First, what have you been up to since your playing days?
I’m getting into the investment space now. While I was in the NFL I did some internships and networked with private equity and venture investment funds. It’s relationship driven and opportunistic and I like that – it changes the world in a very unique way. The skills required to be a football player translate well in this space. And once I’m in a good place financially I can grow my firm and use it as a way to help my former teammates and family set up their own futures.
How did you find your way into this space?
I wish I could say I was always interested in this. The reality is I didn’t know what wanted to do. I think a lot of players can relate to that. I am an entrepreneur at heart and really stumbled into it. In the offseason I had a lot of downtime after training and filled it doing some of the NFLPA’s career events. In one of those I was walked through the whole investment ecosystem and ended up meeting my mentor there. That solidified my interest in it.
Stepping back – in your pro football career, were there guys that helped mentor you there?
I had sit down talks with guys in the locker room that helped, and some guys I just watched and soaked up knowledge. In Philadelphia, DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffrey showed me how to be a professional. I came into the league as a bright-eyed kid, thinking I’d be an immediate impact player. Then I realized day one this was a whole different environment!
Nelson Agholor too – he was very communicative – he wanted everyone to understand things.
Later on, Davante Adams and Doug Baldwin too – I watched how they operated and learned a lot. Aaron Rodgers too.
What was playing with Rodgers like as a young guy?
Aaron had his own vetting process for young guys – he liked to mentally and physically challenge guys. As a younger guy he can be intimidating and I learned that early. You have to be at his level mentally and physically.
A good example is in walk-throughs during practice, he’ll walk around. He has a complex hand signal and check system and will walk by guys and quiz them as they’re warming up. “What does this hand signal mean? If the defense is in cover 2 and we’re doing this, what are you going to do?” If you’re in la-la land he doesn’t like that. That was his way of checking you.
We’d also run routes on air -no defense, just pitching and catching. He’ll throw balls that are difficult to catch on purpose – in difficult areas just to see if you complain about it or not. He tests you to see your mental state – to see if you’re going to be a pain in the ass. Your antennae have to be way up with him, but you learn so fast too.
What made you decide to sign with the Steelers?
Same state – Pittsburgh has a good relationship with Penn State guys. A lot of Penn State guys go through Pittsburgh. It’s a natural connection – I think we’re just cut from the same cloth. My agent had a good relationship with the team too. We talked pre-draft and I think the opportunity was always on the table. There was always interest it was just about the timing.
Did guys there take you under their wing at all?
The culture was phenomenal but there was less of those conversations. It was more competitive in that receivers room. I was a slot receiver and return specialist and they had RayRay McLoud there who was as well. So he and I had a friendly rivalry. It was less about learning from one another and more about competing. I think coming off of Covid changed the landscape a bit too.
Any fun moments stand out there?
Big Ben was a character – some guys were super serious in the huddle during practices but he could be silly. He’d joke with the trainers and would throw wonky balls on purpose and have a good laugh at that.
Coach Hilliard was funny too. He was a Florida guy too, And JuJu – you always came in holding your breath because you never knew what he was going to do. He’d come in wearing Pokemon pajamas and dance in the hallway and you’d think “What is going on?” It was those small things that made you laugh.
There were a lot of pranks too. You had to have your head on a swivel – it was like a family – you never knew where it was going to come from.
Anyone get you with a good prank?
Ike Hilliard got me in my first receivers meeting. With the new guys he’d ask them to go up to the front of the room and introduce yourself. So I’m sitting there thinking of what I was going to say then I start going up when he asked me. Just as I’m walking up he yells “No one cares about you, sit down!” That was his thing – he’d do that to the new guys and laugh. That’s when I realized that “Hey, maybe this team isn’t uptight as I thought!”
What did they say to you when they let you go?
It was all very professional. They just told me I didn’t fit into their direction – into their plans. It comes down to team mechanics and teambuilding.
What stands out most to you over your time there?
I think the most memorable moments are just about being in the stadium. I played there in college but it’s different playing there with that Steelers jersey on and being around those guys you used to play as when you were playing Madden Football. Practicing with fans there and sitting back and soaking in that experience.
Also, one other thing that stands out is just how much Coach Tomlin was all that I expected from a coach and more. I could see why guys were fighting for him. I saw how important it was to have the right person at the head of the table – the subtle influence he had on players. He helped me readjust myself as a leader. There were so many traits he had that I wanted to emulate – so many things I could take from him as a leader. The work he did and impact he had on players’ lives – it’s something everyone does and should know.