First, can you tell me what you did after you retired from the NFL?
Once I was out of football, I hung around for 10 years – I got a job in ’75 with Wilson Sporting Goods, in sales. I then moved to their headquarters in Chicago to work on product development on certain lines of equipment.
Then I got a job in their international division covering distribution in the Asia-Pacific region. I traveled to Asia six or seven times a year to visit the distributors and make sure they had the right inventory. I did that for 10 to 11 years – I always made sure I took extra time off to see the country. I didn’t want to just do business and leave – I really enjoyed being able to carve out time and see things.
After that I got a job at CitiBank working for the Diners Club card – working on relationships with major merchants and did that for 20 years before I retired.
Was the post-NFL transition difficult?
I had no plans until I was released by the Falcons. I started looking for a job and that thing came up with Wilson. I don’t recall much difficulty – no hardships.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh in 1966?
I was drafted by the 49ers and by the Houston Oilers. Houston wanted me to become an offensive tackle but I played tight end in college and wanted to play tight end, so I signed with the 49ers. It was down to the last cut there when they traded me to the Steelers. The Steelers had drafted Tony Jeter but he got hurt, so they needed someone to back up John Hilton at tight end.
I was there for six or seven weeks. I came into camp at Latrobe – it was August and hot and humid as Hell. The field was strange – it was down in a bowl – there wasn’t a reason I could figure for it. When we broke camp we practiced at an old racetrack. This was old school football. Not close to what they have now! It was rough stuff.
What did they have you do when you got there?
I played four games and then Tony got healthy. They asked me to go and play in the Continental League in Richmond, Virginia and learn to play defensive end. I asked them if it would be at full salary and they said yes, so I thought it was a good deal and did that. The best player there was Richard Jackson who ended up playing for the Raiders and Denver. He was one of the best defensive ends I had seen in that era.
But you ended up again in San Francisco?
I did and made it to the final cut again – they sent me to the Continental League again at full salary – for the New Mexico Apaches. It was a good experience – the head coach then was none other than Bill Walsh. He was laid back in those days – low key. We had a lot of fun there, It was really enjoyable – a good time.
Then I went back to San Francisco and again made it to the last cut before getting cut. I called a few people I knew -my old college coach was in Minnesota and I knew some folks in Detroit as well. My wife and I drove and got to Des Moines, and on a whim I chose to go to Minnesota. It was a great move – I played for Bud Grant for three years and backed up Jim Marshall and Carl Eller.
That was the time of the famous quote “40 players for 60 minutes!” – back then they only had 40 active players, remember. I remember in a meeting Bud tapped me on the shoulder and told me he wanted to speak with me. I thought “Oh oh, this means trouble.” But he wanted me to learn to play offensive line as well – he really liked versatility in his backups. So I backed up the defensive and offensive lines for two years.
After those three years I was traded to Philadelphia for quarterback Norm Snead. I was there for four years and played right and left tackle before I was traded again to Atlanta for Art Malone.
Any good memories of your time in Pittsburgh?
It was my rookie year and it was really a blur – I was there for camp for a few weeks and then played four games. I remember having an apartment in Moon Township and sharing that with Ron Smith – a real nice guy.
The funny story that stands out most to me when I look back on it was when Jeter came back. They told me Art Rooney wanted to see me, so I went to his office in a building downtown. He was a gentleman – you could tell he really cared about people – about his players. He told me he wanted me to play in Richmond and we talked for 20 minutes or so. And I got up after that and had my hand on the doorknob and it was like a Columbo moment. As my hand was on the doorknob he said “Oh, Steve. One more thing. About that travel blazer – please make sure you tun that in before you leave.”
That’s when the NFL wasn’t doing as well! Art was good with his money – it’s not a knock on Art. Just a comical moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life. After that I gave my blazer to Ron and told him make sure he turns it in for me!
Any other memories stand out to you?
I remember being in the training room getting taped up and seeing Dick Hoak getting a shot for his groin – that made me cringe! We played three home games at Forbes Field – I just remember how cramped that felt – especially compared to playing at Michigan, which was a wide open bowl.
Did you ever play against the Steelers afterwards?
I played against them once when I was in Philadelphia and faced Dwight White. He was a very aggressive player – the whole defense was. They were great football players- very challenging. I enjoyed that though – playing against the very best.
Any other career memories stand out to you?
Bud Grant was the best coach I ever played for. I got to play in Super Bowl IV against Kansas City and will always relish that experience. I thoroughly enjoyed being a Viking – that was the highlight of my career. And I had the honor of playing for some great coaches – Grant, Walsh, Sandusky who was the offensive line coach in Philly..
A funny story on Bud Grant. We had the 50th reunion of the Super Bowl team not too long ago – it was held over a long weekend and the players would tell stories to fans in an auditorium, and we’d come in as panel members and fans would be asked to come up with questions. A TV or radio guy in Minnesota was the master of ceremonies for the event.
Well, the defensive line group was the last group up – I came in with Carl Eller and Jim Marshall and the rest of the guys. We all talked about Bud – and a lot of the talk was about how we were afraid of him – he was like this mystical figure who was a real demanding guy,
So I said, let me pull it all together for you. I told them a story. We were playing Chicago at the Met and Chicago just scored – it was near the end of the game and we knew they’d try an onside kick, so we had our onside kick return unit in. They kicked and it took a good bounce to me, and I saw nothing but daylight so I ran with the ball. Well, the daylight closed quickly and I felt a tug on my back. I thought – I better get on the ground fast because if I fumbled, I’d be in deep trouble. Bud drilled that into us. I fell on my back and thanked God I was on the ground when I looked up and, facemask to facemask, Dick Butkus was looking down at me, swearing at me. “Why didn’t you fumble the xyz ball!” I thought, if someone did a cartoon strip of this, Butkus’ balloon would be hanging down at the bottom, too heavy with all of the expletives he was yelling at me. Mine would be above, with an apology to Dick, telling him there is a higher power at work, and his name is Bud Grant!
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