First, can you let readers know what you’ve been doing with yourself these days?
Well, I’m back in Houston – I moved back here when I signed with the Texans in 2002. I’ve been married eleven years and we have an eight year-old son. I’ve been working in commercial real estate since my retirement from football in 2007. I’m currently a broker at Fritsche Anderson.
I’ve also had the pleasure of running a quarterback academy since 2010 (Houston Quarterback Academy). I have group camps and offer private instruction. It’s been great to stay involved with the game in that way and mentoring QBs is something I love to do.
How hard was that post-NFL adjustment for you?
Everybody has a tough adjustment I think. In my situation I had to scratch and claw to make the team over my career. I had to fight to keep the dream alive. When the phone stopped ringing – you know maybe it’s time. In ’04 – that was my last year in the NFL – in Pittsburgh. My career came full circle. I tried the Canadian Football League in 2006 and that was good because it gave me closure. I knew it was time to start on the next chapter.
It was a tough adjustment. At first I didn’t like watching or going to games. I felt like I could still play – I know lots of guys have that feeling. Now that time has passed, I love watching games with my son and love being around it again and passing on the knowledge I gained.
As a coach – what coaches and influences have affected you the most?
My college coach John Pearce gave me the confidence to play in the NFL. I was a walk-on and wasn’t the full time starter until my senior year, but during my redshirt sophomore year after a play in practice, he told me I would play in the NFL. Just that little comment gave me a lot of confidence. I started to really believe my dream of playing in the NFL could actually come true.
Chan Gailey was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh my rookie year. He had confidence in me as well. I followed him from Pittsburgh to Dallas and Miami. He’s an amazing coach and even better man. I really owe my career to him.
Speaking of your career…you went undrafted – were you surprised that you didn’t get drafted?
I wasn’t surprised – but I was definitely disappointed. Everything I was hearing said I would be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent. So I wasn’t surprised, but I was disappointed when my phone didn’t ring for two hours after the draft. I was figuring that I’d have to use that accounting degree sooner than I thought! But then Phil Kreidler of the Steelers called and asked me to sign with them. I didn’t have to think twice.
It was a loaded quarterback position in camp…
They went to camp with four quarterbacks – Miller, Kordell, Tomczak and me. I think everyone thought I was just going in as the camp arm. I didn’t focus on that and ended up having a really good preseason and made the team as the third quarterback. It was awesome -we had a great season and I learned a lot. Tomczak took me under his wing and showed me how to be a professional.
How did he do so?
I had the locker between he and the Bus. Being a rookie around those guys was incredible. Mike was the one who really went out of his way to show me how an NFL QB was supposed to work. It’s a must for QBs to always do more than what’s expected and he led the way. He would let me watch film with him each week and really tried to pass along all the details of the position that he had picked up in his career. I’ll always be in debt to him and I still use a lot of the things I learned that year in my QB academy.
After your rookie season the team actually allocated you to NFL Europe. What were your feelings on that?
When they first told me – I was back home in Texas after the season had just ended – I was disappointed. I thought it was because they didn’t have confidence in me to compete for a roster spot. I realized later that they really just wanted me to get more experience. I was allocated to the Rhein Fire – we won the World Bowl that season. Going through that season was tough, but looking back it was one of the best experiences of my life. Unfortunately, I got hurt the last game though and came to training camp hobbled and didn’t have my best camp and was released.
From there I was signed by Indianapolis and was on the team for Peyton Manning’s first game, Then I got cut – I didn’t know you could get cut at the beginning of the season like that! It was an eye-opener. But I went to Dallas, was reunited with Chan Gailey and had great experiences there backing up Troy Aikman and Jason Garrett….not to mention the fact I was lucky enough to meet my wife in Dallas..so it all worked out.
You played for a number of NFL teams – how did the Steelers differ, looking back on your career?
The Steelers were the best organization I’ve been around, and I was lucky to be a part of some really good organizations – Dallas, the Dolphins, the Texans’ first season,… But the Steelers were different. In Pittsburgh it was genuinely a family atmosphere and it all started with the Rooneys – they welcomed everyone. It was a feeling that everyone belonged. Not a lot of egos in the organization – no one was unapproachable. It was different. Blue collar and down to earth. The city and the fans are amazing. They’re still my favorite team. I grew up a Steeler fan and still am today.
That ’97 season was a special atmosphere. I think everyone was a little unsure of what would happen – it was Kordell’s first season as a starter. We had a lot of great vets and a very talented team, though, and ended up going 11–5 – losing to Denver in the championship game. It was the best season I was ever a part of.
How much did humor play a part in your time in Pittsburgh?
It was a great locker room. There was a lot of vet leadership – having my locker between Tomczak and the Bus – they were definitely leaders – and comedians.
The first time I saw regular season action was against the Ravens at Three Rivers – I remember that well. It was 37-0 – we were blowing them out. Cowher was about to put Tomczak in and Mike asked Cowher “Why don’t you put the kid in?” Cowher thought about it and said, “Ok, go tell him” – Tomczak came over to me and said he got Cowher to put me in the game, “but it was going to cost me 50 bucks “ So I came in in the fourth quarter and finished the game. The next day Tomczak asked me if I had fun – then asked me for the $50. I laughed and he said “No, where is it?” So I gave him the $50! It was pretty funny.
Being around all those guys was great. Our O-line in particular was fantastic – Dermontti Dawson, Jim Sweeney, Will Wolford, John Jackson, Brendan Stai. Justin Strelczyk was one of my favorite guys. Guys like Darren Perry, Carnell Lake, Levon Kirkland on defense..so many quality guys. That’s how the team is still run – bring in quality guys – build though the draft…
You played for a number of teams and, as you said, had to fight to stay on the roster often. What do you say to those that see a career as all glory?
Football was the only thing I ever wanted to do. I was an NFL junkie growing up – I had the NFL wallpaper, posters everywhere. I remember having to wake up my mom on the weekends when I was like 6 or 7 so I could get her to pull my #88 Lynn Swann jersey over my shoulder pads so I could go out in the front yard in full Steeler gear and play football – by myself! ….so actually getting to live the NFL dream was phenomenal. Each training camp and trying to make the team was tough. If I had a good preseason I made the team – a bad one and I was cut. I never knew when it would end – it wasn’t just a career or job for me – like a lot of guys, I was living my dream. It was a rollercoaster, for sure. It didn’t go the way I wanted but I’m grateful for the opportunity and time in the league. I exceeded the list of expectations for a college walk-on and undrafted rookie. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s tough – highly competitive. There are 200 + new guys every year that are going to be given roster spots – it’s a revolving door and the teams are always replenishing the cupboard. You hang on as long as you can. You can’t control a lot of it, obviously – you just have to focus on your own attitude and work ethic.
How was it returning to the Steelers in 2004?
It was a little weird. There weren’t too many guys left. There were a couple guys still there – the Bus, Cowher…It felt like coming home again – but new at the same time. We weren’t at Three Rivers – we were at a new training facility and stadium …so there were some changes. But I still felt comfortable. It did feel younger though….the ’97 team had a lot more vets it seemed. Maybe it was just me being older, but this team felt younger. It was starting to be led by some younger guys like Ben, Troy, James Harrison – it was Ben’s rookie year, so similar to Kordell in 1997 – there was optimism but uncertainty as well.
What was your early impression of Ben?
Ben was very talented. He was a playmaker – he had unwavering confidence like the great ones have. When something goes bad it’s not going to affect them the rest of the game and they usually save their best for last – he’s obviously a guy that will join the long list of Steelers in Canton.
Back then, with Ben it was supposed to be wait and see. But then Maddox got hurt. Maddox was supposed to come back after the first couple of games when he healed but Ben was successful. We saw it – that it was becoming Ben’s team and Tommy wouldn’t be starting again. It was shifting to Ben’s team – like what happened with Brady. You go with the hot hand – there was no going back. It was the beginning of a new era – I wasn’t there the whole season, but it was cool to see. You felt bad for Tommy, but the things Ben and the team were doing on Sundays was special. The Steelers continued to build their team the Steeler way – which isn’t how all the teams in the league operate. They value stability and build teams the right way.
What are your last thoughts on the NFL and your career?
The game has definitely changed – it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Its more popular than ever. The things the NFL is trying to do to improve player safety and to help former players are definitely good if it continues to grow and foster it. Despite what some may think, I feel the future is bright for the NFL and the next generation of players. I’m still excited about watching the Steelers. It was a special time in my life. I was a blip on the team’s radar but it was special to me and a time I will never forget.
I look forward to going back to the ‘Burgh and bringing my son to see a game. I want him to experience what I experienced in Pittsburgh and the NFL.
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