it all started in my house. I was raised by two addicts and my DNA donor father, who I met when I was 22 – it turns out he was an addict too. But it’s my fault – I should never have started taking anything;
Thoughts on this Dallas team and this weekend’s matchup?
Dallas looks like an Arena Football team right now. They have many problems – I think the Steelers will win from what I can see,
The linebackers right now – it’s a nightmare to have to play in these games. So many big lineman running downhill and hitting these 230, 240 pound guys, It’s like a Volkswagon going up against a Ford F150. The defensive line isn’t protecting those guys.
When I played in Dallas, Pugh, Randy White, Too Tall – they kept guys off of us. I also don’t think the chess players are putting people in the right places to be successful.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
