First, can you let us know what you’ve been doing since your time playing football?
Since football I got married – I’ve been married for over 30 years now and have three kids. I’ve just been enjoying my family and working at my trucking company.
Was it hard adjusting to life after football?
It’s funny you ask that because I think about it all of the time. It was very difficult. I was playing football for so long and I thought I was pretty good at it. It was very hard – I struggled for a time. My wife went into the military though and I went overseas with her and did fitness training for the military there. That helped. But it was hard to be a regular civilian after 20 years playing football.
What helped?
The love of my family helped. My wife supported me. I learned there was more to life than sports. Football wasn’t the only thing that could make me happy. It just took some time to learn that.
How did you end up in Pittsburgh?
My agent took me out of the draft that year so I could go to Pittsburgh. I was mocked to go to Pittsburgh in the middle rounds of the draft. After the combine I moved up a bit. But the Steelers took Charles Lockett in the third round then Joey Clinkscales in the fifth. I had no idea my agent took me out of the draft though – it was messed up. I assume Pittsburgh knew about it but I didn’t know anything about it at the time.
So after the draft…?
Pittsburgh called me and told me they wanted to sign me. No tryout or anything – they just signed me to a two-year contract.
Did anyone help you when you got there to adjust to the team and NFL?
Louis Lipps was from Southern Mississippi as well – I played with him. My agent represented us both and Louis showed me the ropes on how to be a professional.
John Stallworth was the biggest help. He was a vet and helped everybody there. He showed me the difference between college and pro football – how to conduct myself off the field and how to learn the playbook and the system the Steelers ran.
How did that rookie season go for you?
I made the team from the jump. Then the strike hit. I played – as a rookie I had no money – I had to play. I stayed on for a little longer after the strike but got injured – I hurt my ankle and was put on IR for the season. The next year I was released.
Being around some of those other players – especially guys like John Stallworth. I grew up on him – he was like a superhero to me. Playing beside him was unbelievable. And Mike Webster – watching their work habits was just unbelievable.
Any plays stand out to you during your time there?
I was always capable of scoring as a player. That was one thing about me. I had three catches in Pittsburgh and two were for touchdowns. Playing in the NFL was a dream come true. Catching a touchdown in the NFL – I just felt like I had really arrived. It was versus the Rams – Steve Bono called a checkdown and threw me a fade route on one-on-one coverage.
Any funny moments stand out?
The rookie dinner – we had to entertain the vets. They called on all of us to sing. When they called me – well singing was never my strong suit. I sang “Row row row your boat” and they told me to quickly sit down!
Donnie Shell too. He hit me hard in practice. After he hit me he patted me on the head and said ‘Welcome to the league rookie!”
What happened when the vets returned after the strike?
The vets all accepted that the rookies had to play during the strike. They didn’t take it as a negative. They understood and welcomed us back.
After the strike I started the first regular season game when guys came back. But when they announced the starters they announced John Stallworth instead of me when we came on to the field. John came up to me afterwards and said “I’m sorry about that!” He had no idea. I just told him it was no problem – it wasn’t his fault!
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