First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?
Well, I retired from the NFL around 2008-2009 and came back home to the inner-city of Memphis and have been coaching high school football here for the last 11 years. It’s been wonderful working with the youth here and being able to give back to my hometown – especially in front of my family and friends so they can share these moments.
It’s been a long journey, and I’m now actually at my alma mater where we had a good season and placed second in our division!
What coaches have helped shape the way you coach now, and how?
I’m so blessed to have had so many good coaches. I had a Hall of Fame high school coach in Tim Thompson – he assisted 30 to 40 kids in getting division one scholarships and had three or four championship appearances of his own.
At Tennessee Philip Fulmer, John Chavous and Randy Fichtner were all great. And when I got to San Francisco I had Steve Maricucci, Dennis Erickson and then of course Cowher in Tomlin in Pittsburgh. So a ton of coaching lessons from all of them.
Anything stand out most to you from them?
The one thing about each coach that I tried to pattern my style after was their attention to detail and the fact they were disciplinarians. They were no-nonsense guys. It’s hard to compare what I do coaching high school kids to coaching professionals and college level players, but I know the importance of showing the kids how important it is to take care of their own business. Coach Russell in San Francisco used to tell me every day, “Ced – be a pro!” He’d say it every day and it helped me realize how important it is to be professional – at any level.
And your son is now in the NFL – any words of advice you give him?
It’s strange – we talk every week. He suffered an injury last year then got a concussion. I reminded him that his entire life he was a leader – since he was six years old and was a captain of his soccer team, to being a captain of his little league football team in Wexford, to college. I reminded him you don’t have to be catching or throwing footballs to be a leader. You can inspire men you play with even if they are superstars – you never know what’s going on behind closed doors with people. You can always be a leader at any level.
You signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent after starting in San Francisco. Why sign with the Steelers?
It was just the rich tradition of Pittsburgh – I wanted the chance to become a Steeler. They were a blue collar team and I looked at myself the same way. I had to work for everything I got. I was always too slow, too short. I didn’t do anything great but I did everything well.
San Francisco had great fans too like Pittsburgh did, but there was a lot going on with the team. New coaches, new GM… Pittsburgh was coming off a 15-1 season and Plaxico Burress just left, so I thought I could be a missing piece.
It was frustrating at times there. I wanted the ball more, but once I got into the culture there I realized it was about winning games. You put pride to the side. We won a Super Bowl, and there’s no greater feeling than that.
How did you handle that frustration of not being the prime target now?
It’s funny – the first day of training camp I see Ward, Randel El, Heath Miller, Joey Porter – multiple Pro Bowl guys. And of course Hall of Fame guys like Bettis – and Ben was coming off a great rookie season. I was a number one receiver and target in San Francisco, so I thought that would be the case in Pittsburgh, It didn’t go as planned though. It wasn’t all peaches and cream.
But in the playoffs, Porter gave a speech before the first game and told everyone I’d be the team’s secret weapon. In the playoffs I saw the ball come my way more.
How do you stay prepared for situations like that?
You have to stay mentally ready – Bruce Arians kept me mentally prepared. He kept me motivated despite my frustration. And he helped me realize it’s not about how many opportunities you get, it’s about making the most of the opportunities you get.
It’s awkward to go from being a number one option then go to a team with so many weapons and find yourself as the fourth option. There was so much talent there. But that competition brought out the best in all of us. It made us all better.
It took me back to my high school days – and you see it now with younger kids. I had so much success so early when I played football – from high school, through college and then in San Francisco. To go from that to a third or fourth option – not because of my play but just because of the talent there – it reminded me why you play the game. To win. Bettis and Ward – they helped too to show me patience and professionalism.
What are some of the memories that stand out most to you in Pittsburgh?
I always understood that playing in the NFL – it was a job. But being in Pittsburgh – it didn’t seem like a job. We were always excited to get there and see each other. I truly miss that comraderie. Every day it was great being there with everyone – it was like a family. We all came from different places but this was the one place we were all embraced. The Rooneys created an environment that lured you in. You knew you were loved and respected.
I do remember enjoying when the rookies brought us breakfast and donuts on Saturdays!
I want to go back now and play quarterback for one of these teams struggling for a quarterback, I played quarterback in high school – but it’s funny, the last time I thew a pass was in my last play in the NFL – against the Jaguars in the playoffs. We needed a two-point conversion to tie the game and force overtime, They brought me in and we ran a trick play. Ben tossed me the ball and I was supposed to throw to Hines on a corner route but he got caught up with someone, but I saw Santonio come over from left to right and I chucked a dime to him to send it to overtime. That was my last NFL snap.
That season I was targeted 31 times and caught 29 passes – 23 for first downs. But in that game I didn’t play the entire game until the final minutes of the fourth quarter, in our two-minute offense. I caught a pass for a first down in that drive and then threw the pass for the two-point conversion. That sticks with me. I try to teach that to the younger guys now. It’s not about the time you play or the amount of opportunities you get – it’s about making the best out of every opportunity you get.
You played under both Cowher and Tomlin – how did Tomlin’s transition go for you in Pittsburgh?
Cowher was a Hall of Fame coach – I’m shocked he didn’t get back into coaching.
Tomlin – he did a tremendous job following in those footsteps. He kept things rolling. He let everyone know the first day that the change was going to be difficult but that the quicker we got over it the quicker we’d get better. That stuck with us,\.
I wish I was able to play with Ben in his latter years when he was less of a game manager and more of the guy you came in having to stop too!
Anything else you want to tell fans?
Steelers, Tennessee and my high school fans are the best in the country! I enjoyed my time helping to give fans something to cheer about. I’m one of only a few that won a championship on every level of football -from high school through the NFL. I’m trying to figure out what other players have as well!
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
