First, can you tell us what you experienced after playing football and how you got involved in the church and with The Good News Community Church?
After football I went through a long period of addiction – I went to prison twice and suffered from a cocaine addiction. I had my recovery meetings at the church I am a pastor at now. The doors opened for me to stay there.
Why become a pastor?
I had been in the ministry beforehand actually. I worked with Sports World – they were the ones who worked with Pete Rozelle to get chaplains for each team. When we weren’t working with players we went to schools and prisons to help people there. That was right after football.
My addictions started after my first season – I was traded to the Dolphins my second season but I had blown out my knee. I tore ligaments actually while I was in Pittsburgh and it just fell apart in Miami. I had it operated on by the Browns’ doctor – he was one of the best knee surgeons at the time. I started taking pain medication then and got addicted to those, then cocaine.
While that was happening, during rehab, I was told that using a slide board – like the kind speedskaters use – would be good for my knee. I built one and started using that then made it for others. Soon Sinbad the actor used one for his knee – he called me and thanked me for it and did a video for me. After that Nike, Reebok, Gold’s Gym and others wanted them to market. Reebok signed a contract to use them – they had Nancy Kerrigan and Dave Thomas promoting them. But by then my addiction had gotten so bad I had to hand over the business.
What did you do after that?
I just kept losing. I lost the business and my football career. The cocaine – it robbed me of my desire to play football. I didn’t see that at the time though.
How did your pro career start in Pittsburgh?
I had a number of issues in college – at Illinois. I changed positions late, from linebacker to tight end to fullback, and then hurt my shoulder. So I wasn’t getting drafted. But Dwain Painter was my coach at Illinois and he was with the Steelers and convinced the Steelers I could play tight end in the NFL. I ended up on IR most of that first season after breaking my hand and knee in the third preseason game versus the Giants.
They told me then that I made the team but I needed to get well. I ended up playing in the last game of the season versus the Dolphins.
Who helped you as a rookie to adjust to the NFL?
Jon Kolb was really helpful to me. We had five tight ends there but none really wanted to play special teams and be crazy on teams – so that’s what I did. He was the special teams coach and helped me most just by encouraging me. He showed me how to play and encouraged me to get better.
What do you remember most about that Steelers team?
I remember how down-to-earth it was. It was good to be with people that really wanted to win.
In Latrobe it was like survival of the fittest. They brought in 120 guys to camp then – many more than they do today.
Lloyd – he would try to intimidate me. He would try to make you crumble. He was intimidating but it all stops once you make the team. I think it’s mostly about testing the rookies – to push us and weed out the guys that can’t handle it. They wouldn’t take it easy on you. Bryan Hinkle was the same way.
Weegie Thompson, Mike Wagner – those guys were real nice. They were kind – polar opposites of Lloyd and Hinkle.
Any in-game memories stand out to you?
Playing the Redskins in my first preseason game. I tackled Jamie Morris – Joe Morris’ brother – on special teams. I actually played with him in the Japan Bowl. I remember slamming him to the ground on the sidelines.
Your linebacker days coming back to you?
Ha yes! Exactly!
Any other guys stand out?
The equipment guys – Rodgers Freyvogel, Tony Parisi and Ralph Berlin. They were good guys too. They were respectful and helpful. It’s funny because Illinois’ stadium wasn’t very special or big, but Three Rivers was much less impressive. The training room was small and in the back of the locker room. It was like this little hole in the back.
Do you follow the NFL or the Steelers today?
I don’t really follow the game now, no. It’s not the same for me now.
I remember at Illinois, that’s where I got my faith. God told me – not in some weird religious way – but I knew I needed to glorify God. To be an instrument – to use my ability to glorify God – not to push my ego or for fame or money or women and all of those traps.
After the final cuts of the season, we all met in the locker room. Joe Greene stood up and gave a speech then. He said “Welcome to reality!” He told us a lot of people will want to give us attention – that we should be on our guard. To not be taken in and advantage of by people now that you made it.
What part do you think faith should be playing in the NFL moving forward?
Faith and balance – you need those. People will worship you for being a football player – that can set you up for failure.
When you don’t have anything anymore after football, you realize that football can’t be everything to you. You don’t always realize that until you feel that emptiness. Faith can help with that.
Being able to have that balance is really important. A lot of guys struggle with it. I had to learn that the hard way. My faith in God is what helped me balance that over the last 14 years. I finally grew up and took responsibility for myself and stopped blaming everything else for my problems.
That faith – it’s good to have because we all need help at times. When there’s no one telling you how great you are you need something to give you that balance. To fill that emptiness and show you that you need more. That there’s something more to life.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
