First, what have you been doing since retirement?
Well, I’ve been retired from working for the past seven years or so. I’m just doing whatever now. I did several things after football. I worked at a juvenile detention center for seven years and worked in construction for 11 years as well. I worked in construction almost as long as I played football.
How hard was that post-NFL adjustment for you?
Well, yeah, I went through some changes. I got my life straightened up. I’m doing fine and taking care of myself, one day at a time.
I’m still aching from playing. I go to the gym to soak my body. Just dealing with that kind of stuff. And I just had wrist surgery.
Tell me a bit about what you went through after football?
Well, I was married but got separated. Then I got involved in some things I shouldn’t have. Drinking and drugging. But once I got out of that it’s been good. I’m straight now and just getting on now and not looking back.
The last 30 years have been beautiful as far as I’m concerned. I wake up every morning and am taking care of myself. My children are grown and gone. I’ve actually been taking care of my niece for my sister. That’s been a challenge. I’ve been used to taking care of myself. Now getting up and making meals for someone else has been hard. But I had to step up.
Did the NFL help you at all?
I can’t recall if I reached out but after I realized the way I was going I just stopped and took care of myself. I did what I needed to do and got straight.
Money is the biggest issue but I get my social security checks and retirement checks. it is what it is.
Stepping back – let’s talk about your time in Pittsburgh and finding yourself in Pittsburgh after the draft. How did that come abut?
I was disappointed. I signed with Pittsburgh after the draft because they were the first ones to contact me. I remember seeing other team’s reps at the airport as I was going to Pittsburgh. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made, the way it turned out, going to a winning team.
Did anyone help you adjust to the NFL as a rookie, and how did you manage to make the team as an undrafted free agent?
Everybody. We were all close in Pittsburgh, even in my rookie season. Guys stepped up to help each other.
Me and Mel Blount were the closest when I got there. We became real friends.
The little things are what helped me make the team. When I first came to camp you get an opportunity to do what you do – in the rookie camp. There I showed I had the quickness. I wasn’t so-called fast, but I could cover ground. I never played defense – ever – in my life. I signed with Pittsburgh as a wide receiver. The third day of mini-camp though they asked me to play defensive back. I said sure – I’d do anything to make the team!
Do you remember realizing when you made it?
I remember how I made the team. I showed them how quick I was in two-on-two drills, where there are two receivers and two defensive backs. Hanratty pumped the ball and I fell down, then he passed the ball to the other side of the field. By the time the ball got there I had gotten up and got over there and intercepted the ball.
Noll went crazy – he ran down the sidelines yelling “Charlie – we found our free safety!” That’s when I knew I made the team.
After that in camp when they named the starting lineup they called my name. I was shocked. It was history from there.
The only thing that was different for me was the terminology. In high school and college we didn’t have to do much studying. But we had to do a lot of studying to learn the playbook in Pittsburgh.
It was a dream come true for me. I always wanted to be a professional football player. Most don’t get the chance to live their dream like that. It was a hell of an experience. The tough part was getting paid.
I wanted to talk about your physical style of play you were known for. As an offensive player, where did that come from?
I learned from growing up. Playing sandlot football with my older brothers. I was quick and had to run the ball. After that, getting the chance to play defense and lay the wood on someone else was great. All my life guys were trying to hit and hurt me on offense. Now I got the chance to lay wood on other guys. That’s just how I do it.
A long time ago I learned from my high school coach something. He told me that if you get the chance to slap a guy down you slap him down hard. You don’t just lay him down. You slap him down. That was my style of play.
There was a good deal of competition at safety with you, Shell, and Wagner there, Was it frustrating at points rotating in and out?
When I was there at first there was no rotating. I was the starter. But I was trying to get paid. That’s when they put Shell in my position. The only reason Shell first started was because Wagner got hurt.
I was trying to get paid. My third year of my contract I was making around $17,000. My option year I think it went up to $28,000. Now, that’s after four years. I signed another contract and it got up to $38,000.
But another problem was that the guy behind me – Shell -was given $50,000. So I went to Art Rooney and asked to talk to him abut renegotiating my contract. He told me I had a good contract. So after the third game of the season, when you’re officially vested, I went back and asked him again. He said no, so I went home and packed my things and went to Florida for a week and stayed away for a while.
They asked me to come back and I finally went back. The next season they traded me to San Diego.
How upset were you about the trade?
I wasn’t upset. I’d go anywhere to get paid. After 11 years I still never got a $100,000 base. In San Diego I got to $97,000. I was fortunate to make extra money in incentive clauses. I made all of my incentives. It was a rat race to get paid. I see the money they make now – it’s unbelievable.
Were you under-appreciated as a cover guy do you think because of your reputation as a big hitter?
Right! And I ran kickoff and punt returns too. I think people do recognize me for my play and for my interceptions. I think every team has a handful of players that get the attention. Bradshaw. Swann. Franco got a lot of attention.
The best part of my game was because I played running back and wide receiver. I was quick and could cover ground. That’s the most important thing as a free safety.
In a nutshell, I would do anything as a safety. To give guys help. Once I learned the playbook I got it down like clockwork. And at times I’d stick my head in there as a strong safety too. I’d come in with more force than the offense would.
So looking back, any regrets?
No. I think I excelled at every level. As a kid I worked on my game every day. I watched Jim Brown and Paul Warfield. They were my idols.
When I got the ball I was a weapon – even on defense. I think it was the Steelers’ loss putting me on defense even though I was a good defensive player. In my mind I was a better offensive player.
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