First, let me know what you’re doing with yourself since you retired?
I’m coaching high school football now and am a parent – doing both in no particular order. I’m giving back to the younger generation and really enjoying it.
As a coach, who helped shape the way you approach coaching, and how?
As a coach, I try to deliver my message the best way I can. Kids today have their ears open now more than I remember us doing when I was a kid. They are more involved and listen to what I have to say.
Good or bad, I understand now why my coaches pushed me and try to do the same thing with my kids. High school, middle school, – even recreational and Pop Warner leagues – all of those coaches helped shape me in some form or fashion. They touched my life regardless of what level I was on.
How about in Pittsburgh? Dick Hoak?
Dick helped me yeah – he was the first coach I had when I went to the NFL. He was laid back just like I was. He had my personality and I had his. He was very interesting and very cool. He’d pull me aside when no one was watching and coached me up. He’d tell me when I was doing good things and looking like a real ball carrier and when I was goofing off.
I have to give Coach Kirby a shoutout too. He was a great coach for me too – he helped me inside and outside of the building.
Can you give some detail on how they both helped you?
Both shaped me. As a running back, you either know the game or you don’t. I never really knew the game when I was young. I ran fast and tried to make plays but I didn’t look at every piece of the puzzle. That’s what they both tried to get out of me. They pushed me every day to learn more about the position and understand the game more. They asked me questions every day. Talent-wise, I feel like I was very talented and could do a lot of things. But they wanted me to do more. As a coach now I get that – that’s what it’s all about when you’re working with guys.
How hard was the post-NFL transition for you? Some players planned ahead and others seem to struggle. How did you fare?
Well, I got into some stuff that helped me before I retired. It was a smooth transition – I heard stories from some other guys. But my career was short and sweet. I won two Super Bowls in six years and played with some outstanding athletic players. So it wasn’t as much of a problem adjusting to civilian life.
Still. it took a few years. Don’t get me wrong. It was tough – I miss the locker room. But I had a great support system that helped me to adjust.
What do you remember about that first season – coming to Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent?
I remember one of those first days, I was in the hotel watching movies. I was so happy just renting movies. Then I got the invoice for them and I thought “There’s no way I can pay this!” I was having fun just hanging out in the room.
Well, Omar Khan pulled me aside and covered the bill and talked to me about being a professional now. I started working harder in the gym and on the field. I noticed that the more I did that the more players started to put their arms around me and showed me what to do.
I was looking at them too. I saw how much of a family it was. It brought us all closer. The most helpful person on a day-to-day basis was Jerome. Every day he was in my ear. He showed me that it was a job – he got me to see things in a different light.
He, Hines and Ben – it was a family. That’s what I miss most about leaving football. It’s not the touchdowns. It’s that brotherhood.
I spoke with Jerome. He declared himself the best quarter-pitcher on the team despite your rivalry. True?
Well if you ask Jerome he’s the best at everything he does! That’s that athlete mentality. They all say the same thing. That competitive mindset that if it can be done, you can do it. I do remember a lot of screaming by Jerome but I never watched him do it.
Do you remember when you took over as the starting back and how that felt – and how the other guys took it?
To be honest I never looked on it like I was the guy. I always looked at it like I was fighting for a spot all the time. I always worked hard – I think the weight room work probably drove me out of the league. All I knew is that I never felt comfortable as an undrafted free agent. It caused me to work even harder. And any success I felt was because someone else did their job. If someone missed a block I knew I couldn’t do what I did. So, I didn’t look at it like I had made it.
Any fun moments in Pittsburgh that stand out to you?
I remember my first year in Pittsburgh – I wasn’t used to the cold weather, I used to whine and complain about it all of the time. Well, I wanted to see how cold it could get so I filled a bottle full of water and left it out overnight. The next morning it was frozen solid and I started walking around showing it to everyone. They were just like, whatever. They laughed at me and told me I wasn’t in North Carolina any more!
As a rookie we had the rookie dinners and I was the only rookie running back there. They were all ordering stuff so I was like, this looks great, and started ordering stuff too. I didn’t know I was supposed to pay for it all! I ended up picking up the tab, but a lot of the guys ended up helping me out.
Any thoughts on how the game has changed since you played?
I was just talking about that the other day. Social media makes it tough – its a tough environment – not knowing what someone may post. You have to keep reinforcing the rules every day so guys understand how serious it is.
Bill Cowher – I was scared of him. It’s like driving and seeing a police car in the rear view mirror. You had to be at your best. He could be the coolest person, but I knew I had to be at my best all the time because of him. He would single out any player and you didn’t want to be that guy he is yelling at in those Monday or Tuesday meetings.
And Tomlin? Any thoughts on his approach?
Tomlin was a little different. He wouldn’t call you out like that, but he got his point across. I can’t comment on the way the locker room has been under him now – I’m not there. But he’s a great coach and does what he has to do to get that team ready to win.
Tell me about leaving Pittsburgh after that 2009 season. What happened?
When I left Pittsburgh, Kevin Colbert told me that if I left there was no coming back. I was supposed to meet with Mike Tomlin but I just didn’t go. I jumped ship to the Redskins. I think I was just upset at the time, probably.
About what?
I don’t know – don’t really want to get into it. It wasn’t a money thing really. I just think during that time, at my age, it was just a bad decision. One of the biggest mistakes of my life. I should have treated it more like a business. I should have met with them and talked with them. It may have changed the way I was thinking.
Lastly – tell me your thoughts on the way the game has changed. Are they positive changes from your perspective?
Especially as a running back, things have changed a lot since I played. I wasn’t a bruiser who lowered his head. I watch games now and you can barely touch the quarterback. They’re protecting the game by protecting the players.
Years ago, it was brutal. You could be blindsided at any particular time. Now, you can’t lead with your helmet. A lot of players now don’t mind catching passes over the middle. They don’t have to worry about getting hit.
My take on it – they changed a lot for the better as far as helping athletes maintain their bodies during their time in the NFL. And that’s a good thing.
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