First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?
Well, since I got hurt and retired, I went back to Greensboro and became a cop for a few years. I resigned after that though – I just didn’t like it. I moved to Charlotte and got into coaching football at the high school level. I wanted to give back to the youth in the area – it wasn’t about the money. I wanted to coach and did that for five years.
Then, I got called to the ministry. I moved back to Greensboro in 2000 and started our church there, doing that and working with kids with disabilities.
What drove that sense of wanting to help youth?
I always wanted to do something to work with youth. Ricky Proehl and I got together after football and started doing football camps – trying to give back to kids. I always wanted to give back. We did that for a few years.
I went back into coaching even after I opened the church. I just wanted to keep working with youth. I ended up coaching high school football for 20-to-25 years in total. I just recently retired. It became too much. I have three kids – two sons who went on to play football on college scholarships, and one daughter- all got their college degrees.
So it’s a full day. And I still help manage foster care kids as a case worker – that has taught me a lot. What those kids go through – the neglect and abuse…It’s a 24-hour thing. I get calls at any time. But, it’s what I do.
As a coach, any guys help shape the way you approached coaching?
Oh yeah – Tom Moore – he made a big impression on me. And John Stallworth was my favorite player before I ever even knew I wanted to play in the NFL.
I grew up on a farm – I had developed good work habits and those served me well when I got interested in the NFL. I saw some NFL people getting interested in me when I was in college. That made me think I should give the NFL a try.
Tom and Stallworth – they inspired me to get into coaching. One of the things I remember vividly was that, when I found out I made the team after the last cuts, the next morning John asked another player to move his locker down and switch his locker with mine. He wanted me to be next to him. He told me I wasn’t going to be another statistic out there. That I should study and do things together to stay focused. I watched him on the field and paid attention to every detail.
Coach Moore – he taught me how to watch film. Not just to watch it – but what to look for. I could tell the difference between he and other coaches I had and worked with because he would pick up on things other coaches wouldn’t. Just those little details that helped give me and other players advantages.
Any examples?
My last preseason game. I’m 6’4″ – so I had an edge on the smaller Giants defensive backs. I had a good game – I could see what Tom and John taught me was working. My last five years of coaching I coached wide receivers in high school. It was the most enjoyable time I had as a coach. I was able to teach players those same little things that gave them an edge- those things Tom and John taught me. Some of those guys would never play in college but just seeing the joy in their faces when they grasped things and got their confidence made it a great experience.
As an undrafted free agent, what made you decide to sign with the Steelers?
That was always the question. I grew up liking the Cowboys and the Steelers. When I was playing at North Carolina AT&T, the Cowboys called me and came down and scouted me. They told me they may draft me. I thought, “Wow!” Then an agent came down to sign me.
The night of the second round of the draft a guy from Dallas came and sat with me at school until two am. I heard him call someone and told them he was sitting here with me. Well, at 2:30 am he got a call, looked at me and told me the Cowboys decided they didn’t need me after all and said good luck.
I was shocked. I went back to my room. About a half-hour later a call came in at the phone we had in the dorm hallway. A teammate came in and told me someone wanted to talk to me. It was Tom Moore. He said “I guess Dallas didn’t get you! We’d like to sign you – it’s not too late.”
I met him at eight am the next morning in my coach’s office. I had a choice of other places to sign. But my brother was a Marine and off to sea – I didn’t know if I’d see him again. The Steelers were his favorite team – he could name every player on their defense. So, I said I’m signing with the Steelers for my brother!
Why was John Stallworth so dedicated to mentoring you, do you think?
He and I were both from small HBCU colleges and both were receivers. I introduced myself to him when I got there and told him I looked up to him – that I considered him a mentor and had a lot of questions I wanted to ask him. I didn’t want to bother him I told hm, but he said not to worry about that, that I could never ask too many questions.
My first game was versus Chicago and I hurt my shoulder in the game. The next week we played Washington. I think because of how I approached John, the coaches saw that and really appreciated it. They allowed me to travel to Washington and walk the sideline with John – something they normally didn’t allow. I watched him the whole game – how he set up defensive backs and more. It was amazing.
When I started a tutoring foundation at my church, John and Tom came out to help. Tony Dungy heard about it and sent us our first check to fund the center. Both of his parents were teachers so he really believed in what we were doing. Later on someone told me I had to go to the center – that there was a big shipment of computers sent to us from Fedex. John sent them – they were computers his company wasn’t using anymore and he sent them to us for the kids to use. It was very emotional – it really was something.
Any memories stand out most to you of your time there?
I had never been to Pittsburgh before. I was a country boy – but I was curious and went out and explored the city. I was in no hurry to buy a car though – I stayed at Allegheny Center just across the bridge.
The biggest thing was the people. I came from a small rural area – there was just so much more to do in Pittsburgh – and more trouble to get into if you weren’t careful. But I became so close with my teammates – especially the guys I came into the league with. I wasn’t a guy to go clubbing or drinking a lot, but we had fun. I kept good hours though – I liked to get up early.
A farmer after all?
Ha – exactly.
Any specific memories or characters that stand out?
One thing I realized is that from high school to college to the pros, football teams are football teams. Every team has that crazy guy, that comedian, the tough guy…
I do remember in camp – Bubby Brister and I were roommates. He was a real go-getter! We were different but the best of friends for a while.
I didn’t eat a lot or drink a lot of water. I was used to being on the farm, but the coaches saw that I didn’t drink enough water so made me do more in camp.
Well, anyway, there was always a break between the first and second practice to go get lunch and rest a bit. Well, one day I came back from the break and Chuck asked everyone who was staying in a certain room ….well, it was my room. I told him I did, but I didn’t know why he asked. He then said “I hope you enjoyed your ribs!”
Evidently Bubby ordered ribs during the break and had them sent to our room. The guy knocked on the wrong door though – and it was Chuck’s door. It was hilarious – everyone knew then it was Bubby. Some guys never ket him forget it either.
What happened then after that first season there?
It was disappointing – I hurt my left knee – tore two ligaments and they ended up releasing me. Donnie Shell later got me a workout with Atlanta – he knew someone there. I got there and saw Scott Campbell there – he gave me a big hug and told me they needed me there and will keep me if I have a good workout – they needed a big receiver – all they had were small, fast receivers.
Well, they had a few defensive backs there. Their head coach then was Marion Campbell and he had Scott throw 20 passes to me – the first sailed over my head. The next 19 were on point. I remember it well – I’m not one to brag but the defensive backs couldn’t cover me. They had me running all over the field catching passes. I knew then that I still had it.
Afterwards I went in and showered and went into the coach’s office. I sat with him while he talked to the doctor that operated on me in Pittsburgh. The doctor told him that I was a good athlete, but he didn’t think my knee would hold up; That by midseason I’d be a liability. Campbell pounded his fist on the desk and said “Damn!” He told me he wanted to sign me but couldn’t take the chance.
What did you do then?
I knew then it was time to retire. But a short while later I was at home and I got a call. It was Chuck Noll. He called because he wanted me to know that he thought I could have been John Stallworth’s replacement – they thought I could be a very good NFL player. He just wanted me to know that.
It was such a classy thing for him to do. He didn’t have to call me at home just to tell me that. But that gave me great closure – something I think I really needed.
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