First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time playing football?
I’ve been working for Caeser’s Entertainment – we have 55 casinos throughout the country. I am happy that I was able to keep working after football. I just recently stepped down to a lesser position so I have more days to spend on the golf course and with my family.
I was the regional president and GM of the El Dorado Resorts- we have 4,000 hotel rooms and 28 restaurants and bars that I managed as well as other properties. We’ve been able to stay successful even through these trying times.
Was the post-football transition difficult?
I played football for eight years – seven in Dallas then one with the Maulers. I played from pop warner and high school to the NFL. It’s been a big part of my life since I was a kid. Then, you have to transition to a new work environment.
But my father never let me get idle. I was always working – I had a good work ethic because of that. He kept me in the middle of the fairway, going in the right direction at all times. So the transition was easier. A lot of guys have a tough time with the transition from being a celebrity – playing in the NFL and being the best on their high school teams….now they have to go into the real world and put on their big boy pants and learn a new business. That’s not easy for many.
Playing in the NFL and with Dallas – what brought you to the Maulers? Why sign with the USFL?
I was in my final contract year in Dallas and I wasn’t playing. I was a backup to Roger Staubach and Danny White. When Roger retired Danny became the starter and he had a pro bowl year. I was seven years in the league and had no chance to start.
I talked to Tom Landry and asked him to trade me to a place where I could start. He told me that if he could get a number one for me he would, otherwise he’d keep me as a backup. I told him that I was going to sign with the Maulers instead – that I got a good offer from them.
Why the Maulers?
It was a good contract – Ed DeBartolo Sr. gave me a good opportunity to start. I figured if I had a couple of good seasons and got my skills down – if it worked out I could pop back into the NFL. That’s what motivated me to go to Pittsburgh. Those expansion teams were tough though. We were competitive early and when we started games but we just couldn’t finish. And a half-year in Coach Pendry resigned – that threw the season further into turmoil.
As for why they chose me – I’m not sure why. I guess they saw my film – I always had a good arm and coming from Dallas they knew I had a good work ethic. No one prepared harder than me – I had a good reputation for that.
What were those first few days like when you got there?
When I got there I was late to the first team meeting – it was on Super Bowl Sunday and I just got caught up in traffic.
All of us were new players to a new team – we were all learning a new system and language – and learning each other as well. It was great reinventing myself. I was still young – just 28 years old. I was in great shape and had a great attitude mentally. I was looking forward to kicking ass and learning something new.
We all jumped in at the same time and thought big things. In the end we had some holes though in certain areas. Experienced teams that had time playing together were able to exploit those weaknesses.
Any good memories that stand out to you?
Our first game was at Three Rivers – that was a great memory. It was a sold out stadium and we played against a good team that had Josh Cribbs.
As a former Dallas Cowboy now playing in Pittsburgh, I was surprised – the Pittsburgh fans couldn’t have welcomed me better. It was a phenomenal, ethnic city. I took Tae Kwon Do and lived in North Hills. We practiced in South Hills so I’d drive 45 minutes every day and got to know the city and the people.
One game I remember was versus the New Orleans Breakers. I won the ESPN-USFL Miller Lite Beer Player of the Week – and I did that even though we lost the game. I ended up giving all the beer to my offensive line.
My younger brother was in the booth with Frank Gifford – he was invited up. He was going nuts all during the game. And Spring football – it was worse than Winter weather in Dallas for sure. I was warming up with snowballs instead of footballs.
Any other memories of the time there?
We used to go to Baldwin High School for our team meetings dressed in our workout stuff, then get on a school bus to go to practice on the South Side. As a Dallas Cowboy, we had nice facilities. To go from that to the USFL where you meet at a junior high school then take a school bus to practice….it was a going from the White House to the outhouse kind of feeling!
I remember though – my press conference was with Mario Lemieux – Ed DeBartolo owned both teams and Mario was just drafted, so we did that together, which was pretty great.
I felt as if we were destined to win a title in Pittsburgh. But when they decided to compete with the NFL DeBartolo backed out of the USFL. He didn’t want to compete with the NFL. I don’t blame him one bit either.
Excited about the idea of the USFL coming back?
I am excited about the new USFL. It’s pretty cool. I hope Pittsburgh gets a team – the fans and city were great. I hope they get to use the Maulers name again!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
