First, what have you been up to this season – still trying to get back into the NFL?
I was in the XFL before COVID – I just bought a house in Pittsburgh and have been involved in real estate. Yeah, I’ve been hanging out and staying in shape and trying to figure things out – staying healthy.
I’d love to get back in. But it’s definitely a business. It’s not always easy to get back in – I did well in the XFL and made some plays. I’m staying in shape. But maybe at the age of 29 teams figure they could give guys less money and a good player versus giving someone like me who may be better but who you’d have to pay a little more. That’s my guess as to why I haven’t been signed. It’s not my decision I guess.
I tell people, they don’t realize how much of a business it is. A better option may not get signed because a good option costs less.
Stepping back, what prompted you to sign with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent?
I was at West Virginia but didn’t get drafted. There was some hype on me my junior year but our defense was terrible my senior season.
Detroit and Pittsburgh showed interest in me after the draft. Pittsburgh brought me in on a three-day tryout. That was unusual. It went really well though – I made some plays and had some interceptions.
I made the team – I wasn’t even a free agent. I was like a walk-on!
Who helped mentor you as a young guy on the team?
Pittsburgh had legendary coaching – that’s why they are always so successful. Timmons and Foote – I talked to them a lot. Me and Vince came in together and were real tight. Willie Gay – he told me to keep my head down and work. They were all like big bros you could talk too.
I’d say what Willie told me about keeping my head down helped me the most. Control what you can control. Timmons was like a big brother. It was just a great group of linebackers and Butler was my linebackers coach. They were all good people who helped tell me what was what.
The league is really about catching breaks and making plays when you get those breaks.
How did Coach Tomlin affect you?
He was one of the more influential people in my life – even outside of football. He’s the reason they are so successful. He’s a good coach but a good man too.
Pittsburgh always stood out to me from the other teams I played for – DC, Seattle, Miami. Pittsburgh was special – Tomlin was the reason why. He brings it out in you. I even got my agent from Coach Tomlin.
Any good LeBeau stories?
The first time I saw him I went up to him and gave him my playbook. I told him I was a safety – that’s what I played in college – and I wanted to be a safety in the NFL too. He said no – it doesn’t work that way. I was going to play linebacker for them.
Any of those other guys stand out?
Troy – I was always amazed at how he changed when we played. He was a different person. He practiced in beat-up cleats and was calm during the week, but then was fired up on gamedays.
Ike – he was the funny guy of the crew.
What do you think enabled you to make the team – what about you had them keep you there?
I worked hard. Everyone needs a trait that they can fall back on in their career. Mine was that I could cover – I could cover tight ends. I joked around with Vince – I was 10 minutes too early. The smaller linebackers now – I was that player then. I was the complete opposite of those big linebackers. I joke with Vince that football is going to be like basketball on grass in a few years.
Any on-field moments stand out most to you?
I think my hit on the punter was my big Pittsburgh moment – when I hit that dude on the Bengals. Tomlin joked with me after that that before that he could have gotten rid of me but now I made a name for myself with that play he had to keep me.
And off-field memories?
I was rebellious then and didn’t always do what the vets told me to do. I heard guys joking with me about taking a ride somewhere and I didn’t know what they were talking about. Then I saw my car – it was moved – and filled with popcorn – up to the top. I just recently learned it was Woodley who moved the car! It took forever to clean it out.
What is it like seeing this new group of Steelers – watching them?
I like seeing the new regime – I like how they’ve taken over. It doesn’t surprise me – Pittsburgh brings in a certain type of person – it’s like the private school culture. Tomlin created that culture – and it’s substantial. It works.
And Ben – he’s special. He was the Mahomes style of play before there was a Mahomes. And to see Vince when he became the new OG there – it’s cool to see it happen and the growth of people.
Was it hard to leave Pittsburgh in 2015? What brought it on?
I left to DC in free agency. I don’t regret the decision, but in hindsight you don’t want to jump around a lot. You want to find your niche and family. If you keep jumping around after a while they start asking why you are doing that.
DC – it was a different environment. I played well but the GM got fired and I ended up going to Seattle after that.
You feel the stress moving around like that, but that’s what you sign up for. You want to play – you’re young and want to do more. But like a college player – you don’t want to keep transferring. You have to earn the coaches trust on and off the field.
What made you decide to leave?
I was playing a lot of special teams in Pittsburgh – that was my role. I felt like I could play more. I felt like during my time in Pittsburgh, they kept drafting linebackers – Bud, Jarvis…. I wanted to be in a situation where I could show my skillsets. I don’t regret it – I played well in DC but they just had a lot of dysfunction there.
Three years is solid in one place. More than three years is smart – it’s being a good businessman at some point.
As a guy that’s played for a few teams and leagues, what advice would you give to guys coming into the league – and is coaching an interest for you?
My agent talks to me about coaching – he thought I could be a good coach. I know the business of the game. And that’s what I’d talk to guys about – their study habits and behavior – the way you study and prepare shows who you are – what kind of person you are. The little things make up the big things, Whatever you want to be – a starter, a star, or if you’re just trying to make the team, you have to remember it’s a business.
Tell me more about what you mean by that?
Well, it’s a great life. $30,000 at 22 years old – that’s a lot of money. You have the time and opportunity to do anything with that money. But, you have to remember the main thing you have to focus on is your career. You have to do certain things every day to be the person you want to be – it’s a lifestyle. Sundays are just the celebration. It’s about the grind and what you do on days off. It’s studying and sleeping. It’s about being the person and player the coaches need to trust you to be.
When Minkah was traded to Pittsburgh, I told Vince he’d like him. He took care of his body and studied a lot – even as a rookie. That’s what separates guys from other guys. It’s how you handle your business.
You think you can help young guys like that as a coach?
I do. Scouting would be another area where I may want to go. I love the game. Some guys love what football offers them – but I love the game. I’m figuring that all out.
A lot of people don’t realize how hard it is too when guys leave the game. How it affects you. Everyone deals with it differently. I’ve seen horror stories of people trying to adjust. You miss the life – the comradery.
AB – he’s a good friend of mine as an example. I see guys kill him on Twitter. He’s dealt with a lot – he’s had his ups and downs. He’s a good dude – he’s not some terrible guy. He’s had his triumphs and problems. But when the spotlight is on a guy – especially when you’re not on a team anymore – it affects you. It affected him more than many realize, not being on a team. Not having that around him. I’m happy to see him back on a team – I love seeing everyone do what they love to do. Football – especially when you’re out of it – whether because you retired or just aren’t getting signed – it can affect you more than people realize stress-wise.
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