First, can you let me know what you’ve been doing since your time in the NFL and how you got started in that line of work?
I got my B.S. in political science and wanted to be a lawyer, but that didn’t work out. So I got a degree and became a guidance counselor. I worked for a couple of places, lastly U.S. Foods and just retired – and am enjoying it!
Being on the Steelers, I didn’t make as much money playing then as guys do now. I did some speaking engagements and worked some in the offseason. Doing that offseason work, I saw how folks in HR did their jobs and thought I’d enjoy working with people as well.
How hard was the post-NFL adjustment for you?
The thing that was hardest was having to work 12 months instead of four! I wasn’t one of the guys who was football crazy. I knew that football was right now. I won two Super Bowls – I made it to the mountaintop.
I do regret not having the opportunity to play for five years and get my retirement – that’s what you needed then. But I enjoyed my three years. It was a great organization and I played with great people. I still stay in touch with many of the guys – and just saw Terry Bradshaw at the airport a year ago. Even though I was mostly a special teams player, he remembered who I was.
Stepping back – what made you decide to sign with the Steelers in 1974?
I started for three years at New Mexico Highlands University, but they dropped their football program in 1973, I was fortunate though that we played Eastern Michigan that final year and I had a good game. They offered me a scholarship – which most of the guys didn’t get.
It was a blessing for me – I got to compete in the MAC conference and prove to everyone I could play. I thought I would get drafted , but I think my problem was I couldn’t run the 40 yard dash! I could run faster than guys who ran a 4,5, but for some reason I couldn’t run the 40.
After the draft, the Saints, San Francisco and Pittsburgh all offered me a contract. I chose Pittsburgh honestly because they made the playoffs the year before. I thought that if I could stay there long enough people would recognize me and sign me later. But I ended up making the team!
You sound surprised!
I remember the first time Chuck Noll noticed me. We just played the Saints and I was on special teams. I was L5 and I ended up running down a guy that broke away. I came from the other side of the field and caught him.
In the meeting the next day we watched film and Noll asked who number 37 was. I thought, what did I do wrong that he asked about me! I didn’t answer Noll – I didn’t want him to know it was me. I thought I was in trouble. But my friend Billie Joe Rutherford spoke up and said it was me. Noll complimented me for the play. That’s when I knew I made the team and knew that whether you are drafted in the first round or not at all, you had a chance.
It was also the strike year, if you remember. That helped me – I was able to stay longer than I anticipated. They increased the roster that year from 40 to 47 and kept five receivers instead of four, and I was the fifth guy!
Did any of the vets help mentor you as a rookie?
The thing about it, when the vets came in they wanted to make sure we all did things the right way. Ron Shanklin and Frank Lewis were the starting receivers when they drafted Swann and Stallworth that year. They all helped us even when guys like Swann ended up starting over them. Swann and Stallworth came off the bench at first. But the goal was all the same thing – they wanted to win. That’s what Noll preached – the team concept. There were no individuals.
What made you a good special teams player?
I enjoyed hitting people. I’m originally from Texas and I played defensive back – safety – in high school. I was All-State. But I also played wide receiver in high school. I thought I’d be a defensive back at New Mexico Highlands University because I loved hitting people. But the coaches saw that I couldn’t backpeddle well so they had me play wide receiver.
But you got some playing time at wide receiver in ’75 and made some big plays?
Yeah – John and Lynn each got hurt, so I stepped in and played well. But in ’76 I got injured. I hurt my back and had to have surgery. And you know that means the next man up. And that guy was Jimmy Smith.
Any fun memories of your time in Pittsburgh?
They used to call the number one receiver on the team Uno. Swann was Uno even though we had Dave Brown there, but Dave didn’t quite make it like Lynn did.
Well, we all went to our watering hole in Latrobe one night. Swann was from USC and thought he was everything! We loved him but wanted to show him a thing or two. We told him there was no way he could out-drink us. He ended up getting wasted. The joint was in a basement and he couldn’t get up the steps without struggling!
We all had fun like that together. We respected each other and still do. I was there for John and Lynn’s Hall of Fame ceremonies – they invited me and we had a great time together. We were all in the trenches together and they knew it.
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