First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?
When you’re done with what you’ve been doing your whole life, it can be daunting finding out what’s next for you. Not everyone walks away from the game with gobs of cash.
Figuring that out was a bit of a challenge for me. It took four years for me to really make it in the NFL so I had some time to prepare for life after football early on. After football I did some interesting work on the TV and radio – everyone wants the next popular player who retires – they jump to the head of the train.
I did college games for the University of South Florida – did color for them but I had kids and that got to be difficult. I decided to go in a new direction. I met some doctors while playing in the NFL and I worked with a couple to start a telemedicine company – traditional stuff where you call the doctor on the phone. But I knew this guy – he’s the kind of guy that has 100 ideas and you think he’s the dumbest guy on the planet – then he has that one and you think “Holy crap!” – he’s that guy.
What did he come up with?
It’s a funny story. He was picking up a prescription at a pharmacy and had to wait two hours to get it. While he was waiting he went to Redbox and got a movie – it took him two minutes. He wondered why medicine couldn’t be like that.
So he and I started a new business where you can get doctor care and medicine right at the point of access. These are booths with screens – you talk to a CNA first, they take your information, then pass you to a doctor you can speak to about your health issues. All at the press of a button. We distribute medicine right there in the booth – if we don’t have it we can also give you an e-prescription.
Most people know what they need – we’re not curing cancer. But we’re giving people easy access to the care and medicine they need. The booths have UV lighting – they are incredibly clean. We have them in Tampa, at Texas A&M and will soon have them at Auburn and airports as well. We also have an app so you can schedule appointments in advance.
Obviously with Covid, the need is even greater for the services.
How hard was the whole post-NFL transition for you?
The biggest transition was trying to adjust to a non-scheduled life. Everything is laid out for you when you play – when you work, eat, go home… We become creatures of habit. When you leave the game that all changes.
I left on my own terms at least so that helped. It’s more of a challenge when you want to play and can’t. I planned for it – I played until I was 42. Not many can say that though.
What was most meaningful though was finding the next thing. There’s no substitute for being a pro athlete. But the lessons I learned as an athlete helped on business – my self-awareness and help dealing with employees. There are so many lessons you take away from the game. The locker room is unlike any other community- it didn’t matter the color of your skin or where you were born. It was about coming together as a group to achieve a goal. I am grateful for that experience.
How did you end up with the Steelers after starting off in Tampa Bay?
It was through Plan B. I played for two years in Tampa Bay but they had a coaching change both years and coaches bring their own changes. It’s funny. I was sitting in my apartment when I got a call from this guy named Bill Cowher. I had no idea who he was. He was engaging to talk to and a nice guy and talked to me about coming to the Steelers.
So I remember, I had a brilliant line. “So coach, what position do you coach on the team?” He just said “Oh, well, I’d be the head coach.” Well, I thought the interview just went sideways!
It’s funny, because he told me later on that a similar thing happened to him. He was at a luncheon and was sitting next to a woman and he asked what she did for a living. “I’m the Mayor.” she told him!
I was there for three productive years, broke some records, but some things didn’t work out later and I left. I’m still close to Bill – I’m appreciative of the opportunity he gave me. Sometimes one person makes a decision that alters your life – he gave me that opportunity.
Did any of the players take you under their wing a bit? You weren’t a rookie but still new to the team and city…
Gary Anderson did. It’s funny, when they had me work out for the team when I flew in, my workout consisted of holding for Gary while he kicked. That was it. They knew I could punt I guess. They just wanted to see if I could hold for Gary before they would sign me.
Gary – he helped me there, as did Kendall Gammon. We became fast friends. All three of us had a good friendship.
Any memories stand out most to you of your time there?
The biggest is that I was very active with the NFL Players Association. I was a player rep for 12 of the 15 years I played – the players voted me as a rep. That’s a badge of honor for me – it showed the respect for how I tried to take care of the players. I’d help them with their benefits and player issues. Even when I switched teams I would get voted on as a rep, so that meant a lot to me.
And the friendships you create in the locker room are unlike any other you can cultivate in any walk of life. All of you understand what it’s like to be scrutinized, to have to be accountable, to have to respect one another and to all try to succeed at one goal.
That’s the biggest transition actually, to your former question. Losing that comradery. I knew it was time to move on when I was noticing the age gap between me at the end of my career when I was in my 40’s and the guys in their 20’s. We just didn’t have much in common any more – what they did after practices was not what I was interested in doing anymore.
I still see many of those guys I played with at reunions. Even guys I haven’t seen in years – we fall right back into it when we see each other.
How about on the field – any of those memories stand out to you?
I played in two championship games – unfortunately no Super Bowls.
When we were down 14-0 versus the then Oilers, Cowher called a fake punt and I threw it to Warren Williams who ran it to the half-yard line. That would have been my only touchdown if he scored!
I was also the emergency quarterback in Pittsburgh. They had set plays I ran in practice in case they needed me to play – I could have tried to function as a quarterback.
Lastly, any thoughts on the way the game has changed since you played?
I have a lot of concerns yes. It’s gone so far beyond the game now. I wonder sometimes if the motives of some players are more about fame and prestige when taking stances on issues.
I hope they don’t lose sight of the fact that they are playing a game for a living – that they don’t get too overblown with their own importance and sense of entitlement. Maybe I’m just old school, but I look at those older teams and I don’t think they behaved that way. It’s unsettling.
For example, I don’t like the kneeling. Just me personally, but I think knowing it upsets people – and there are black and white people who died for the flag – I think they could have found a better scenario to get their point across. If it offends people maybe there is a different way to do it.
And I hope the NFL takes care of the players. Many have physical challenges and head trauma they are recovering from due to playing. It can be a tough second-to-third part of their lives. I just hope the NFL does right by those players and doesn’t lose sight of how the league started with them.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
