First off, can you let me know what you’ve been up to since your playing days?
While I was in the second half of my career, I was preparing for the day my football career was done. I dabbled in radio and webcasts in Wisconsin – I took the NFL up on its broadcast bootcamp my sixth or seventh year in the league. I met some great people – they helped teach me. I was able to put that on the back burner for later to land on.
I played longer than I expected – I played 13 years. I knew after playing that I wanted to do something close to football – I teased the idea of coaching or scouting but then I started calling games for the Packers on TV and radio. That’s how I got started in media – I’m having a lot of fun traveling with the team and covering them and doing weekly radio.
How difficult was that transition for you from playing?
It was hard – I heard so many stories of teammates transitioning from the game and how they did it. I was fortunate enough to not have to be in a rush. I was able to take time with my family and figure out what was best for me and them.
My wife and kids made a lot of sacrifices for me over the 13 years I played. After that I wanted to limit those. That’s why I settled into sports entertainment.
Looking back, why did you sign with the Steelers?
Three teams came out hot on me during the draft. The Ravens, Giants and Steelers. When you’re drafted you can’t help where you go play. But on day two of the draft I started getting calls from those three teams. I thought I might get drafted around round six, but after the draft I fielded calls from all three teams and they all offered me the same rookie contract and chance to make the team as a free agent.
I just did simple math. I looked at who the teams had on their rosters. The Steelers had one fullback – Dan Kreider. The Ravens had three and the Giants had two. I knew I wouldn’t have a good chance to beat out Dan Kreider but I figured I could make the practice squad at least. I knew it was about finding staying power – a chance to build my craft and work my way up. You’re at such a disadvantage as an undrafted free agent.
Like all good plans though…. When I showed up I found out the Steelers had also signed Tuiasosopo at fullback. But I had trained with Dan Kreider – he and I were both Central PA guys – I learned from him. Despite the fact I was there as a potential threat to his job, he accepted me and guided me. I can’t tell you how much I respected that.
What did you do that enabled you to make the team?
They released me at the beginning of the season and kept Tuiasosopo on the practice squad. But then he moved on to another team.
I remember it was after a Monday Night game versus the Colts that the Steelers called me. Sanders was a nightmare that game for the Steelers. The Steelers lost and Noah Herron had just gotten picked up by Green Bay of all teams. Colbert called and asked if I could be there the next morning to show them some halfback on the scouting team. I had a lot of familiarity carrying the ball at Shippensburg and knew even though they wanted me to play fullback, I could help show them some halfback looks on the scout team and be there to learn under Kreider.
I was on the practice squad and ended up getting a Super Bowl ring. The Steelers then were a clinic for anyone wanting to learn how to play fullback. Fullbacks did everything – isos, lead draws, counters – they did it all.
You were good running with the ball and receiving and Shippensburg – was it hard to make the transition to fullback?
It was very difficult for me. As a running back at the Division II level especially, I could use defenders. Power runs, shimmying past them – I had the advantage. But as a fullback now the defender had the advantage – they could use power or speed. It was like learning how to tackle without holding someone. I had the skillset – it just wasn’t something I had done. But you see cornerbacks learn to play receiver – it was a bit like that. Doing the opposite of what you had done before.
Winning the Super Bowl that first season – how surreal was that for you and did you have a sense of how rare that was?
I can say it was a magical ride. My wife’s family was from the area – from Center Township – Aliquippa – so they were excited. My family was from York but they became Steelers fans.
As a practice player, we do everything the other guys do except play on Sundays. I always felt I earned that ring. But when I walked out of that stadium after we won I told myself I wanted to come back and play the next time.
And I did that – against Pittsburgh when I was with Green Bay.
What was that like for you – was it a sense of redemption in any way?
I can tell you – the greatest thing about the NFL is the immense respect you gain for your opponent. And I had such great respect for Pittsburgh. Hampton, Keisel, Ward, Parker, Dan – they were all great teammates. They showed me so much respect as a free agent.
To get to match up against them in the Super Bowl – it was a perfect storybook for me. I loved those guys. When the game ended I was patting Aaron Rodgers, congratulating him, when Casey Hampton came up behind me and congratulated me. Those bonds are so real.
How did being a good multi-sport athlete help you as a football player?
I learned a lot being a father and coaching youth sports. You learn different ways to adapt. On the field – basketball, wrestling, football – you learn different skills that translate. Being in different settings …playing football, you’re further away from the fans. Basketball, you’re close to them. Track & field – that’s an individual sport – there’s more individual pressure. All those lessons you learn help you learn how to adapt to new situations. Especially when learning a new position in a new city.
Any good stories you can share of your time in Pittsburgh?
I was told getting called back never happens in the NFL. But Colbert called me Monday me asking me if I could come be there at 8 am the next day – Tuesday. It was just a three-hour drive up the turnpike so I said “Yeah!” I had signed with the Arena Football League already, but by the grace of God the Arena Football League didn’t start camp until that Wednesday. The rule was that you could break your contract with the Arena League if you didn’t attend camp yet. I had already packed my bags and they were in the car already – I was planning to go the next morning to San Jose to the Arena Football League camp. But instead I just drove straight to Pittsburgh!
As I met other athletes I heard similar stories from many of them. How the doors opened for them out of nowhere and how they were able to take advantage of those opportunities.
I also had the chance to play with some great quarterbacks – Favre, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Brees…. But there was no locker room like the Steelers’. From 2005-2007 when I was there, they were extremely close. They helped you find places to live and we’d all go out together – even when we weren’t supposed to. There was such great team-building there.
I used to love playing on the Steelers basketball team. We’d play police and fire departments – schools sometimes too. Those are some of my greatest memories – just hanging out and getting to know my teammates. It was just wholesome friendships we built.
Who were some of the better basketball players on those teams?
Keisel was a great player. Ben was great – he was a great athlete. He could shoot, dribble and dunk. When the games were close to Pittsburgh the big-time names would come out and play. But when the games were in Erie or Scranton, those guys would say “I’m good!” It’d be mostly practice squad players then!
Lastly, do you like the way the game is going as it moves to more of a passing league?
I’m anxious to see the cycle of life for fullbacks and H-backs. I see some teams carry them still. But I wonder about the game now as it gets so open. I noticed at the end of my career, all the sub-packages team use. I saw defenses revamp themselves and get lighter and faster. There were less Levon Kirklands of the world coming at you. It made my life a lot easier. I just wonder now if teams will start using more power formations again with fullbacks and H-backs.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
