First off, what have you been up to since your playing days? I notice you did a movie.
I was always a movie guy – watching, giving movie quotes – the whole deal. Ironically, the Steelers have a film history and connection. I remember staying at the Omni in downtown Pittsburgh during the preseason and was watching Ballers when the credits came up. When I saw Rashard Mendenhall’s name I said “What? The former Steelers running back was a writer?” That opened my eyes.
The next day I asked Coach Tomlin about Mendenhall and he told me that he was an emotional, intelligent guy. An artistic guy who brought his vinyls to camp to listen to. That gave me a totally different perspective on life after football.
After playing I thought about film all the time. I thought it would be cool to get into film. I had a friend who I talked to about it and he told me that he couldn’t hear me talk about it another day! I needed to decide to get into it or or not!
I was in-between jobs, so I just decided to write a script and did my own casting call, worked with a production company and got the permits to film my movie called Lean In. I wrote, directed and produced it – it gave me the chance to learn it all. It’s not what I do now for a living, but I want to do more of it in the future. I want to keep it up.
What else have you done outside of the film work?
My main job is working as a customer relations manager at a crypto company called Coinbase. I build relationships with some of the largest tech companies in the world, like Facebook and LinkedIn.
How hard was the post-football adjustment for you?
I do some public speaking and work with Next Play University and talk about that. The transition is hard. I speak to former professional athletes who are retiring about how they can bring that expectation of excellence in sports to what they do afterwards. You have an identity crisis after you’re down playing. If you play, say, at Ohio State then the Steelers, even if you just played pro ball for a week, people see you as a player. Once that’s done you ask yourself who you are now.
I tell people I wish I went to Costa Rica or a yoga retreat when I was done – just to catch my breath and remind myself that it will be ok! There’s so much that’s unknown. You have to remind yourself that if you can learn a playbook – if you can learn Todd Haley’s playbook – you can learn anything!
How did you end up in Pittsburgh – why choose the Steelers as an undrafted free agent?
When the draft was coming to an end – there were about 10 picks left – Brandon Hunt called me and asked me if I was ready to come to Pittsburgh. I told him there were still 10 picks left! So, he stayed on the phone with me for 15 minutes while the draft ended – I think so no one else could call me!
I knew Martavis Bryant was out that year – I thought there would be a good opportunity for me there. Plus, it was the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Pittsburgh was the first team also that called saying they really wanted me. Oakland called saying they wanted me but couldn’t draft me.
Did anyone take you under their wing in Pittsburgh – and how so?
Darrius Heyward-Bey – he and I had a good connection. He talked to me a lot about life in general – like pushing me too make sure I invested in my 401k! Tomlin told the vets to work with the rookies and Darrius did that with me. He helped me with the playbook and plays – but more just about life.
What was your experience like there in Pittsburgh?
I was injured my first week in Latrobe. For them to keep me on that season – that said a lot. I was sad, hurt and needed surgery. But Tomlin walked in the room and told me “Hey Canaan, don’t worry! We’re going to keep you!” He told me I showed them some things in the OTAs. Todd Haley always used to tell players not to be yo-yos. Don’t be up one day and down the next. Danny Smith told us to be like Heath Miller – they knew where he’d be every day and when and what he was going to do.
So, I was trying to do that – to be like the guys that Tomlin and Smith praised – the guys that stuck around. Dangerfield, Mike Mitchell, Heyward-Bey – those guys. I tried to do what they did and I think they saw that in me.
I also had a good relationship with the scouts – I’d be in the film room with Denzel Martin talking to him and the other scouts and watching film. When I was released and signed back Coach Giemont told me they brought me back because of the way I carried myself.
Any memories stand out most to you?
Being in that room with AB, Ben and Le’Veon – I thought those were the best players in the world. Just hanging with them. Coach Mann always stressed keeping things light. Especially during OTAs. We’d go to Dave & Busters, bowling…. we’d compete at everything – even those basketball machines. It was a fun time and what you end up missing most.
One memory that stands out in my rookie year was during OTAs. I was supposed to graduate from the University of Virginia on Saturday, and I was just this timid undrafted free agent. But I asked Tomlin if I could go. Before I could finish the sentence Coach Tomlin told me that he had wanted to go to UVA, and that if I didn’t go back there and walk the lawn, as they call it, I’d be a fool! “What are you doing here now! Go!” he told me! That says a lot about him.
Lastly, what advice would you give, say, an undrafted free agent wide receiver trying to make it today?
I’d tell them to make sure to be in shape and that it will be an uphill battle. As an undrafted free agent you get less opportunities than you even expected. Just lock in and run your race. Don’t try and be like AB or Wheaton or Marcus Tucker – run your race.
Also – listen to the coaches. Danny Smith used to tell us it’s not like Pittsburgh anywhere else. When I went to my first meeting with the Giants I saw that right away. It’s just more of a family atmosphere in Pittsburgh. Coach T. really cares about you – he brings in players to talk with the rookies and services like JP Morgan to help prepare you for life.
So I’d tell them to really listen to what Coach Tomlin is saying. He’s giving you the blueprint on how to be successful on and off the field. He’s giving you the answers to the test.
So keep your eyes open and watch what the veterans who have been there a while are doing. Pouncey and Mike Mitchell used to race to the facility to see who got there first. If the top guys are doing it, you should try to as well.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
