Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson joins Peanut Tillman and Roman Harper to talk football, family, and second acts. LT reflects on his journey from idolizing Walter Payton and learning moves from Barry Sanders, to becoming an NFL MVP and a Hall of Famer. He shares what it’s like coaching high school football in Texas, the lessons he learned from teammates like Junior Seau, and the impact of Marty Schottenheimer on his career—even after the controversial firing following a 14-2 season. LT also opens up about his transition into TV, keeping his competitive edge in broadcasting, and his special bond with Drew Brees. Along the way, Peanut and Roman swap stories about facing LT on the field—including a missed tackle in London—and dive into what made his stiff arm legendary.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
What's up, everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Peanut to him and this is the NFL Player
Second Acts podcast and with me as always as my
trust co host, Roman Harbor.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What's up?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
That did not hurt, but appreciate it. Shout out to
the qu'es out there. Hey, look, now I'm really excited
about this one. We actually have a first ballot Hall
of Famer, one of the best to ever do it.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Don't don't that's my that's my life. You're going to
read it all over but I'm just telling you what
it is. It's just the truth.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
He's one of the best, the greatest to ever do it,
and just go to bring me get out of the way,
first ballot Hall of Famer, one of the greatest dual
threats of all time, the pride, heart and soul of
Texas NFL analysts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Now he's a high school running back coach. I love
that running game coordinator and oh running titles matter, that
words matter. Running game coordinator Ladany Thompson.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Welcome to the part.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I apologize I forgot that running Good to see you.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Team, Thanks man, I appreciate. Oh there it is. Yeah,
shout out.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So hey, look, let's just jump right into it. You're
in your third act. This is not your second act.
This is your third act. Uh, running backs coach Oakridge
High School. You just got off TV. You said, you
said your your goodbyes and all that other stuff. We'll
get to that. But what does that mean for you?
I mean, you're coach in high school? Yeah, Ladani and
Thomlinson one of the greatest running backs in NFL history
(01:40):
just history period, and in the same state that you
grew up in.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Like, how does that feel?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
It feels great. I won't say that I'm totally done
with television, yeah, of course, you know, but from the
I believe in seasons. Yeah, you know, my season at
NFL Network came to end, and and partly because family dynamics.
You know, kids get older. You know, you're you guys, know,
(02:07):
you're on the road a lot, doing this television thing,
doing this podcast thing. And I had an opportunity to
coach my son, you know, to be there with him,
you know, and further, you know, kind of build his development.
But you know, guys, I've always wanted to kind of
be there as as wanted like coach father type of
(02:31):
you know, relationship, you know what I mean. But also
I think, you know, with my son, he hasn't played
that long. You know, he played two years so far,
and it was a great opportunity just to you know,
be around him and get the coaching, but also poor
into you know, these kids as well, poorn to him
(02:52):
and and really you know, just share, you know, what
my knowledge and what I know. But also I think
you know, there was there was somebody obviously as we know,
somebody that inspired us to be grade or to play
the game. Coaches, you know, mentors, and having that opportunity,
I can't pass it up. So that's that's basically why
(03:15):
while I'm doing it.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
What first of all, what position does he play? And
what year is he?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Yeah, so he plays quarterback and he's gonna yeah, he's
going to be a freshman. So even though you know
I play I played running back obviously, and people might
say what you saying, play quarterback, you're not going to
really be coaching them. But I'll be on the staff,
you know, be able to just kind of be And
I threw seven touchdown passes in the league, So let's
not forget that.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
If it was cracked tass or like look like power,
but LT did not come downhill he's going towards the sideline.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
It is.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
It is freaking past all day past, especially on shorty
yards and in the red zone.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
That is prime time right there.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
How do you think this will view this as with
your legacy being being a high scol runner back coach?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
How do you think it asks your legacy? Man? Well,
good question.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
I don't know that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
That is a great question.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I don't know, you know, I don't know where this
is gonna take me, to be honest with you, and
I think this is just the beginning of, you know,
possibly many more years coaching. I tell you, you know, my
aspirations would be to coach offensive football and not just
be you know, a running backs coach or run game coordinator.
(04:30):
When I say offensive football, I mean like calling plays
and really designing offenses. But the thing that I really
understand now having just got into it, is the way
they play football now in high school is totally different
from the way we played it. Okay, so, scheme wise,
I'm used to a pro style offense. You know, everything
(04:53):
is based on the run game, play action, pass creating,
you know, concepts and windows and try angles in the
passing game based on the defense. Well, nowadays it's about
spreading people out r pos, you know, creating this matches. Okay,
the defense has fall over here, we got it's three
(05:14):
by one. Okay, well we're gonna work the other side
because they got us outmatched over here. So we're looking
for the matchups on the backside. It's just different concepts
that they're using now. In high school, it's more quarterback
runs now, it's more of the system of you know,
I think when I think about this type of system
that's being ran in high school, I think of r
(05:35):
G three. What he brought to the NFL. He was,
to me was kind of the start of that whole
r PO.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
He was game right, he was.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Now do you think by you being in the run
game coordinator, could you could you just go back to
how it was when we played high school?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Do you think you could do that? No?
Speaker 4 (05:54):
No, no, because the rules are different. The rules are different.
It's changed. I mean, it's more I think the passing game. Listen,
the game has changed because people want to see scoring.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
We know that.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
And it's for you defensive guys. I'm sorry for you.
They can't touch, you can't touch the back. I'm sorry
for you guys because it's tough to play play football,
but why would you not take advantage of throwing the football.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Now, they throw flags on guys in high school because
they don't look back for the ball, and I'm like,
he didn't even touch them.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
They're like, oh, he wasn't looking for the ball.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I'm like, face guard.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
That's not a flag, it but one correct how you
should take advantage of this? And Texas is the pretty much,
I believe it's ground zero from that, everybody else in
the country has tried to emulate.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Uh Texas high school.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Football where junior high there the junior high teams running
the same offense as the high school teams. They're just
running routes at different levels. And so by the time
you get it all the system in junior high. So
then by the time you all your class gets the
ninth grade, tenth grade, eleventh grade, you guys are cooking
with Greece already because you've been running the same system
for four or five six years, same verbage, same understanding,
(07:19):
and then they just get bigger and better. I mean,
that's also why a lot of Texas athletes, as far
as recruiting, it says like, well, whatever the product you
get out of high school is usually closer to what
they're going to be at their full potential in college
as well.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
And even if we fast, like if we project these
guys in the NFL, a lot of times these offenses
are adjusting to what the quarterback was doing in college.
You know, that's where the NFL game is going. Just
look at Cam War. I read a story just the
other day that the offensive coordinated they went back and
(07:55):
watched all this film on cam War and they actually
tatered their system Verberts wise. You know, some of the
things that Cam was using at Miami, they put it
in Tennessee's offense so it can further and speed up
his you know development. So that's the way the game
is played nowadays.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I think what makes Texas so superior in football just
I'll say sports, but like in football is superior superior
That means dominant, dominant. Yeah, I know you were talking
about pompous and the words you didn't get, but ui
L like most Texas, if not all, Texas high schools
have the high schools junior how they have a UIL
(08:34):
system and you're allowed to plaise l something interscholactic.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
I don't know, I just but it allows the students
to basically have practice during school. Like so say during
football season, we would have uel our first period, we
practiced for an hour and a half during school, and
then you go to class your the math, science, and literature,
(09:02):
and then after school you get another practice. So you're
getting two full practices and then you go to your
off season and you got like a college style off
season program. We're doing the same stuff they doing in Alabama,
but I'm doing it as a freshman.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
All the way up until my senior year. Like that's,
in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
That's what makes Texas football Like it's just where I
don't know, maybe I'm a little biased, but.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
No, I'm not disagreeing with you. But you're not the
only state that does that because I practiced them in
the morning times too. But it's okay, don't worry about it.
I do want to know this though, LT, because you
talked about it briefly. What does it meant to you
to be the high school coach? That's actually because I mean,
(09:48):
everybody's got to know you, but you're actually like really
pouring into these kids.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Have you seen, like, man, like these kids.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Need that more of a perspective somebody that's done it,
because we all had coaches that never really they ain't
been on the grass like that, and so it's different.
And I know you it kind of gives you this
advantage because you've done it. But then the communication factor,
I'm sure with being in so many locker rooms, you
understand that part of it as well.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Yeah, that's the main part to me, is a communication
part of it. Making sure you know that the kids
understand exactly what you're trying to get them to do. Right.
But at the same time, I can't expect them to
be like me, so patience as well plays a huge factor.
I'm not a yeller anyway, you know, So I don't
(10:37):
really do it this way, you know, no, but uh
I do believe there's you know, probably I would say
three ways to teach it. Okay, there's on the board,
the classroom way some kids you know they're gonna learn
in the classroom. And then there's the film showing the
(10:59):
kid the like, this is your step, this is what
you're doing, you know, look at your drop all these
kinds and guys see visually, okay, that's what I look like.
Oh man, I'm doing it, I'm not stepping or whatever
it might be. And then the last part of it
is some guys just learn on the field. They gotta
go out there and do it right. So I believe
(11:20):
in those three elements of teaching it. That's how I
try to approach it. But at the same time, I
think it's also part where you have to develop the kid,
get them bigger, faster, stronger, all those types of things.
And at the same time you're loving on them. You know,
you're you're guiding them, you're teaching them, you know, kind
(11:42):
of the right way to approach every single day. Try
to dominate every single day and win every single day.
So it's fun, man, I enjoy that part of it.
I'm a huge believer in development. Why because of my story.
You know, I was this kid that was probably a
two star, three star coming out because I didn't play
(12:04):
running back until my senior year, So I developed over
time college I developed. So I really believe in developing.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I don't think I knew you didn't play running back
to your senior year.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yes, I don't think I knew that. I don't think
I knew that.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
I got one question for both of y'all did you
so y'all played. I don't know what year it was,
but you two played in London. You had one hundred
and seventy yards.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
So that was two thousand and eight, Yeah, something like that.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Around two thousand and seven, two thousand and eight, Yeah,
somewhere around there.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
We we played the Chargers in London. You had one
hundred and seventy yards receiving or maybe it been total.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I mean it might have been total yards. Yeah, it
was so the Danien Thomlinson smoked this look.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I remember.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I remember I tried to tackle you and you had
a yard you I saw you in the whole I
come downhill, I remember, and I went to hit you,
and then you weren't there no more.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
You missed a lot of tackles.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I mean, when you play safety, that happens. And so
it was a fantastic spin move.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I give you credit.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Like I I that was the first time I'd been
like Ladani and Tabs. He did not score though, you
put that up. Yeah, yeah, somebody got another back. It
was good. But the very next play you guys ran
it again because of course they wanted to try to
let you get in. And then I made the tackle
(13:27):
and so what it does for a young person at
me at the time to be able to like man
like dude, I thought I had Ladela and Thompson I
was gonna get him, and then all of a sudden
he was no longer there. And then to come back
and battle back confidence wise, yeah, like you didn't even
know it, but you made me better because I was like, okay,
if I can tackle Ladainia, especially then not even get
(13:49):
down on myself in games and confidence, especially after missing
one and then coming back. Now, that was a great game.
I know you guys probably enjoyed London as well, but
that was just my experience. I don't know how you
remember that play or anything. I think I remember our
We used to work out together. It's Chris France, yes, okay,
t finished Quest ten.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yes, And we used to play this, uh play this
little card card game, you know, and I'd win a couple,
I'd lose a couple. But we used to take these
cards and then TV would just take them and you
throw them and you'd have to you'd have to grab
He's me you uh.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
We saw be there that.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Was like a little spot and sometimes he would throw
the fan on. So these cards are blowing in the
fan and you gotta grab.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Yeah, that was some good.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
That's why he was so good at punching the ball. Joke,
get in there and punch their ball.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
He had a nice sit from though. I think.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
So one thing I did do that that I stole
from you one of your It might have been your coach,
and when you went to New York used to used
to slap or used to punch the the squad rack,
not punch excuse me. You used to hit the used
to hit the squad rack with your hand to work
on your stiff arm.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
So that was one thing. I know.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I wouldn't stiff arm with people, but it did make
my It did make my hand a.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Little bit strong.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So I would on your jam, Yeah, my jam, I
would just you know, I heard it at first. I'm
not gonna lie when you hit straight steel, But yeah,
I definitely stole that from you.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
When he I was like, damn, okay, Well I stole
some stuff from people too, you know, you know I
stole the heels, you know, from Walter Payton. That's right,
because in my backyard Bard. Yeah, so I mean I
think you know, AI's coach told me speaking about this
coaching thing. Okay AI's coach told me, coaching it's all
(15:42):
about stealing other people's stuff and putting it in your
you know, repertoire.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
And when you think about it, it is because you
combined everything that you was taught, different systems that you
were taught, maybe systems that you're around, and you put them,
you know, together, and you create your own playbook the.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Coaches clinic, right.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I mean, if I was a DB's coach, all I
would do is take everything that I got from everybody
else and then just take like.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
It's all me.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, but it's really just everything as I learned that harp.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Harp do it right here. This is so what moves
did you stew from any running backs?
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Well, jump cut I stole from Barry Sanders. Obviously that
that jump cut to be able to get in and
out of the hole.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
The stiff arm was something that that really I think
I always pretty much had that. I perfected it over
time because, like you said, working on it.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
What was the What's the most important part of a
great stiff arm?
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Waiting till the last second? And it's a punch. A
lot of people think you throw your arm out there
and keep it out there. You do not It is
a punch, you know, so right at the last minute
is a punch. And what I tried to do it
was two places. I wanted to hit the defender, either
in the face or in the chest, because when you
(17:12):
think about it, you guys are coming before you engage
and you do this, So if I can hit the
face or the chest, then it's gonna give me space.
So yeah, that's what I But if you now certain
guys they were quit getting up on you, Yeah, where
(17:32):
you couldn't get the stiff arm out, then I would
use the forearm to knock their arm down. Then they
got to try to tackle me one on. Yeah, that
ain't gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
See, I was really more with with with the stiff
arm you specifically. I knew guys were they would try
to punch, so I would try to wait till the
last second, and when the guy would stiff arm, I
was trying to Yeah, as I swatted it down, then
I'm trying to just like wrap my arm around you.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So yeah, that's that's why. That's why I had to ask.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I want to know, you know, we teach people like oh, man,
you got stiff arm, but like, what's the proper stiff
arm technique?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I don't think we all asked to write.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I've never heard anyone ever told me exactly where they
want to hit.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Him, exactly that was. That was.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
But it's kind of illegal though, because if I'm a
dB and I hit the receiver in the face, he
already told me this is.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
All about scoring points. But when you hit me in
the face, we're.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Trying to talcle me. I just I got to be
able to defend myself.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I have to. I gotta be able to defend my
Like he's so small, Like, come on that.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Are you aware that you and Walter Payton are the
only running backs in NFL history with thirteen thousand yards
and four thousand yards receiving.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
No, I did not know that.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Well, welcome learning something new every day.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
He was my idol, Like he was the one guy
that I really wanted to be like, yeah, you know,
three down back, you know that you can do it,
do it all, even throw the football. So he was
a guy that I wanted to be Like, but.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
What does that mean though?
Speaker 2 (19:04):
When he just he just read that to you, though,
you and Walter Payton, I mean him being your idol,
that you were the only two people in the history
of the game to ever have that statement.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Well, you're gonna make me get so deep on you, man,
you know, because man, you got to understand, Okay, like
I believe in destiny and you know, faith and you know,
prophecy on one's life and all those things. Okay. So
I grew up in a small place. My family is
(19:36):
originally from Marlin, Texas, small country town. A few hundred
people in that town. Okay, Nobody that I knew ever
had made it to the NFL, you know, never had
made it to the Hall of Fame or anything like that. Okay.
So when I was fourteen, this prophecy all my life
(20:01):
said God will take you places you never imagine if
you honor him and give him the glory, okay at fourteen. Okay,
So with Walter Payton being my idol, to be able
to now say, I'm right beside this man in so
many different areas and stats, and I wonder Walter Payton
(20:24):
Man of the Year trophy is in my house, you know,
as one of my greatest honors. Many people talk about,
you know, the resemblance of me and Walter it's a
god thing for me. It is a god thing for me,
and I don't think it's by accident that I was
(20:45):
able to do some of those things.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
We're gonna take a short break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Your time in uh San Diego now the LA Chargers,
but your time in San Diego yourself. Drew Gates Junior say,
ou r ip, what was that locker room like? Having
all those vest Hall of famers at that Oh?
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Man, it was outstanding. But I'll tell you it was
a challenge every single day because literally, like it was
in practice, it was offensive versus defense. Who's gonna win
the day? That's the type of tone the late Junior
say I said from day one, it was like offensive.
If y'all ain't ready to go, we're gonna embarrass you today,
(21:44):
We're gonna embarrass you. And that's the way he practiced.
So it lifted everybody else on the team. It lifted
the practice, It lifted your spirit, It lifted you know,
your talent level because you had to compete every single day.
And even when year left, he had laid the foundation
where us older guys are. I would say, you know,
(22:07):
guys that were starting to come into their prime, me,
Drew Brees, you know, guys like that. The offense really
became the engine of how we practice now. And we
were like defense, if you don't bring today, we're gonna beat.
We're gonna eat y'all up today. So the standard was set.
So it was very challenging. Like the regiment that Junior
(22:29):
laid Man, you know of how to work, you know
in the weight room, and you know how to practice
and how to even take her your body and eat
was unlike nobody else, you know. So I think about
he was the main catalyst to what we had in
San Diego, all those winning teams. He was the catalyst
(22:50):
of building the foundation.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
So at what point in your career do you think,
you know what the Hall of fames, the Hall of
Fame is gonna happen for me, like I'm a Hall
of Famer. Probably like I'm trending towards I'm trying to
walk it back because I put words in your mouth.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
But let's just talk about it.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I mean, in two thousand, what was that two thousand
and six when you won the MVP.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
You were the MVP.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
You also won the AP Offensive Player of the Year
and Walter Payton.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Mannadeer in the same year. I don't think.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I don't know if anybody's ever done that before. I mean,
you gotta feel like I'm on top of the world.
Oh dude, You're like, man, I think I'm gonna be
a Hall of Famer after this.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
Yeah, No, I didn't. I did it, man, because uh,
you know, I was never one of those guys though
to look at numbers like where am I, you know,
like you know, number wise, I never. I never did that.
I just to me, I believed in, you know, the
day to day grind, tomorrow is gone. And the reason
why I believed in that was my college coach, Dennis FRANCIONI.
(23:54):
I guess it was. It was like my junior year.
I had just set the NCAA record four hundred and
six yards in one game. Okay, I'm on national television ESPN,
first time ever. You know, TCU's starting to blow up.
Coach calls me in the office. He's sitting on that
side of the table, walk in feeling good. So Coach,
(24:16):
you look at me, said throw out the paper. Feels
pretty good, right. I was just accolades and recognition, and
he said, all glory is fleeting say that again, coach,
all glory is fleeting. Do you know what that means?
I'm in college? Not really everything that you accomplished, no
(24:41):
one will care about it. One day. It will be
gone here today, gone tomorrow. And that always stuck with
me because he said, if you don't keep working, who
cares about if you just rush for four hundred yards
if you don't keep working. So I always kept that
approach with me always, and even after winning the MVP,
(25:02):
to me, it was like, what's next, you know, like
I got to prove that it wasn't a fluke. People
still at that point was like, oh, he's the best
all around back. Well, why can't I be the you know,
like best all around back? What is that?
Speaker 1 (25:22):
You know what I'm saying. So it was I could
tell that didn't affect you at all at all at all.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
And you know what, man, shout out the coach Frank
because he came to Alabama and coached me after that
and then left us after a couple of years ago
to m But he got it so much successful because
of you and what you guys were able to accomplish
at TCU. So shout out to him, you know, because
they got me. Helped me get They got me to
Alabama because they recruited me.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
They were good recruiters, they were.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
So two thousand and six, y'all go fourteen and two
Marty shotting harmers a coach divisional round, you make the
playoffs and he gets let go after that season. What's
the what's the story behind that?
Speaker 4 (26:12):
Well, there was tension leading up to that season between
the GM you know, and the head coach, Marty Schottenhammer
and the late A. J. Smith. And you know, we
had heard all the speculation, right, We heard about how
different stories that came out the building, how they weren't talking,
(26:35):
they couldn't see out of our own draft picks, you know,
different moves to make you know, around the team. But
you know we're winning. So y'all, y'all deal with that now.
I bless you. I gotta be honest. So after after
that happened, we knew the reason why we knew why,
(26:58):
you know, Marty was was the scapegoat because they no
longer those two can no longer get, you know, like
coexist if you will, And the owner, Dean Spinos obviously
had to make a decision. You know, I can't have
the organization and the flux like this, the two most
(27:19):
important people in this organization don't get along, so made
the decision to let Marty go.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
It kind of reminds you of the Bulls back in
ninety seven, ninety eight, or I think it was last
year ninety eight. Dre Cross's GM Phil Jackson head coach
Dreck Crouse says, Hey, I don't care if you go
eighty two and oh Phil Jackson will not be the
head coach. And they go out and they win a championship,
and then they let Phil Jackson go.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Like I just egos, he just finished watching he just
finished watching the last Why are you because you just
talked about it?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
But what was what is Mark? You know everybody everybody
loves stop stop. I got one.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
Marty.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Seemed like you're you're close. How did that impact you?
Like when when they let a great deal a great
a great deal.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
I looked at it as a sign of philosophy change,
you know, because I knew who the team ran through
at that time. We all knew, you know, going to
your point, your first question or your question, you just asked,
what is Marty ball? And it was about power football? Okay,
(28:37):
we were going to start with the a gap power
coming right downhill to see if you can handle it.
And it was gonna be impose your will over four quarters.
That was the mindset, the mentality of of of our teams.
And then off that you had your deep plays to
Vincent Jackson and you know, different guys that we had
(29:00):
that can go down the field. Antonio Gates was the
third down mover, you know, like he was red zone
big play guy for us like that. Okay, So when
that happened, I said, okay, philosophy for the change, like
we're gonna start throwing the ball a little bit more.
Philip Rivers was getting a little bit older, right, you know,
(29:21):
and listen, So it affected me a great deal. I
wasn't quiet about it. Let's just say.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah, because normal was a norma came tournament, came to
head coach and you had I think that was the
first year you had lesson three hundred carries. Yeah it was,
it was yeah, yeah, yeah, first as you listen, three carries.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Yeah, And it really wasn't about the carries, you know, really,
because you guys know this, the way you practice, what
you work on in practice is going to determine what
type of team. You are, absolutely so in practice we
went from nine on sevens team runs to.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Just seven on seven.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Team passed.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
You see what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
But you want to be successful in running the football,
it don't work like that. You guys know that you
gotta work on it. So then it became you know
this think LT loss a step, they can't run the ball, Like,
what's going on?
Speaker 3 (30:32):
That's how they started talking and you're like, I'm not
gonna be a productive when I got thirty five, let's carriage.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
So then when you know when that year that bounced
back year, my tenth year with the Jets, and you know,
people was like, we thought he was done. See they
fooled you. That's how they do. They fooled you, you know,
thinking that this guy can't play no more when really
(30:58):
a change in Philosopheah, And that's okay, but let's be honest.
Let's be honest. Let's not make it look like this
person has lost a step or they can't play no more.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
I get it. No, I want her to sink get it,
speak about it.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
So after you go through all those things, you end
up in New York. I want to ask you about
your retirement because you use the word that not everybody uses.
But and I want you to tell me about it.
You said you you were cool with with where you
were at. You're like reached this point. I'm graduating, That's
what you said.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Why you use that.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Term, uh, because you know football had given me so much.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Man.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
You know, I had been playing since I was seven
years old, every single year, preparing for the game every
single year, you know, like putting it all out, you know,
out there, mind, body in so right. And you know,
at that time, I felt like I had done all
that I can do. Like I was spent, you know,
(32:08):
mentally really not physically. It really wasn't a physical thing.
Could I could have continued to play absolutely mentally, emotionally,
I was done, you know. And so that's why I
said I was graduating because to me, I wasn't done
with football just as a player. I was graduating from
(32:31):
being a player playing football. When you graduate, you go
on to do something else too.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Yeah, most a lot of times better. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
So then you get into the TV space? Were you
super competitive in that TV space? When we became a
TV analyst.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
I became Yeah, I became competitive at first. You know,
it was a great way for me to transition, you know,
because I never thought like I was going to retire
and just not do nothing. I wanted to transition and
and still be involved in the game, still talk about it,
still do research and all that kind of stuff, and
it was a great way for me to transition from playing.
(33:12):
But I'll tell you when I first got into it, guys,
I was I was really shocked at the amount of
work that you need to put into it to be good.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Right.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
I didn't know how to do television starting out. I
really didn't know how to do it. And it was quickly.
It was probably halfway through the season that I looked
at myself in the mirror and I said, dog, you
got you got some work to do, Like you need
to get You need to practice. It is home extremely
you know, you need to you know, like have a
(33:44):
see a voice coach and you know, speaking coach, and
you need to take more notes. You need to watch
more fem you know all that stuff. And I went
to work, just like I did when I was a player.
I went to work and that's when I really became
more competitive aded watching guys. You know, obviously, you know,
working with guys like Michael Irvin and Deon Sanders. You know,
(34:09):
was big for me because I got a chance to
see how television is done.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Yes, you know which those guys know how to turn
it on. Oh man, So it's it's a switch. They
know how to turn it on.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
And you think, well, well, when you watch them on TV,
you're like, dude, I mean, it's just talking ball, but
it's not really all that. They also know how to
put on the production and a show. I think that's
another thing that a lot of people don't understand. When
you're in the TV world. You think, like, man, oh dude,
anybody can talk. They're just really good players. So it's
just their name and it really is a lot of
(34:43):
film study like LT's talking about. But then it's also
what kind of show, what kind of look are they
going front? And so that those personal things it can
feel personal, but you just got to look at it
from the big picture. What was your experience in all that?
I mean because me naturally when I got into it.
You know, in football, you know you want to put
(35:04):
you in high school, you want a place you can
get a scholarship. Then when you get a scholarship, you
go to school, you're like, dude, I want to start
I want to be All Conference or I want to
be All American. Then you're like, dude, I'm gonna get
to the league, right, it's like steps to it. Yeah,
in NFL, I don't think there are steps to it
like that. It's not a clear goal you get to
a the NFL R.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
I want to be a pro bowler.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
I want to be highest paid. I want to do this,
and TV is not really like that. How do you
keep the competitive juices flowing and you're able to do
it for ten years? And how do you stay competitive
with all like without understanding that. I don't know what
that next step is, but I'm still improving.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
I think I approached it much like I did when
I was a player, and the thought as a player
was I want to do as much as I can't
as much as possible as I can. Like on the field,
I want to be as diverse as I possibly can.
Why Because they'll realize how much I can do and
how much they need me. They won't say, oh, you
(36:03):
know what, he can't do this, so let's find somebody
to replace him because he can't do that.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Man.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
That was one of my biggest pet Peeves is being
able to You want me to block, I can block.
You want me to catch, I'll catch. Run outside of
y'all do that inside diversity is what I always kind
of prided myself phone. It was the same way in television,
meaning I'm on the set with you know, playmaker, you
know SAP, I gotta adjust to that energy. I gotta
(36:34):
adjust it. I gotta bring it a little bit more.
I'm on the set with somebody else that's a little
bit you know, a little you know, maybe a little
bit you know, kind of not as animated, you know,
a little bit more reserve, but more you know, detail,
very smart and very analytical. I gotta be able to
(36:54):
adjust to someone like that as well. So it was
really about learning how to adjust to different sets and shows.
And you know, you just learned how to do it.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
So that what I want to know.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
And we've never asked this question, what was your welcome
to the TV moment? What was your welcome to your
NFL TV moment?
Speaker 4 (37:16):
Oh man, it was probably one of my first shows.
You guys probably don't even remember. We used to do
a pregame day show, like before game Day Morning on
NFL Network came on and Sterling Sharp was, you know,
one of the main hosts on that show. Melissa Stark
(37:37):
was was the main host. It was like my first
year and dude, I froze up one time, thinking like,
oh crap, this is for real, this is live. I'm
on TV, you know, and it was kind of like
they tossed to me, and it was like and I
(37:58):
got stuck when I was going to say, well, it's television,
and I remember Sterling Sharp just saying, don't ever quit talking. Yeah,
he's not wrong, he said, I don't care what you say.
Do not do that.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
Quit Well, now it's like an awkward pause on TV
because now the viewers view was like.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Yeah. I was like, how did you get it? How
did you get out of that?
Speaker 3 (38:27):
It just what And it must have felt like twenty minutes, yeah,
eight seconds, max, Max Max.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
I just snapped out of it. It just started to
you know, talk, you know, I snapped out of it.
But it was that first moment where, oh, shoot, this
is for real, I'm on TV.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Oh man, that's funny. I'm like you, I didn't know.
I mean, that's real though.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
I if you've been on TV one, yes, you will
have had what was quick man.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
It's not even a welcome to the well.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
I've probably had one a couple of years, a couple
of things my first year doing TV, it's just a
couple of awkward moments and pauses. You also got there
doing COVID, so it was a totally different experience because
I didn't have people around me on the desk. I
was just talking in a camera like this and the
mixed minuses.
Speaker 4 (39:20):
I'll just tell you, you know, the other thing doing I
guarantee this happened to you, is to talk. When you
first hear people talking, when you're talking.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Like oh my god, well you're not even really supposed
to listen, but if they're trying to tell you like
to give the count out. And the first time you
hear it, when you're talking and they start talking, you
like stop. Yes, You're like oh, and then and they're
like don't stop talking. Okay, Well then it's you start
talking back to the person here in your ear.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
You're not supposed to do any of that.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
So I did a couple of that early because it
was and I'm just talking to a camera in the
middle of COVID, and so it was very, very awkward,
and it's it's something.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
You have to learn how to deal. We got to
work on it. One thing that I did do.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
I was at Old Miss this past year and they
have this whole little cheer where you kind of like
you say one thing and it starts off their whole
little fight cheer, yell thing whatever, and I totally I
said something the wrong thing and they always just looked
at me like, but.
Speaker 4 (40:19):
You're not supposed to be saying that. I mean, that's a.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
I know, but you know TV, you're trying and trying
to say it like we like everybody, so you know,
that's what that was.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
And everybody just looked at me like and then they.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Were like, that was not it, that's not it. I
was like, my bad, So yeah it was live. I did.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
I probably did, and they get They just kind of
like shows you.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's not even that bad, especially when
you just blow through it.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
It's all good. But yeah, it was. It was. It
was funny, man, it was. It was actually very embarrassing.
We're gonna take a short break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
I just didn't know how close we were, Like how
much my dog here really like helped set up all
the success I've had in my life. So you helped
set up Dennis Franconi coach Chris Sturman, who's the dB
coach at TC, who recruited me, came to my house,
ate my mom's food every week, like, recruited me hard,
showing up to all of a sudden get me to
(41:27):
Alabama despite them leaving.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
He's the one that got me there.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
And then not only that, you know you in that
draft class with you going first round, Drew going second round,
and then whatever happened, and then all of a sudden
you let you guys, let Drew get over to where
I went to New Orleans get drafted in two thousand
and six, the year he got there.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
I did not know. We were just tied to all.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
My success really from a lot of your success.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Man, this is complete privacy. And I appreciate you. Appreciate
you because I would not I don't know where I
would have done if I didn't go to Alabama but
didn't go to wherever I.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Was at, you could have came to you.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
Well, probably not, So I appreciate you. I appreciate you.
And I don't know what these people meant to you
in your life, but they meant a ton for me
in my life.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Yeah, well.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
You know their coaching staff, man, I think they were.
They were really the first staff to because they didn't
recruit me, like there was a staff before. French. You
only got there French, you only got there my sophomore year. Okay,
so I'm fit to tell you who were recruited me.
You guys gonna know the name. Remember Pat Sullivan, old
(42:42):
Auburn quarterback control. He was the head coach at TCU
at that time. He recruited me to TCU. Okay, he
got fired after my first year. We went one in ten. Okay,
only whin was smu arrival. So we beat our. I
mean we beat our the last game we were owing.
That was that was about that.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
That is great.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
It's basically my college career all four years.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
So he gets fired and Dennis Francioni and his staff
come in and and the rest is history. Like he
really coach. Fran believed in me. And then Drew Man.
Drew was a great friend. Like I knew Drew was
going to have success, like you can see it on
some guys. Some guys are just winners, like they get it.
(43:28):
And I knew Drew back in high school and so
he was a winner in high school, winner at Purdue.
He was just a winner. And when you know, when
he heard his shoulder that last game, man, and obviously
it made it easy for.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
The Chargers to make that.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
Go with Philip. I just fell for him, man. I
felt so bad for him. But I knew. I knew
he would land on his feet and that he would
have success. So you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
I appreciate that. I'm cool with that. I'm cool. You're welcome.
I like that.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
So Mount Rushmore, you get four picks of people that
have had influence, people that have poured into you, people
that I've loved on you, people that helped raise you,
teach you, mentor you from the time you were born
till today. Who are those four people?
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (44:16):
Man, boy, you got some hard hitting questions. Oh man,
I mean first, you know, obviously it's my mom. You know,
mom was you know, like when I think about I
wasn't supposed to be successful. I mean everything that you
think about that hinders a kid from being successful. I
(44:39):
had aim you know, low income family, southside of Waco, Texas.
Parents were divorced when I was young. Older brother murdered
he was in the streets selling dope, you know, all
those things societies say. You know you're gonna follow down
(45:01):
that same path, you're not supposed to make it out.
And my mom was just so strong. Man, she was
just so will to keep us on the straight and narrow,
to help us and nurture us to realize in our dreams.
So my mom was, you know, really the first person.
(45:24):
And then I would say, man, my older cousin. Man,
I had an older cousin, my mom's sister son. He
was like the big cause, seven years older than me.
And man, he inspired me because as you probably can
attest to, I tell people all the time, Texas high
school football for us as kids, that was the NFL.
(45:47):
If we got to play Texas High school football, we
made it. We're gonna be on TV. And so I
remember when I was young, my big cousin play wide receiver.
But he was starting out there Friday night lights and
I used to hang on the gate watching him. He
was my hero. Yes, so and he inspired me.
Speaker 1 (46:10):
Man.
Speaker 4 (46:11):
He used to spend time with me, picking me up,
you know, taking me places. But as he got older,
you know, it was even the life lesson stuff, Like
he got an a dope game, you know, became a
big time drug dealer, house getting raided, you know, very
close to going to the penitentiary, gave it all up,
became legit hardworking man, you know what I mean. So
(46:34):
these are the things that I'm seeing, So he has
to be he has to be on there.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
I love that you was hanging on the gate everybody. Yeah,
it's a vivid picture because I was that. I was
a kid too. That was like just looking at high
school players and it's amazing. I didn't have any family
out there, but it's amazing. Like man like my cousin
like that was it, Like that is my hero just
(47:02):
hanging on.
Speaker 4 (47:03):
Hanging on the Friday night the gate, you know, Marty
Schottenheimer and just and and you know the humility of
the man. And I'm gonna tell y'all story. So you know,
(47:23):
I knew my family history, okay, I mean and my
grand granddad, great granddad, And I knew my granddad worked
in the fields, you know, he picked cotton. Granddad. I
never got a chance to meet him.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Okay. So I had an older father.
Speaker 4 (47:39):
So my father when he had me, he was forty five,
forty six when he had my last my younger brother.
He was fifty. So imagine I had an older father.
So I grew up hearing about these stories of my granddad,
you know, in the cotton fields, you know, and boy
and all that kind of stuff. Well, Marty he had
(48:01):
you know, a bad I don't know like, you know,
he just would sometimes he would just say boy, you know,
like and it always made me cringe, you know. And
I never built up enough courage at the time to
say something to him. But over time, as I, you know,
spend more time with Marty, my wife and I would
(48:21):
go up, you know, to his summer home, him and
Pat Shottenheimer and spend time with him. So, I mean,
we would have great talks about life, how to be
a husband, you know, how to be a father, all
those things. So one day I said, coach Man, I said,
I gotta tell you. I mean, I love you, man,
(48:42):
I said, but you know, my family history ran it
down to him. I said, Coach, I can't. I can't
stand when you say boy to me, you know, it
makes me cringe. And he looked at me. He said,
lt I never thought about it. I'm so sorry. I
will never I would never use that again. He never
use it again. Just like that, he never did it again.
(49:04):
So the humility of this man, you know, and all
the talks and stuff that we you know, had over
the years, and just teach me how to be a husband,
you know, like the things that I should do. I
was freshly married, you know, and you know he was.
He was definitely you know, that person for me. And
(49:26):
then I would say, probably my my running backs coach
in high school, Walter Brown. You're talking about someone that
just cared about a kid. You know, my call would breakdown,
you know, he would come get me from Wale across town.
You know, he had a family. Anything that I needed,
(49:48):
he was there and even beyond you know, I'm talking
about it at an adolescent age because my father wasn't there.
He was really the father figure. This is sit up,
that's right, you know. You know, this is don't wear
those earrings, this is you know, that's not how we
shake my hand. You know, like stuff like that. He
really poured into me like I was his own sign.
(50:12):
So I would say, those those people are really something.
Speaker 3 (50:17):
That's a great mound. You putting your high school coach
up there makes me go back to where we started
at with you being the high school coach, understanding how
important that is. Full circle, it's full circle foundation, yes,
and that when you're the high school coach, it's not
always about the wins and losses. It's about everything else
and helping these young men become these young these young
(50:40):
boys become young men. And and it's it's that part
of it. It's going to pick them up for practice
because they ain't got a ride. It's maybe having to
buy him a little breakfast because they ain't had no
you know, And it's it's going to you know, man,
when you know they about to go out and party
and do that, Hey, be safe, you know what I mean,
(51:01):
like maybe being there because you understand what it's all about.
And so I just think that's amazing, And I know
you understand that. I probably don't have to repeat it,
but I just realized how full circle your Mount Rushmore
is into your life and where you are right now.
Speaker 2 (51:17):
Absolutely you didn't have to repeat it, but you did.
Speaker 1 (51:21):
It was just so good. I wanted him to kind
of I want him to, I want to pull something
out of him.
Speaker 2 (51:28):
Yeah, it was a good connection. I got it.
Speaker 1 (51:30):
It was good. So when you're gonna start picking up
kids whenever I need you.
Speaker 4 (51:35):
Okay, I mean I've already so I've been coaching the
last two years on a smaller scale.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
Okay, Okay.
Speaker 4 (51:42):
When I say smaller scale, I'm talking about six man football.
Yeah you know, so I started. I started there, and man,
you're talking about I was picking kids up.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
You know, do you have a big ass pickup truck.
Speaker 1 (51:57):
He's from Texas, dude, three.
Speaker 2 (52:00):
Coach got the puck, got the big pick up. Every
coach got the big pickup truck. You got the boots?
Speaker 4 (52:12):
No, oh yeah, of course, of course I got. Come on,
that's a must. You gotta have the one thing I got.
Speaker 2 (52:19):
I ain't never had the boots.
Speaker 1 (52:20):
You never had boots?
Speaker 4 (52:22):
When when you really, you know, from Texas, you got
to have the boots that are embroidery abroad with you know,
your name, your initials or so, your custom made boots.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Okay, see I don't have custom man. That's what I got.
Speaker 4 (52:37):
I got to you gotta get the customer.
Speaker 1 (52:39):
You know, I'm not from Texas.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
I'm from Texas, but I just ain't.
Speaker 4 (52:42):
I just never been a boot guy.
Speaker 1 (52:43):
I mean I got some tims that.
Speaker 4 (52:46):
No, they don't, they don't qualify.
Speaker 2 (52:51):
I got you, I got you lc A man. We
appreciate you calling on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
This was dope. I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (52:57):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
I knew some of your story.
Speaker 2 (52:59):
I didn't know all of your story. So thank you
for just expressing and opening up to us and just
letting us hear what you had to say. And I'm
really excited for the kids that you get to pour
into and hopefully one day they might make it to
the league. And when the people doing this show after us,
they asked him who they mount. Rushmore is like, oh yeah,
(53:19):
definitely Dan Thompson, Like he used to did this, He
did that, you know, my high school running game coordinator.
He did all these amazing things for him and make
it another full circle moment.
Speaker 1 (53:28):
Man, You've been blessed beyond.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
Measure and I just wish you nothing but more success
in your third phase, your third act.
Speaker 1 (53:38):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (53:38):
Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 3 (53:39):
Pledgere no doubt man and not. They're not gonna call
you the run game coordinator. You're gonna be the offensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (53:45):
No, you're gonna be the head coach.
Speaker 1 (53:46):
There it is. You're gonna be doing all that the
head coach.
Speaker 3 (53:49):
Great job, man, I gotta tell you just uh, this
is my first time actually really getting to just pull
it back and listen to you and talk to you more.
And man, you were supposed to be a statistic on
the other side listening to your story, but you're statistic.
Speaker 1 (54:01):
On the right side.
Speaker 3 (54:02):
And so we could use it as a great example
for so many other young people that could really hear
your story. And I appreciate it, and I hope we
get to share it with him, So thank you for that, Bro,
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (54:12):
Man.
Speaker 3 (54:12):
All of our viewers and listeners out there, wherever you
pick up your podcast at whether his, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts,
make sure you give us a five star rating, review,
quick follow, share, comment, you know, talk to Peanut a
little bit, tell him what he could be doing better,
all right, and uh.
Speaker 1 (54:27):
Peanut, get us out of here.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
Make sure you tell a friend and tell a friend
check us out on the NFL's YouTube channel. That's LT
I'm Peanut, That's Rome and this is the NFL Player's
second Acts podcast, a all we out
What's up, everybody.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Peanut to him and this is the NFL Player
Second Acts podcast and with me as always as my
trust co host, Roman Harbor.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
What's up?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
That did not hurt, but appreciate it. Shout out to
the qu'es out there. Hey, look, now I'm really excited
about this one. We actually have a first ballot Hall
of Famer, one of the best to ever do it.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Don't don't that's my that's my life. You're going to
read it all over but I'm just telling you what
it is. It's just the truth.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
He's one of the best, the greatest to ever do it,
and just go to bring me get out of the way,
first ballot Hall of Famer, one of the greatest dual
threats of all time, the pride, heart and soul of
Texas NFL analysts.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Now he's a high school running back coach. I love
that running game coordinator and oh running titles matter, that
words matter. Running game coordinator Ladany Thompson.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Welcome to the part.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
I apologize I forgot that running Good to see you.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Team, Thanks man, I appreciate. Oh there it is. Yeah,
shout out.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
So hey, look, let's just jump right into it. You're
in your third act. This is not your second act.
This is your third act. Uh, running backs coach Oakridge
High School. You just got off TV. You said, you
said your your goodbyes and all that other stuff. We'll
get to that. But what does that mean for you?
I mean, you're coach in high school? Yeah, Ladani and
Thomlinson one of the greatest running backs in NFL history
(01:40):
just history period, and in the same state that you
grew up in.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Like, how does that feel?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
It feels great. I won't say that I'm totally done
with television, yeah, of course, you know, but from the
I believe in seasons. Yeah, you know, my season at
NFL Network came to end, and and partly because family dynamics.
You know, kids get older. You know, you're you guys, know,
(02:07):
you're on the road a lot, doing this television thing,
doing this podcast thing. And I had an opportunity to
coach my son, you know, to be there with him,
you know, and further, you know, kind of build his development.
But you know, guys, I've always wanted to kind of
be there as as wanted like coach father type of
(02:31):
you know, relationship, you know what I mean. But also
I think, you know, with my son, he hasn't played
that long. You know, he played two years so far,
and it was a great opportunity just to you know,
be around him and get the coaching, but also poor
into you know, these kids as well, poorn to him
(02:52):
and and really you know, just share, you know, what
my knowledge and what I know. But also I think
you know, there was there was somebody obviously as we know,
somebody that inspired us to be grade or to play
the game. Coaches, you know, mentors, and having that opportunity,
I can't pass it up. So that's that's basically why
(03:15):
while I'm doing it.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
What first of all, what position does he play? And
what year is he?
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Yeah, so he plays quarterback and he's gonna yeah, he's
going to be a freshman. So even though you know
I play I played running back obviously, and people might
say what you saying, play quarterback, you're not going to
really be coaching them. But I'll be on the staff,
you know, be able to just kind of be And
I threw seven touchdown passes in the league, So let's
not forget that.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
If it was cracked tass or like look like power,
but LT did not come downhill he's going towards the sideline.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
It is.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
It is freaking past all day past, especially on shorty
yards and in the red zone.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
That is prime time right there.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
How do you think this will view this as with
your legacy being being a high scol runner back coach?
Speaker 1 (04:04):
How do you think it asks your legacy? Man? Well,
good question.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
I don't know that.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
That is a great question.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I don't know, you know, I don't know where this
is gonna take me, to be honest with you, and
I think this is just the beginning of, you know,
possibly many more years coaching. I tell you, you know, my
aspirations would be to coach offensive football and not just
be you know, a running backs coach or run game coordinator.
(04:30):
When I say offensive football, I mean like calling plays
and really designing offenses. But the thing that I really
understand now having just got into it, is the way
they play football now in high school is totally different
from the way we played it. Okay, so, scheme wise,
I'm used to a pro style offense. You know, everything
(04:53):
is based on the run game, play action, pass creating,
you know, concepts and windows and try angles in the
passing game based on the defense. Well, nowadays it's about
spreading people out r pos, you know, creating this matches. Okay,
the defense has fall over here, we got it's three
(05:14):
by one. Okay, well we're gonna work the other side
because they got us outmatched over here. So we're looking
for the matchups on the backside. It's just different concepts
that they're using now. In high school, it's more quarterback
runs now, it's more of the system of you know,
I think when I think about this type of system
that's being ran in high school, I think of r
(05:35):
G three. What he brought to the NFL. He was,
to me was kind of the start of that whole
r PO.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
He was game right, he was.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Now do you think by you being in the run
game coordinator, could you could you just go back to
how it was when we played high school?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Do you think you could do that? No?
Speaker 4 (05:54):
No, no, because the rules are different. The rules are different.
It's changed. I mean, it's more I think the passing game. Listen,
the game has changed because people want to see scoring.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
We know that.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
And it's for you defensive guys. I'm sorry for you.
They can't touch, you can't touch the back. I'm sorry
for you guys because it's tough to play play football,
but why would you not take advantage of throwing the football.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Now, they throw flags on guys in high school because
they don't look back for the ball, and I'm like,
he didn't even touch them.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
They're like, oh, he wasn't looking for the ball.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
I'm like, face guard.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
That's not a flag, it but one correct how you
should take advantage of this? And Texas is the pretty much,
I believe it's ground zero from that, everybody else in
the country has tried to emulate.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Uh Texas high school.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Football where junior high there the junior high teams running
the same offense as the high school teams. They're just
running routes at different levels. And so by the time
you get it all the system in junior high. So
then by the time you all your class gets the
ninth grade, tenth grade, eleventh grade, you guys are cooking
with Greece already because you've been running the same system
for four or five six years, same verbage, same understanding,
(07:19):
and then they just get bigger and better. I mean,
that's also why a lot of Texas athletes, as far
as recruiting, it says like, well, whatever the product you
get out of high school is usually closer to what
they're going to be at their full potential in college
as well.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
And even if we fast, like if we project these
guys in the NFL, a lot of times these offenses
are adjusting to what the quarterback was doing in college.
You know, that's where the NFL game is going. Just
look at Cam War. I read a story just the
other day that the offensive coordinated they went back and
(07:55):
watched all this film on cam War and they actually
tatered their system Verberts wise. You know, some of the
things that Cam was using at Miami, they put it
in Tennessee's offense so it can further and speed up
his you know development. So that's the way the game
is played nowadays.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I think what makes Texas so superior in football just
I'll say sports, but like in football is superior superior
That means dominant, dominant. Yeah, I know you were talking
about pompous and the words you didn't get, but ui
L like most Texas, if not all, Texas high schools
have the high schools junior how they have a UIL
(08:34):
system and you're allowed to plaise l something interscholactic.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
I don't know, I just but it allows the students
to basically have practice during school. Like so say during
football season, we would have uel our first period, we
practiced for an hour and a half during school, and
then you go to class your the math, science, and literature,
(09:02):
and then after school you get another practice. So you're
getting two full practices and then you go to your
off season and you got like a college style off
season program. We're doing the same stuff they doing in Alabama,
but I'm doing it as a freshman.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
All the way up until my senior year. Like that's,
in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
That's what makes Texas football Like it's just where I
don't know, maybe I'm a little biased, but.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
No, I'm not disagreeing with you. But you're not the
only state that does that because I practiced them in
the morning times too. But it's okay, don't worry about it.
I do want to know this though, LT, because you
talked about it briefly. What does it meant to you
to be the high school coach? That's actually because I mean,
(09:48):
everybody's got to know you, but you're actually like really
pouring into these kids.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Have you seen, like, man, like these kids.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Need that more of a perspective somebody that's done it,
because we all had coaches that never really they ain't
been on the grass like that, and so it's different.
And I know you it kind of gives you this
advantage because you've done it. But then the communication factor,
I'm sure with being in so many locker rooms, you
understand that part of it as well.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Yeah, that's the main part to me, is a communication
part of it. Making sure you know that the kids
understand exactly what you're trying to get them to do. Right.
But at the same time, I can't expect them to
be like me, so patience as well plays a huge factor.
I'm not a yeller anyway, you know, So I don't
(10:37):
really do it this way, you know, no, but uh
I do believe there's you know, probably I would say
three ways to teach it. Okay, there's on the board,
the classroom way some kids you know they're gonna learn
in the classroom. And then there's the film showing the
(10:59):
kid the like, this is your step, this is what
you're doing, you know, look at your drop all these
kinds and guys see visually, okay, that's what I look like.
Oh man, I'm doing it, I'm not stepping or whatever
it might be. And then the last part of it
is some guys just learn on the field. They gotta
go out there and do it right. So I believe
(11:20):
in those three elements of teaching it. That's how I
try to approach it. But at the same time, I
think it's also part where you have to develop the kid,
get them bigger, faster, stronger, all those types of things.
And at the same time you're loving on them. You know,
you're you're guiding them, you're teaching them, you know, kind
(11:42):
of the right way to approach every single day. Try
to dominate every single day and win every single day.
So it's fun, man, I enjoy that part of it.
I'm a huge believer in development. Why because of my story.
You know, I was this kid that was probably a
two star, three star coming out because I didn't play
(12:04):
running back until my senior year, So I developed over
time college I developed. So I really believe in developing.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I don't think I knew you didn't play running back
to your senior year.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Yes, I don't think I knew that. I don't think
I knew that.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
I got one question for both of y'all did you
so y'all played. I don't know what year it was,
but you two played in London. You had one hundred
and seventy yards.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
So that was two thousand and eight, Yeah, something like that.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Around two thousand and seven, two thousand and eight, Yeah,
somewhere around there.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
We we played the Chargers in London. You had one
hundred and seventy yards receiving or maybe it been total.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I mean it might have been total yards. Yeah, it
was so the Danien Thomlinson smoked this look.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
I remember.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I remember I tried to tackle you and you had
a yard you I saw you in the whole I
come downhill, I remember, and I went to hit you,
and then you weren't there no more.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
You missed a lot of tackles.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I mean, when you play safety, that happens. And so
it was a fantastic spin move.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
I give you credit.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
Like I I that was the first time I'd been
like Ladani and Tabs. He did not score though, you
put that up. Yeah, yeah, somebody got another back. It
was good. But the very next play you guys ran
it again because of course they wanted to try to
let you get in. And then I made the tackle
(13:27):
and so what it does for a young person at
me at the time to be able to like man
like dude, I thought I had Ladela and Thompson I
was gonna get him, and then all of a sudden
he was no longer there. And then to come back
and battle back confidence wise, yeah, like you didn't even
know it, but you made me better because I was like, okay,
if I can tackle Ladainia, especially then not even get
(13:49):
down on myself in games and confidence, especially after missing
one and then coming back. Now, that was a great game.
I know you guys probably enjoyed London as well, but
that was just my experience. I don't know how you
remember that play or anything. I think I remember our
We used to work out together. It's Chris France, yes, okay,
t finished Quest ten.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Yes, And we used to play this, uh play this
little card card game, you know, and I'd win a couple,
I'd lose a couple. But we used to take these
cards and then TV would just take them and you
throw them and you'd have to you'd have to grab
He's me you uh.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
We saw be there that.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Was like a little spot and sometimes he would throw
the fan on. So these cards are blowing in the
fan and you gotta grab.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Yeah, that was some good.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
That's why he was so good at punching the ball. Joke,
get in there and punch their ball.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
He had a nice sit from though. I think.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
So one thing I did do that that I stole
from you one of your It might have been your coach,
and when you went to New York used to used
to slap or used to punch the the squad rack,
not punch excuse me. You used to hit the used
to hit the squad rack with your hand to work
on your stiff arm.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
So that was one thing. I know.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I wouldn't stiff arm with people, but it did make
my It did make my hand a.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Little bit strong.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
So I would on your jam, Yeah, my jam, I
would just you know, I heard it at first. I'm
not gonna lie when you hit straight steel, But yeah,
I definitely stole that from you.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
When he I was like, damn, okay, Well I stole
some stuff from people too, you know, you know I
stole the heels, you know, from Walter Payton. That's right,
because in my backyard Bard. Yeah, so I mean I
think you know, AI's coach told me speaking about this
coaching thing. Okay AI's coach told me, coaching it's all
(15:42):
about stealing other people's stuff and putting it in your
you know, repertoire.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
And when you think about it, it is because you
combined everything that you was taught, different systems that you
were taught, maybe systems that you're around, and you put them,
you know, together, and you create your own playbook the.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Coaches clinic, right.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I mean, if I was a DB's coach, all I
would do is take everything that I got from everybody
else and then just take like.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
It's all me.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Yeah, but it's really just everything as I learned that harp.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Harp do it right here. This is so what moves
did you stew from any running backs?
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Well, jump cut I stole from Barry Sanders. Obviously that
that jump cut to be able to get in and
out of the hole.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
The stiff arm was something that that really I think
I always pretty much had that. I perfected it over
time because, like you said, working on it.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
What was the What's the most important part of a
great stiff arm?
Speaker 4 (16:50):
Waiting till the last second? And it's a punch. A
lot of people think you throw your arm out there
and keep it out there. You do not It is
a punch, you know, so right at the last minute
is a punch. And what I tried to do it
was two places. I wanted to hit the defender, either
in the face or in the chest, because when you
(17:12):
think about it, you guys are coming before you engage
and you do this, So if I can hit the
face or the chest, then it's gonna give me space.
So yeah, that's what I But if you now certain
guys they were quit getting up on you, Yeah, where
(17:32):
you couldn't get the stiff arm out, then I would
use the forearm to knock their arm down. Then they
got to try to tackle me one on. Yeah, that
ain't gonna happen.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
See, I was really more with with with the stiff
arm you specifically. I knew guys were they would try
to punch, so I would try to wait till the
last second, and when the guy would stiff arm, I
was trying to Yeah, as I swatted it down, then
I'm trying to just like wrap my arm around you.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So yeah, that's that's why. That's why I had to ask.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
I want to know, you know, we teach people like oh, man,
you got stiff arm, but like, what's the proper stiff
arm technique?
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I don't think we all asked to write.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I've never heard anyone ever told me exactly where they
want to hit.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Him, exactly that was. That was.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
But it's kind of illegal though, because if I'm a
dB and I hit the receiver in the face, he
already told me this is.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
All about scoring points. But when you hit me in
the face, we're.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Trying to talcle me. I just I got to be
able to defend myself.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I have to. I gotta be able to defend my
Like he's so small, Like, come on that.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
Are you aware that you and Walter Payton are the
only running backs in NFL history with thirteen thousand yards
and four thousand yards receiving.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
No, I did not know that.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
Well, welcome learning something new every day.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
He was my idol, Like he was the one guy
that I really wanted to be like, yeah, you know,
three down back, you know that you can do it,
do it all, even throw the football. So he was
a guy that I wanted to be Like, but.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
What does that mean though?
Speaker 2 (19:04):
When he just he just read that to you, though,
you and Walter Payton, I mean him being your idol,
that you were the only two people in the history
of the game to ever have that statement.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Well, you're gonna make me get so deep on you, man,
you know, because man, you got to understand, Okay, like
I believe in destiny and you know, faith and you know,
prophecy on one's life and all those things. Okay. So
I grew up in a small place. My family is
(19:36):
originally from Marlin, Texas, small country town. A few hundred
people in that town. Okay, Nobody that I knew ever
had made it to the NFL, you know, never had
made it to the Hall of Fame or anything like that. Okay.
So when I was fourteen, this prophecy all my life
(20:01):
said God will take you places you never imagine if
you honor him and give him the glory, okay at fourteen. Okay,
So with Walter Payton being my idol, to be able
to now say, I'm right beside this man in so
many different areas and stats, and I wonder Walter Payton
(20:24):
Man of the Year trophy is in my house, you know,
as one of my greatest honors. Many people talk about,
you know, the resemblance of me and Walter it's a
god thing for me. It is a god thing for me,
and I don't think it's by accident that I was
(20:45):
able to do some of those things.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
We're gonna take a short break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Your time in uh San Diego now the LA Chargers,
but your time in San Diego yourself. Drew Gates Junior say,
ou r ip, what was that locker room like? Having
all those vest Hall of famers at that Oh?
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Man, it was outstanding. But I'll tell you it was
a challenge every single day because literally, like it was
in practice, it was offensive versus defense. Who's gonna win
the day? That's the type of tone the late Junior
say I said from day one, it was like offensive.
If y'all ain't ready to go, we're gonna embarrass you today,
(21:44):
We're gonna embarrass you. And that's the way he practiced.
So it lifted everybody else on the team. It lifted
the practice, It lifted your spirit, It lifted you know,
your talent level because you had to compete every single day.
And even when year left, he had laid the foundation
where us older guys are. I would say, you know,
(22:07):
guys that were starting to come into their prime, me,
Drew Brees, you know, guys like that. The offense really
became the engine of how we practice now. And we
were like defense, if you don't bring today, we're gonna beat.
We're gonna eat y'all up today. So the standard was set.
So it was very challenging. Like the regiment that Junior
(22:29):
laid Man, you know of how to work, you know
in the weight room, and you know how to practice
and how to even take her your body and eat
was unlike nobody else, you know. So I think about
he was the main catalyst to what we had in
San Diego, all those winning teams. He was the catalyst
(22:50):
of building the foundation.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
So at what point in your career do you think,
you know what the Hall of fames, the Hall of
Fame is gonna happen for me, like I'm a Hall
of Famer. Probably like I'm trending towards I'm trying to
walk it back because I put words in your mouth.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
But let's just talk about it.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I mean, in two thousand, what was that two thousand
and six when you won the MVP.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
You were the MVP.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
You also won the AP Offensive Player of the Year
and Walter Payton.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Mannadeer in the same year. I don't think.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I don't know if anybody's ever done that before. I mean,
you gotta feel like I'm on top of the world.
Oh dude, You're like, man, I think I'm gonna be
a Hall of Famer after this.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
Yeah, No, I didn't. I did it, man, because uh,
you know, I was never one of those guys though
to look at numbers like where am I, you know,
like you know, number wise, I never. I never did that.
I just to me, I believed in, you know, the
day to day grind, tomorrow is gone. And the reason
why I believed in that was my college coach, Dennis FRANCIONI.
(23:54):
I guess it was. It was like my junior year.
I had just set the NCAA record four hundred and
six yards in one game. Okay, I'm on national television ESPN,
first time ever. You know, TCU's starting to blow up.
Coach calls me in the office. He's sitting on that
side of the table, walk in feeling good. So Coach,
(24:16):
you look at me, said throw out the paper. Feels
pretty good, right. I was just accolades and recognition, and
he said, all glory is fleeting say that again, coach,
all glory is fleeting. Do you know what that means?
I'm in college? Not really everything that you accomplished, no
(24:41):
one will care about it. One day. It will be
gone here today, gone tomorrow. And that always stuck with
me because he said, if you don't keep working, who
cares about if you just rush for four hundred yards
if you don't keep working. So I always kept that
approach with me always, and even after winning the MVP,
(25:02):
to me, it was like, what's next, you know, like
I got to prove that it wasn't a fluke. People
still at that point was like, oh, he's the best
all around back. Well, why can't I be the you know,
like best all around back? What is that?
Speaker 1 (25:22):
You know what I'm saying. So it was I could
tell that didn't affect you at all at all at all.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
And you know what, man, shout out the coach Frank
because he came to Alabama and coached me after that
and then left us after a couple of years ago
to m But he got it so much successful because
of you and what you guys were able to accomplish
at TCU. So shout out to him, you know, because
they got me. Helped me get They got me to
Alabama because they recruited me.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
They were good recruiters, they were.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
So two thousand and six, y'all go fourteen and two
Marty shotting harmers a coach divisional round, you make the
playoffs and he gets let go after that season. What's
the what's the story behind that?
Speaker 4 (26:12):
Well, there was tension leading up to that season between
the GM you know, and the head coach, Marty Schottenhammer
and the late A. J. Smith. And you know, we
had heard all the speculation, right, We heard about how
different stories that came out the building, how they weren't talking,
(26:35):
they couldn't see out of our own draft picks, you know,
different moves to make you know, around the team. But
you know we're winning. So y'all, y'all deal with that now.
I bless you. I gotta be honest. So after after
that happened, we knew the reason why we knew why,
(26:58):
you know, Marty was was the scapegoat because they no
longer those two can no longer get, you know, like
coexist if you will, And the owner, Dean Spinos obviously
had to make a decision. You know, I can't have
the organization and the flux like this, the two most
(27:19):
important people in this organization don't get along, so made
the decision to let Marty go.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
It kind of reminds you of the Bulls back in
ninety seven, ninety eight, or I think it was last
year ninety eight. Dre Cross's GM Phil Jackson head coach
Dreck Crouse says, Hey, I don't care if you go
eighty two and oh Phil Jackson will not be the
head coach. And they go out and they win a championship,
and then they let Phil Jackson go.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Like I just egos, he just finished watching he just
finished watching the last Why are you because you just
talked about it?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
But what was what is Mark? You know everybody everybody
loves stop stop. I got one.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
Marty.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Seemed like you're you're close. How did that impact you?
Like when when they let a great deal a great
a great deal.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
I looked at it as a sign of philosophy change,
you know, because I knew who the team ran through
at that time. We all knew, you know, going to
your point, your first question or your question, you just asked,
what is Marty ball? And it was about power football? Okay,
(28:37):
we were going to start with the a gap power
coming right downhill to see if you can handle it.
And it was gonna be impose your will over four quarters.
That was the mindset, the mentality of of of our teams.
And then off that you had your deep plays to
Vincent Jackson and you know, different guys that we had
(29:00):
that can go down the field. Antonio Gates was the
third down mover, you know, like he was red zone
big play guy for us like that. Okay, So when
that happened, I said, okay, philosophy for the change, like
we're gonna start throwing the ball a little bit more.
Philip Rivers was getting a little bit older, right, you know,
(29:21):
and listen, So it affected me a great deal. I
wasn't quiet about it. Let's just say.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
Yeah, because normal was a norma came tournament, came to
head coach and you had I think that was the
first year you had lesson three hundred carries. Yeah it was,
it was yeah, yeah, yeah, first as you listen, three carries.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Yeah, And it really wasn't about the carries, you know, really,
because you guys know this, the way you practice, what
you work on in practice is going to determine what
type of team. You are, absolutely so in practice we
went from nine on sevens team runs to.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Just seven on seven.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
Team passed.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
You see what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
But you want to be successful in running the football,
it don't work like that. You guys know that you
gotta work on it. So then it became you know
this think LT loss a step, they can't run the ball, Like,
what's going on?
Speaker 3 (30:32):
That's how they started talking and you're like, I'm not
gonna be a productive when I got thirty five, let's carriage.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
So then when you know when that year that bounced
back year, my tenth year with the Jets, and you know,
people was like, we thought he was done. See they
fooled you. That's how they do. They fooled you, you know,
thinking that this guy can't play no more when really
(30:58):
a change in Philosopheah, And that's okay, but let's be honest.
Let's be honest. Let's not make it look like this
person has lost a step or they can't play no more.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
I get it. No, I want her to sink get it,
speak about it.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
So after you go through all those things, you end
up in New York. I want to ask you about
your retirement because you use the word that not everybody uses.
But and I want you to tell me about it.
You said you you were cool with with where you
were at. You're like reached this point. I'm graduating, That's
what you said.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Why you use that.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Term, uh, because you know football had given me so much.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
Man.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
You know, I had been playing since I was seven
years old, every single year, preparing for the game every
single year, you know, like putting it all out, you know,
out there, mind, body in so right. And you know,
at that time, I felt like I had done all
that I can do. Like I was spent, you know,
(32:08):
mentally really not physically. It really wasn't a physical thing.
Could I could have continued to play absolutely mentally, emotionally,
I was done, you know. And so that's why I
said I was graduating because to me, I wasn't done
with football just as a player. I was graduating from
(32:31):
being a player playing football. When you graduate, you go
on to do something else too.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Yeah, most a lot of times better. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:42):
So then you get into the TV space? Were you
super competitive in that TV space? When we became a
TV analyst.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
I became Yeah, I became competitive at first. You know,
it was a great way for me to transition, you know,
because I never thought like I was going to retire
and just not do nothing. I wanted to transition and
and still be involved in the game, still talk about it,
still do research and all that kind of stuff, and
it was a great way for me to transition from playing.
(33:12):
But I'll tell you when I first got into it, guys,
I was I was really shocked at the amount of
work that you need to put into it to be good.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Right.
Speaker 4 (33:21):
I didn't know how to do television starting out. I
really didn't know how to do it. And it was quickly.
It was probably halfway through the season that I looked
at myself in the mirror and I said, dog, you
got you got some work to do, Like you need
to get You need to practice. It is home extremely
you know, you need to you know, like have a
(33:44):
see a voice coach and you know, speaking coach, and
you need to take more notes. You need to watch
more fem you know all that stuff. And I went
to work, just like I did when I was a player.
I went to work and that's when I really became
more competitive aded watching guys. You know, obviously, you know,
working with guys like Michael Irvin and Deon Sanders. You know,
(34:09):
was big for me because I got a chance to
see how television is done.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Yes, you know which those guys know how to turn
it on. Oh man, So it's it's a switch. They
know how to turn it on.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
And you think, well, well, when you watch them on TV,
you're like, dude, I mean, it's just talking ball, but
it's not really all that. They also know how to
put on the production and a show. I think that's
another thing that a lot of people don't understand. When
you're in the TV world. You think, like, man, oh dude,
anybody can talk. They're just really good players. So it's
just their name and it really is a lot of
(34:43):
film study like LT's talking about. But then it's also
what kind of show, what kind of look are they
going front? And so that those personal things it can
feel personal, but you just got to look at it
from the big picture. What was your experience in all that?
I mean because me naturally when I got into it.
You know, in football, you know you want to put
(35:04):
you in high school, you want a place you can
get a scholarship. Then when you get a scholarship, you
go to school, you're like, dude, I want to start
I want to be All Conference or I want to
be All American. Then you're like, dude, I'm gonna get
to the league, right, it's like steps to it. Yeah,
in NFL, I don't think there are steps to it
like that. It's not a clear goal you get to
a the NFL R.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
I want to be a pro bowler.
Speaker 3 (35:23):
I want to be highest paid. I want to do this,
and TV is not really like that. How do you
keep the competitive juices flowing and you're able to do
it for ten years? And how do you stay competitive
with all like without understanding that. I don't know what
that next step is, but I'm still improving.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:42):
I think I approached it much like I did when
I was a player, and the thought as a player
was I want to do as much as I can't
as much as possible as I can. Like on the field,
I want to be as diverse as I possibly can.
Why Because they'll realize how much I can do and
how much they need me. They won't say, oh, you
(36:03):
know what, he can't do this, so let's find somebody
to replace him because he can't do that.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
Man.
Speaker 4 (36:10):
That was one of my biggest pet Peeves is being
able to You want me to block, I can block.
You want me to catch, I'll catch. Run outside of
y'all do that inside diversity is what I always kind
of prided myself phone. It was the same way in television,
meaning I'm on the set with you know, playmaker, you
know SAP, I gotta adjust to that energy. I gotta
(36:34):
adjust it. I gotta bring it a little bit more.
I'm on the set with somebody else that's a little
bit you know, a little you know, maybe a little
bit you know, kind of not as animated, you know,
a little bit more reserve, but more you know, detail,
very smart and very analytical. I gotta be able to
(36:54):
adjust to someone like that as well. So it was
really about learning how to adjust to different sets and shows.
And you know, you just learned how to do it.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
So that what I want to know.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
And we've never asked this question, what was your welcome
to the TV moment? What was your welcome to your
NFL TV moment?
Speaker 4 (37:16):
Oh man, it was probably one of my first shows.
You guys probably don't even remember. We used to do
a pregame day show, like before game Day Morning on
NFL Network came on and Sterling Sharp was, you know,
one of the main hosts on that show. Melissa Stark
(37:37):
was was the main host. It was like my first
year and dude, I froze up one time, thinking like,
oh crap, this is for real, this is live. I'm
on TV, you know, and it was kind of like
they tossed to me, and it was like and I
(37:58):
got stuck when I was going to say, well, it's television,
and I remember Sterling Sharp just saying, don't ever quit talking. Yeah,
he's not wrong, he said, I don't care what you say.
Do not do that.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
Quit Well, now it's like an awkward pause on TV
because now the viewers view was like.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Yeah. I was like, how did you get it? How
did you get out of that?
Speaker 3 (38:27):
It just what And it must have felt like twenty minutes, yeah,
eight seconds, max, Max Max.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
I just snapped out of it. It just started to
you know, talk, you know, I snapped out of it.
But it was that first moment where, oh, shoot, this
is for real, I'm on TV.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Oh man, that's funny. I'm like you, I didn't know.
I mean, that's real though.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
I if you've been on TV one, yes, you will
have had what was quick man.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
It's not even a welcome to the well.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
I've probably had one a couple of years, a couple
of things my first year doing TV, it's just a
couple of awkward moments and pauses. You also got there
doing COVID, so it was a totally different experience because
I didn't have people around me on the desk. I
was just talking in a camera like this and the
mixed minuses.
Speaker 4 (39:20):
I'll just tell you, you know, the other thing doing I
guarantee this happened to you, is to talk. When you
first hear people talking, when you're talking.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Like oh my god, well you're not even really supposed
to listen, but if they're trying to tell you like
to give the count out. And the first time you
hear it, when you're talking and they start talking, you
like stop. Yes, You're like oh, and then and they're
like don't stop talking. Okay, Well then it's you start
talking back to the person here in your ear.
Speaker 1 (39:50):
You're not supposed to do any of that.
Speaker 3 (39:51):
So I did a couple of that early because it
was and I'm just talking to a camera in the
middle of COVID, and so it was very, very awkward,
and it's it's something.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
You have to learn how to deal. We got to
work on it. One thing that I did do.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
I was at Old Miss this past year and they
have this whole little cheer where you kind of like
you say one thing and it starts off their whole
little fight cheer, yell thing whatever, and I totally I
said something the wrong thing and they always just looked
at me like, but.
Speaker 4 (40:19):
You're not supposed to be saying that. I mean, that's a.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
I know, but you know TV, you're trying and trying
to say it like we like everybody, so you know,
that's what that was.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
And everybody just looked at me like and then they.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Were like, that was not it, that's not it. I
was like, my bad, So yeah it was live. I did.
Speaker 1 (40:38):
I probably did, and they get They just kind of
like shows you.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's not even that bad, especially when
you just blow through it.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
It's all good. But yeah, it was. It was. It
was funny, man, it was. It was actually very embarrassing.
We're gonna take a short break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (41:04):
I just didn't know how close we were, Like how
much my dog here really like helped set up all
the success I've had in my life. So you helped
set up Dennis Franconi coach Chris Sturman, who's the dB
coach at TC, who recruited me, came to my house,
ate my mom's food every week, like, recruited me hard,
showing up to all of a sudden get me to
(41:27):
Alabama despite them leaving.
Speaker 1 (41:29):
He's the one that got me there.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
And then not only that, you know you in that
draft class with you going first round, Drew going second round,
and then whatever happened, and then all of a sudden
you let you guys, let Drew get over to where
I went to New Orleans get drafted in two thousand
and six, the year he got there.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
I did not know. We were just tied to all.
Speaker 3 (41:50):
My success really from a lot of your success.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Man, this is complete privacy. And I appreciate you. Appreciate
you because I would not I don't know where I
would have done if I didn't go to Alabama but
didn't go to wherever I.
Speaker 1 (42:06):
Was at, you could have came to you.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
Well, probably not, So I appreciate you. I appreciate you.
And I don't know what these people meant to you
in your life, but they meant a ton for me
in my life.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Yeah, well.
Speaker 4 (42:21):
You know their coaching staff, man, I think they were.
They were really the first staff to because they didn't
recruit me, like there was a staff before. French. You
only got there French, you only got there my sophomore year. Okay,
so I'm fit to tell you who were recruited me.
You guys gonna know the name. Remember Pat Sullivan, old
(42:42):
Auburn quarterback control. He was the head coach at TCU
at that time. He recruited me to TCU. Okay, he
got fired after my first year. We went one in ten. Okay,
only whin was smu arrival. So we beat our. I
mean we beat our the last game we were owing.
That was that was about that.
Speaker 1 (43:02):
That is great.
Speaker 2 (43:03):
It's basically my college career all four years.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
So he gets fired and Dennis Francioni and his staff
come in and and the rest is history. Like he
really coach. Fran believed in me. And then Drew Man.
Drew was a great friend. Like I knew Drew was
going to have success, like you can see it on
some guys. Some guys are just winners, like they get it.
(43:28):
And I knew Drew back in high school and so
he was a winner in high school, winner at Purdue.
He was just a winner. And when you know, when
he heard his shoulder that last game, man, and obviously
it made it easy for.
Speaker 1 (43:40):
The Chargers to make that.
Speaker 4 (43:43):
Go with Philip. I just fell for him, man. I
felt so bad for him. But I knew. I knew
he would land on his feet and that he would
have success. So you're welcome.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
I appreciate that. I'm cool with that. I'm cool. You're welcome.
I like that.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
So Mount Rushmore, you get four picks of people that
have had influence, people that have poured into you, people
that I've loved on you, people that helped raise you,
teach you, mentor you from the time you were born
till today. Who are those four people?
Speaker 1 (44:15):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (44:16):
Man, boy, you got some hard hitting questions. Oh man,
I mean first, you know, obviously it's my mom. You know,
mom was you know, like when I think about I
wasn't supposed to be successful. I mean everything that you
think about that hinders a kid from being successful. I
(44:39):
had aim you know, low income family, southside of Waco, Texas.
Parents were divorced when I was young. Older brother murdered
he was in the streets selling dope, you know, all
those things societies say. You know you're gonna follow down
(45:01):
that same path, you're not supposed to make it out.
And my mom was just so strong. Man, she was
just so will to keep us on the straight and narrow,
to help us and nurture us to realize in our dreams.
So my mom was, you know, really the first person.
(45:24):
And then I would say, man, my older cousin. Man,
I had an older cousin, my mom's sister son. He
was like the big cause, seven years older than me.
And man, he inspired me because as you probably can
attest to, I tell people all the time, Texas high
school football for us as kids, that was the NFL.
(45:47):
If we got to play Texas High school football, we
made it. We're gonna be on TV. And so I
remember when I was young, my big cousin play wide receiver.
But he was starting out there Friday night lights and
I used to hang on the gate watching him. He
was my hero. Yes, so and he inspired me.
Speaker 1 (46:10):
Man.
Speaker 4 (46:11):
He used to spend time with me, picking me up,
you know, taking me places. But as he got older,
you know, it was even the life lesson stuff, Like
he got an a dope game, you know, became a
big time drug dealer, house getting raided, you know, very
close to going to the penitentiary, gave it all up,
became legit hardworking man, you know what I mean. So
(46:34):
these are the things that I'm seeing, So he has
to be he has to be on there.
Speaker 3 (46:41):
I love that you was hanging on the gate everybody. Yeah,
it's a vivid picture because I was that. I was
a kid too. That was like just looking at high
school players and it's amazing. I didn't have any family
out there, but it's amazing. Like man like my cousin
like that was it, Like that is my hero just
(47:02):
hanging on.
Speaker 4 (47:03):
Hanging on the Friday night the gate, you know, Marty
Schottenheimer and just and and you know the humility of
the man. And I'm gonna tell y'all story. So you know,
(47:23):
I knew my family history, okay, I mean and my
grand granddad, great granddad, And I knew my granddad worked
in the fields, you know, he picked cotton. Granddad. I
never got a chance to meet him.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
Okay. So I had an older father.
Speaker 4 (47:39):
So my father when he had me, he was forty five,
forty six when he had my last my younger brother.
He was fifty. So imagine I had an older father.
So I grew up hearing about these stories of my granddad,
you know, in the cotton fields, you know, and boy
and all that kind of stuff. Well, Marty he had
(48:01):
you know, a bad I don't know like, you know,
he just would sometimes he would just say boy, you know,
like and it always made me cringe, you know. And
I never built up enough courage at the time to
say something to him. But over time, as I, you know,
spend more time with Marty, my wife and I would
(48:21):
go up, you know, to his summer home, him and
Pat Shottenheimer and spend time with him. So, I mean,
we would have great talks about life, how to be
a husband, you know, how to be a father, all
those things. So one day I said, coach Man, I said,
I gotta tell you. I mean, I love you, man,
(48:42):
I said, but you know, my family history ran it
down to him. I said, Coach, I can't. I can't
stand when you say boy to me, you know, it
makes me cringe. And he looked at me. He said,
lt I never thought about it. I'm so sorry. I
will never I would never use that again. He never
use it again. Just like that, he never did it again.
(49:04):
So the humility of this man, you know, and all
the talks and stuff that we you know, had over
the years, and just teach me how to be a husband,
you know, like the things that I should do. I
was freshly married, you know, and you know he was.
He was definitely you know, that person for me. And
(49:26):
then I would say, probably my my running backs coach
in high school, Walter Brown. You're talking about someone that
just cared about a kid. You know, my call would breakdown,
you know, he would come get me from Wale across town.
You know, he had a family. Anything that I needed,
(49:48):
he was there and even beyond you know, I'm talking
about it at an adolescent age because my father wasn't there.
He was really the father figure. This is sit up,
that's right, you know. You know, this is don't wear
those earrings, this is you know, that's not how we
shake my hand. You know, like stuff like that. He
really poured into me like I was his own sign.
(50:12):
So I would say, those those people are really something.
Speaker 3 (50:17):
That's a great mound. You putting your high school coach
up there makes me go back to where we started
at with you being the high school coach, understanding how
important that is. Full circle, it's full circle foundation, yes,
and that when you're the high school coach, it's not
always about the wins and losses. It's about everything else
and helping these young men become these young these young
(50:40):
boys become young men. And and it's it's that part
of it. It's going to pick them up for practice
because they ain't got a ride. It's maybe having to
buy him a little breakfast because they ain't had no
you know, And it's it's going to you know, man,
when you know they about to go out and party
and do that, Hey, be safe, you know what I mean,
(51:01):
like maybe being there because you understand what it's all about.
And so I just think that's amazing, And I know
you understand that. I probably don't have to repeat it,
but I just realized how full circle your Mount Rushmore
is into your life and where you are right now.
Speaker 2 (51:17):
Absolutely you didn't have to repeat it, but you did.
Speaker 1 (51:21):
It was just so good. I wanted him to kind
of I want him to, I want to pull something
out of him.
Speaker 2 (51:28):
Yeah, it was a good connection. I got it.
Speaker 1 (51:30):
It was good. So when you're gonna start picking up
kids whenever I need you.
Speaker 4 (51:35):
Okay, I mean I've already so I've been coaching the
last two years on a smaller scale.
Speaker 1 (51:41):
Okay, Okay.
Speaker 4 (51:42):
When I say smaller scale, I'm talking about six man football.
Yeah you know, so I started. I started there, and man,
you're talking about I was picking kids up.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
You know, do you have a big ass pickup truck.
Speaker 1 (51:57):
He's from Texas, dude, three.
Speaker 2 (52:00):
Coach got the puck, got the big pick up. Every
coach got the big pickup truck. You got the boots?
Speaker 4 (52:12):
No, oh yeah, of course, of course I got. Come on,
that's a must. You gotta have the one thing I got.
Speaker 2 (52:19):
I ain't never had the boots.
Speaker 1 (52:20):
You never had boots?
Speaker 4 (52:22):
When when you really, you know, from Texas, you got
to have the boots that are embroidery abroad with you know,
your name, your initials or so, your custom made boots.
Speaker 1 (52:35):
Okay, see I don't have custom man. That's what I got.
Speaker 4 (52:37):
I got to you gotta get the customer.
Speaker 1 (52:39):
You know, I'm not from Texas.
Speaker 2 (52:41):
I'm from Texas, but I just ain't.
Speaker 4 (52:42):
I just never been a boot guy.
Speaker 1 (52:43):
I mean I got some tims that.
Speaker 4 (52:46):
No, they don't, they don't qualify.
Speaker 2 (52:51):
I got you, I got you lc A man. We
appreciate you calling on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
This was dope. I appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (52:57):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
I knew some of your story.
Speaker 2 (52:59):
I didn't know all of your story. So thank you
for just expressing and opening up to us and just
letting us hear what you had to say. And I'm
really excited for the kids that you get to pour
into and hopefully one day they might make it to
the league. And when the people doing this show after us,
they asked him who they mount. Rushmore is like, oh yeah,
(53:19):
definitely Dan Thompson, Like he used to did this, He
did that, you know, my high school running game coordinator.
He did all these amazing things for him and make
it another full circle moment.
Speaker 1 (53:28):
Man, You've been blessed beyond.
Speaker 2 (53:29):
Measure and I just wish you nothing but more success
in your third phase, your third act.
Speaker 1 (53:38):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (53:38):
Appreciate you guys.
Speaker 3 (53:39):
Pledgere no doubt man and not. They're not gonna call
you the run game coordinator. You're gonna be the offensive coordinator.
Speaker 2 (53:45):
No, you're gonna be the head coach.
Speaker 1 (53:46):
There it is. You're gonna be doing all that the
head coach.
Speaker 3 (53:49):
Great job, man, I gotta tell you just uh, this
is my first time actually really getting to just pull
it back and listen to you and talk to you more.
And man, you were supposed to be a statistic on
the other side listening to your story, but you're statistic.
Speaker 1 (54:01):
On the right side.
Speaker 3 (54:02):
And so we could use it as a great example
for so many other young people that could really hear
your story. And I appreciate it, and I hope we
get to share it with him, So thank you for that, Bro,
appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (54:12):
Man.
Speaker 3 (54:12):
All of our viewers and listeners out there, wherever you
pick up your podcast at whether his, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts,
make sure you give us a five star rating, review,
quick follow, share, comment, you know, talk to Peanut a
little bit, tell him what he could be doing better,
all right, and uh.
Speaker 1 (54:27):
Peanut, get us out of here.
Speaker 2 (54:29):
Make sure you tell a friend and tell a friend
check us out on the NFL's YouTube channel. That's LT
I'm Peanut, That's Rome and this is the NFL Player's
second Acts podcast, a all we out
Host
Peter Schrager
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