First, let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL?

I’ve just been working and enjoying spending time with my family – my wife, kids and grandkids.

Was it hard adjusting to life after football?

Sure I missed it, but God put me on this journey and I’m thankful to him on a daily basis and appreciate him giving me the opportunity to play football. But I took it ll in stride. God has been good to me. I worked at a seafood restaurant for 23 years, then at a fishery for the last 12 years. I’ve been in the seafood business now for 35 years.

So you’re eating well!

Ha! Oh yeah I am!

You were a good track athlete and football player growing up – why choose football?

I was small but I liked both. In high school I played running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and returned kicks and punts. I never came off the field. I thank God for giving me the strength to do that! I knew football had more promise and enjoyed playing.

Looking back, were you surprised to be drafted by Pittsburgh in ’75?

I wasn’t that surprised – it was just a blessing for me.  I came from a family of 13 – six brothers and six sisters.  I was the only one that was able to take my athletic career from elementary school through to the professional level. I ran relays in my neighborhood.

My agent called me to tell me I was drafted, I was actually asleep in bed when he called and told me I was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round.

I was excited – I thank God Pittsburgh drafted me!

Did anyone take you under their wing in Pittsburgh and show you the ropes, so to speak?

Not really – maybe not like they should have. My older brother – now in heaven – he supported me throughout high school and went to every game he could when I went to Pittsburgh – home and away games. That was a blessing.

The players were encouraging – don’t get me wrong. I learned more from Stallworth than Swann but I learned something from both players.

What did they teach you that helped you the most?

I learned how to read zones and get in the creases and get open. My main role was to handle kickoff returns on Sundays. That helped me to feel like I could contribute to the team.

What helped get you through some of the frustration of being stuck behind so many good receivers then?

Just the encouragement from the players and the veteran leadership there. Just them telling you it’ll be alright on a daily basis.

Stallworth and Frank Lewis, there were plenty of times that they helped me and encouraged me to do things the right way – to do things like they did them. A lot of it was how to run patterns. I didn’t really  know how to run pass patterns the right way until I got there.

What made you a good kick returner? 

Well, I started at a young age. I learned how to run away from people – I had the speed to do that. I was taught early to use that speed and to do positive things with it on the field.

I have gotten knocked out pretty hard a couple of times. When the guys come off the corner and hit you like that – I got knocked out pretty hard.

I just enjoyed returning kicks and punts. That gave me the energy I needed to play the game – running away from people trying to harm me! And I had some good returns in Pittsburgh- a couple of 100 yard plus returns.

Any memories stand out to you most of your time in Pittsburgh?

Well, I got knocked out once and woke up in the hospital – I remember that!  I also ran so hard that I got dehydrated and had to be given an ice bath to cool my body down to a safe temperature. That woke me up to the need to drink fluids. That you can really damage yourself by not putting enough fluids in your body. We played in some 100 degree temperature days then.

There was always something funny too. Guys would get out of the shower and dry off then guys would dump buckets of water on them again – just things to make you laugh.

Were you surprised when you were traded along with Jim Clack to the Giants in that ’78 season?

I was shocked – I didn’t see that coming. I think it was a chance for the Steelers to get some more draft picks. But it was another opportunity for me to go further in my career. I went to Canada the year after that and played with Warren Moon.

What was that experience like?

It was outstanding. The field was so much different. You could run a bomb just running an out pattern the field was so wide!

Any thoughts on the state of the NFL today?

Right now, I’m just going through some things with the NFL. My hands and legs – running on hard turf and with my hands not healing properly from playing – I’m just waiting to hear back from the NFL on helping me out. But they say, no news is good news, and the new CBA I think will help.

I just know the Lord has truly blessed me on my journey!

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