Chris Rodriguez Jr. is our Next Man Up! Chris shares how his second season has been and how he's always READY when his number is called. The Redskins legend Mike Sellers shares his story about his heart transplant and how he's making every day count. All that and more on Next Man Up!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Command his family.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Another special episode of Next Man Up for you, we
got ce Rod Chris Rodriguez coming off of his huge
game against the Tennessee Titans. We talk about how he's
been able to stay locked in through all the ups
and downs this season has brought to him. Then we
have a special legend joining the show. Former Redskin fullback
Mike Sellers joins the show to talk about his devastating
(00:21):
heart transplant and how he's been able to bounce back
and continue to get back to the game he loves
so much and all that. The man is family for
our next man Up, it's somebody that's very familiar with
(00:42):
being the next man up, our running back Chris Rodriguez brother.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Always good to see you.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Likewise, yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Bro.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
It's crazy because last time we spoke you as a rookie,
and a lot has changed for you since then. But
the most important thing you're married now and you got
you a wife.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
You are a husband.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
How was that? Then? That's good?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Man?
Speaker 5 (00:59):
I mean for people that don't know, me and my
girl been together for almost eleven years now, so high school, yes, high.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
School, but we was really together in fifth grade, off
and on like for the longest time.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
That's crazy.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Yes, So I mean my second year of college, we
when we you know, started to get back together. It
was like, it feels like we've been married since then,
so you know that it was just another thing just
to tie to not for real.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So going to college together and all that stuff was,
was that just like random? Did y'all like kind of
have that plan?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
So we actually we just went to the same high
school that was really elementary through high school, went to
the same school, and then when I went off to college.
You know, she at the end of high school, she
was like, you know, go do your thing. So we
kind of, you know, fell off for a little bit.
And then my sophomore year at Kentucky, Uh, she was like,
(01:51):
you know, like what are you doing. We just you know,
just catching up. And then she came up for like
a weekend, and she came up for a week. Then
it was a month and I was like, all right, stay.
So then we end up staying with each other. So
then we've been staying with each other for about five
six years now, I think maybe maybe longer than that.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Man, And that's your best friend, man, best.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Friend right here, right or die.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
How valuable is it to have her here with you
through all the things you've been through these past few years,
even the things you were going through in college. In
the last time we talked, we talked about the different
obstacles you had for soccer.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
How has she been able to help you get through
those things?
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Man?
Speaker 5 (02:24):
It's she's She's tremendous man. You know, Like when I
go through things, she understands me. You know, some people
are different, they act different ways. Uh, But me, when
I am going through stuff, the way I cope with
things is I kind of just you know, want to
be left alone for a minute. And uh, I had
a real bad problem of not talking about stuff, you know,
a lot of which a lot of men do. But uh,
(02:47):
she encouraged me to, you know, start talking about things.
And when we were when I was going through things,
especially here, like she was like, all right, you know what,
we're going to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
But when we're done, we're done. It's over with.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
And you know, stuff like that helps a lot, you know,
it helps ease the mind. And then you know, when
I did actually get cut before the Cowboys game, we
talked about it. Then we left it alone, and then
you know, whenever they did call me back to come
back up here, she was like, no, just no, this
is this is what you've been waiting for.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
When you go through those things, man, because you weren't
just cut a couple like once you cut a couple
of times, maybe've gone up and down from active to
practice squads.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
And not even on the roster.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Man.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
With all that inconsistency you're dealing with, bro, you've managed
to stay consistent.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So have you stayed locked in?
Speaker 5 (03:33):
I mean you know it's I have a goal, you know,
and my goal isn't to just be like an average player,
you know, I want to be I want to be great.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
You know.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
So when I think about that and think about who
I am as a person, my numbers called, I'm not
just going to go out there, you know, just be inconsistent,
Like it just don't run in my blood, you know.
So whenever it's my number is called, it's like, all right,
let's you gotta go out there and give it, y'all.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
And it's easy during those times to doubt yourself, yeah,
to not be positive, to be like, dang, is this
it for me?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Because that that last cut could be the last cut?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
It can you know what I mean, there's no promise
that you're gonna get called back to anywhere.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
How do you stay positive through that?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
And hasn't been tough to stay positive and believe in
yourself during you know, so much ups and downs.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Yeah, man, obviously it was tough.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
But at the same time, I knew it wasn't It
wasn't the last time I was gonna be on a team,
you know. I felt like growing up, my dad instilled
in me like, hey, like, you've worked so hard, don't
go out there and just you know, just give up.
So when I go out there, it's like, all right,
not don't give up. And when I when I did
(04:52):
get cut again, like I just knew it wasn't gonna
be the end of c ROD, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
And a lot of people focus on like when somebody
it's cut, the negative of that, right, But you know
only that you've been brought back. Yeah, So to me,
that shows a positivity from the culture staff, that says,
you know, what, we believe in this guy. Because there's
plenty of running backs they can go get this, plenty
of different guys to bring in, but they keep relying
on you.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
To you, man, when this coaching staff and this ownership says,
you know what, c Rod, listen, we don't have roof
for you right now. We want to keep you close,
we want to bring you back.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
Yeah, man, it means a lot. And uh that's one
of the things that I did notice when I when
I did have that meeting with DQ and AP, you know,
they did say, you know, we we hate to do it,
you know, but it's just you know, it's the way
that you know, things fell in line. But listen, we
love you. We would love to have you back here
on practice squad. We think you're a tremendous athlete. We
like everything you do here. So when that time came,
(05:45):
I knew that those coaches still believed in me. And
then when after the I think it was a New
York game where they told me like, hey, like you're
gonna be dressing, You're gonna be playing. I was like, man,
after it was a decent game for me, and I
told them like, yeah, I appreciate you guys. You know
you guys believing in me helped me believe in myself.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You mentioned that New York game because that's when you
really got a chance to play. I think you had
over fifty yards that game. Yes, you played really well,
but then again you get cut afterwards for that I
did during that time though, when you had that New
York game, did you think you had done enough to
stay on the roster?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Honestly, I didn't know. I felt like I did, But
at the always in the back of my head, I
feel like there's just a little bit more I could
have done, you know, when I like, for instance, like
it was third and I think one on the two
yard line and they did give me the green light
to go and score, and I didn't score, as like,
oh well, if I did score, would that have changed
(06:42):
their mind? Or maybe if I would have made a
different cut or a different reader, you know, just little stuff.
But at that time, like, you know, I'm just like,
I'm excited. I got to win, I got to play,
I got fifty yards. But at the same time, it's like, okay,
we still got work to do.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
So instead of being complacent, instead of feeling bad for yourself,
you say, you know what, these are the things that
I can self reflect on and use this time to
get better.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
As a player, exactly.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
And none of that goes into the I mean I
don't know if you were going to go into the
Cowboys game where I did. I'm like, okay, the things
that I didn't do well against the Giants, how can
I do it better? And I felt like I showcased
that a little bit. But like again, man, never complacent.
Still got work to do, yes sir.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And then man, we talking about these games is going
down the timeline. Now we're coming off of a huge
game for you, man, touchdown I think thirteen carries, ninety
five yards. Man, strong out and strong game when the
team really actually needed you yet Yeah, we were in
the lead. However, we need you know, we're down some people, man,
and we need somebody to come in and step up.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
And you did that, Yes, sir.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I gotta feel like now watching that, man. I mean
I remember actually watching the real time man, because you know,
you know, man, I love I love room for you.
I said, oh no, they ain't gonna be able to
cut them again. Yeah, ain't no way. Do you feel
like you've done enough now to solidify your position on
this team?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, I do. I feel like that.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
But again, man, it's just it's always that thought in
the back of my head, like it's happened before, so
obviously I got a good chance this week coming up,
and hopefully I get a lot of carrieres and a
lot of play time to showcase what I can do,
because man, we're still getting better. So we're gonna go
(08:26):
out there and hopefully, you know, showcase that and see what.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
All the things you have been through. Man, you get
to that Tennessee game and do what you do out there? Man,
how special was that for you?
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Bro? Man?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
It was special? It was.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
That was a really special game for me, especially man,
I mean coming off that getting cut, but it was
really special.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Man.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
I had my wife and my best friend in the
stands and you know, we talked about it. It's like, man,
like I don't want to feel that feeling no more,
you know, and my wife always sends me like, you know,
good luck text or whatever.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
But she sent the text. Man, it was.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
It almost got emotional while reading it. You know, it
was like, hey, just when you're getting the end zone,
just know you're meeting your mom there and that thing. Man,
I swear I just knew I had to go give
it my all. But man, it was it was real
special for me, and it made it feel even more
special that. You know, my teammates were happy around me.
You know a lot of people are like Chris, like
(09:25):
you seem so excited when you score. I look around, man,
my teammates were so excited for me. Everybody on the sideline, Like,
I got yelled at by coach. He was like, hey,
you're doing all that tapping up, Come over here. We
got to go through these corrections.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
So man, it was. It was a really exciting game, man.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
And you think of these moments you've had this year.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Man, You're getting married, bro, you really establishing yourself on
this team. You have this brotherhood not only just coaches,
but all the players that want to see you shine
and do well.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Man, how happy would your mom be for you?
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Man?
Speaker 5 (09:53):
She would be so happy And the crazy part, man,
Like my mom, if she was here, she'd probably be
living with me right now, be at every game.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
She'd probably be driving.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
The fans nuts because she swears up and down that
I was the best player in the world, her and
my sister. But man, I know she would be proud,
and uh, you know, every day that I go through life,
I just hope that I keep making her proud.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
And you're definitely making a proud.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Man, you're making all of us proud, and it's been
so much fun to watch you, especially like being a
part of such a special running back room. Man, what
a really good rushing team and you have a lot
to do with that. But Sodio old GI's man, you
get to play with Austin Eckler, should you even Nick Nichols? Man,
what have you gotten for being in that running back room?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Man?
Speaker 5 (10:32):
It's a lot of knowledge in that room, you know,
as far as like be robbed. You know, I was
in college the same Thomas b Robb for a couple
of years. I remember he actually had us over at
his house and I've seen he had this trophy. It
set a first team all SEC. So he made first
team and I made second team. And I used to
hate him. I used to hate him.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I was a man. I was like, man, I should
have been first team.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
And then you know, you get to meet him and
you're like, oh, man, rob was actually like a really
good dude, and you know he he's smart. You know
a lot of people don't see it, but Biro really
knows what's going on. Like he was coaching me up
today on some the Blitz pick up and I'm like, bro,
how do you know?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Just from sitting back here.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
And as far as J Mack and Austin, Man, Austin,
I watched girl.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Everybody watch Austin. You know everybody you know.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
So Austin I used to play with him on Madden
a lot, and then I got to finally meet him,
and then, uh, you know Austin.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
He he's really smart.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Like he's like one of those dudes not even just
about football but outside of football, but inside of football.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Like you see him.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
He always has his iPad. He's always writing down plays.
And he actually kept me and practiced one time and
he was like, hey, like, I don't know if I'm
practice to day, so he make sure you locked in
on all these reps. So I'm locked in. I'm like,
all right, I'm about to go in there. I need
to know all the reps. I didn't get in, but
at the same time I was locked in. I told
him like, yo, I appreciate that. And then for J Max,
(11:58):
you know man, obviously he's been cut a few times
and whatever. And when I did get my opportunity, he
you know, he came up to me before the game.
It was like, yo, like stop stressing you're good, man,
go out there and play a game. And I got
a lot of respect for him for that, man, because
I was I was nervous. I was too nervous for
the New York game. Actually I was too nervous out there.
But you know, he came up to me. It was like,
(12:19):
you know, just chill out, man, go play a game.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Man.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
That's beautiful to hear man because it's like you can see,
like through all positions on this team, there's a brotherhood there,
and I know a lot of that starts with this
coaching staff. And you're really lucky man because Anthony Man,
that's that's a former head coach. Yeah, now he gets
to work with you guys and help hold you guys.
What's it been like being coached on the anthemy.
Speaker 5 (12:36):
Man coach lamb Man. He uh, you know, he's one
of those coaches. If he coaches one, he coaches all,
you know. And you know, I didn't realize that at first,
you know, especially like I don't want to compare it
like to last year. But last year, if I didn't
get a rep, you know, I was like, oh I
get it in the game. I'm like I did this,
So what do I got. Now it's different.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Now if I don't get a rep, I'm like, all right,
I know what. I still know what I got. He
and he knows it too, Like if I'm if he
sees us not doing anything, He's like, go back there
with the quarterbacks and go get these reps, you know,
and uh man, he's he's still he's one of my
favorite coaches that I've had, you know, in a long time.
He coaches us hard, but he also prepares us, you
(13:18):
know for outside outside of work. You know, like he
asked us questions like every now and then, like you know,
what are you what are you you know, grateful for?
What do you what are you passionate about? You know
outside of football? And he kind of hit me off
guard one time asking me that, and now I's like, whoa,
But you know we had that talk and uh when
I first got here, I told him about the situation
(13:39):
my mom's and you know, we got to talking a
little bit. But uh man, I really respect that guy.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Man.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
He knows what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
He's one of my favorite people in his building because
he does give those like this ol G uncle vibe. Yeah,
Well he gonna talk to and he might not say
too much, but when he says it, man, you're.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Really exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's been great seeing what he's been able to do
with y'all. Man, and I appreciate your time, brother, Man.
Were coming off the Bible, we have the Saints. We're
gonna be in Nola, Man, coming.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Off of a huge game. See what what can fans
expect not only from you, but these commanders.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
This Sunday Man from from us.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
You know, we're, like you said, we're coming off a
boy week and a lot of people are expecting us,
you know, still beating our legs up under us.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
No, it ain't that.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
We We came back. D Q put us in the
in the right position to go out there and play hard.
So you can expect us to go out there and
play hard.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Uh in the backs.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
You know we're gonna go out there and do We're
gonna go out there and do what we need to do.
But at the same time, you know we're gonna go
out there and stay focused, get the job done.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
See Rob Man, I appreciate you always.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Man.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
You know we can sit here and talk, Sir. It's
always a great time.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Bro.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Just no, man, I'm out here rooting for you. Brother.
Every time you do well. You know you see these
suit as the game over. Man, I'm always so happy
for you. Man. I can't wait to see you to
be successful.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Bro, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Certain Commander's family. Our next man up.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
You're gonna be hearing his name a lot more in
the future. I got a feeling Chris Rodriguez, Brother, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Certain Amanda's family.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Before our next man, we have somebody extremely special, former Redskin.
It's one of the more incredible paths to the NFL
that I've ever heard. Former fullback for the Redskins, Mike Sellis.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
How you doing, brother doing good? Man, highly favorite brother.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Amen of that, Amen of that.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Man.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
We appreciate your time, man, And let's get right into
it because I mentioned that path that you had. Man,
you were eighteen years old when you started playing professional
football for the CFL, the youngest to this day still
to ever play in the CFL. Man, tell us how
that happened. Give us that backstory.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
Well, obviously that was a decent athlete in high school.
But uh, you know I never took my SATs. You know,
I never really had anybody on me to take mas Sat.
So I waited till the last day, showed up Blade
and they wouldn't let me in. So I went and
played Juco for the first quarter and then right after
Juco went straight to Canada.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Dang man, what was that journey like?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
When you're your Juco kid, you definitely have the skill
set to be in the league, to being in a
high college.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Then you go to the CFL. What makes you make
that decision?
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Because again, that's not something that was done by others before,
especially your age.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
What went into that?
Speaker 6 (16:12):
I just meant I was bill different man. I came
out of high school. I was six three, two fifty
running a four or five forty. Not nobody athletic is
I could possibly be? I just my arrogance, to be honest,
it kind of helped me out, you know, knowing that
I was like, ain't nobody gonna beat me, ain't nobody
(16:34):
take me? Let's make that jump?
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And what was it like when you made that jump?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You're eighteen years old, you go into a whole new country,
You're you're a professional athlete.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Now, what was that like for a young eighteen year
old Mike?
Speaker 6 (16:50):
You know, being in a different country, being that young,
you know, and uh, you know it was different.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
I tell you that.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
You know, it was more of my mom worried about
me than anything. Dealing with the phone calls every day,
being so young, and you know, being in a different
country where you can actually drink, you know, you know,
that was a little different. But other than that, man,
the mindset was there. You know, It's like, I'm going
to win me at position and it worked out.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
So was the goal just to make a position and
make a name for yourself out in the CFL? Or
did you go to the CFL knowing, hey, this would
be a way for me to actually get to the NFL.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
It was my stepistone. I knew where I wanted to be.
I knew where I should be. It was just a
matter of me taking a different path to get there.
So you know, they wouldn't hold me back. You know,
like I said, I was self shit. I knew what
I could do. Just had to put it on film. Man,
That's what I did.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
So you're out there in Canada and then you do
good enough to you do get that call. You do
get that call from the NFL, the Redskins call. You
said they want to bring you in What was that moment, like,
you take a chance on yourself, You take a gamble
on yourself, probably a lot of people telling you that
this probably isn't the best to take, but you do
it anyway with that self confidence. What was that phone
call like when you're like, oh, man, I'm going back
to America.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
Man, I mean, that's all I ever wanted to do
is play football, so, you know, especially at the highest level.
And I kicked, biting, scratched to get to where I
was at and there was nothing going to stop me.
And uh, like I said, I had to put the
film out of the shelf, do it. You know, bears
up in Canada And next day, you know, I'm playing
(18:29):
with the Skins and getting that phone call from them. Man,
that's just the blessing.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
You know.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
I had the opportunity to go other places, but some
just kept telling me, you know, DCS was power for
me to be And uh, you know, just twelve years later, yeah,
I am playing, you know, playing with the Redskins.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
So and you said it's what you always wanted to do.
So I want to kind of run it back a
little bit because you said football is what you've always
wanted Where did that come from? Where did your love
for the game come from?
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Man, I've been playing football since I was four, never
missed the or wow. Yeah, you know that that's just
it was built in me. You know, no one ever
made me play football. There's something I chose to do. Uh.
No one really put me to the side and actually
taught me the sport, you know. I mean I was
dealing with my little league coaches, you know. Uh, I
(19:18):
did all in the film work. You know, I studied
up on what I needed to learn. I just knew
that it's either that or going to the military. So
my dad was retired military, so you know I knew that.
I knew that very well. So it's either one the
military NFL one of the two.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
A lot of times you're growing up a military brat.
That's really it's like college, career or military. It's like
nowhere between there.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Man.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
So I definitely understand if I wasn't doing this now.
My dad told me the same thing, where you will
be in the military.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Get it, I understand.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Man.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
So you get this dream, Man, you get that call
from the NFL and you go over to the Redskins,
but you've already spent a few years in Canada. What
was that transition, Like, what would the difference is there?
Speaker 6 (20:01):
Oh, man, I said, I said it before I said again,
speeded the game. You know, there's a lot of people
that was fast like me, big like me, Bigger than me,
you know, faster than me. You know, when you get
to the league, everybody big, quick, physical factives, you know,
And that was an adjustment for me. But like I said, man,
my arrogance about the game and how good I knew
(20:23):
I was, that wasn't gonna stop me.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Man.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
You know I'm gonna hit you. I don't care who
you are, You're gonna get hit. And that's one way
I made a name for myself on you know, getting
to their squad. Was when it came down to training camp,
you know it was gonna be a battle, and I
made it shirt. Let it be known that I was
coming down here on you.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
And it had been so tough because the name of
the game, especially like when you first come to a team,
is making a name for yourself. And you know there's
total polls, right you are a number one draft pick
or your seventh round pick. There's different ways that you're
going to fall into that depth truck when you get in.
But then you're somebody coming from Canada, you might be
even lower on the total pole than even that seventh around.
Pick Man, how did you come in and make a
name for yourself when you first got to the Reskins.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
Man, I just grinded, you know, every day. You know,
just I was grateful to come to practice. I was
always happy to be a practice. You know, people's worst day,
it was my greatest day, you know, like I just
knew every opportunity that I had was right in front
of me, and I had to make sure I took
advantage of it every single day. And you know, studying
(21:26):
playbook all that stuff. In the weave room. They had
to kick me out the weight room because I I
mean I was just I was a nut in the
weight room. I mean I knew that was gonna keep
me outy and I have a long career, which it did,
and you know, just I just grind it.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And that's really the story of your career, right, just
grinding and self belief. Because even when you come to
the NFL for that first time, you have your stint,
but then you go to Cleveland and then you get
cut and then the NFL's done. That dream might be
over at that point. It wasn't for you. But in
that moment, did you feel like, okay, after you got
cut by Cleveland, that your NFL might be done?
Speaker 4 (22:02):
You know for a brief moment, and then I just
you know, the regroup check.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Myself, tighten myself up, and uh, you know, just get
back on their ground again. And you know, the second
time around, I got a second chance. Man, I'm blessed
for that, you know. Uh, you know, the guys in
the front office knew who I was and what kind
of cat I was, and they knew I wasn't a
bad dude, and you know, they brought me back and
(22:30):
I made the best of it coming back my second
time around.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
And you said you had that little stinck. You had
that moment though, where you're like, dang, this might be it.
But you got yourself out of that. You can't do
that alone, right, Nobody does this journey alone. Nobody goes
through these ebbs and flows alone. Who and what helped
you get through that small part where you kind of question, hey, man,
am I done?
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Man?
Speaker 6 (22:51):
It was me. I won't lie really, I had to
do a self check. Wow, you know, because I don't
listen to nobody, but.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Me, ain't nobody gonna tell me what to.
Speaker 6 (23:02):
Do because what I've done my whole life is that
mean where I was at, I've I've been dealing with dollars.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
I've been dealing.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
With all kinds of people telling me I can't, I
couldn't and I shouldn't, and I made it. So you know,
all all the people said I had messed up this,
this and that. I just smiled in their face and
be like, I'll be back.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
And you wore back, but before you got back to
the Redskins, you went back to the CFL. Was there
anywhere luck to see leaving the NFL again to go
back to the CFL? Or You're just like, yo, whatever
it takes, I'm gonna make it happen.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
Man, I'm playing football. One, I'm playing football. I'm doing
what I do best. And I knew I said, like
I said, you know, when you put good film out
there constantly on everyday basis, somebody's gonna see you. And like, luckily,
like I said, you know, the people from Skins, the
(23:54):
front office, they knew I was a good dude.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Man. You know, just you know, people make mistakes. You know.
Speaker 6 (24:00):
You know that doesn't necessarily mean you're a bad person,
but you know he learned from the mistakes and I had,
and they gave me a second chance. And the best
thing about it was when I came back, Joe Gibbs
put me to the side and he's like, look, Mike,
I don't care what you did before. I need you
now and I need to know that I can count
on you coming from coming from Joe Gibbs. Man, that
(24:24):
you know, that's all you need to say, you know.
So ever since then, man, I was on the straight now,
doing what I had to do, being that leader and
just trying to win for the skins, you know.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
And not everybody's receptive to those kind of moments right
where somebody pulls you to the side, it just has
a real man and man conversation with you.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
But he clearly did that because he believed in you.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Man, how much did that belief from a coach like
Joe Gibbs mean to you at that time?
Speaker 6 (24:51):
That, I mean leaves some bounds. I mean to this day, man,
that man have a great relationship. And when I was
in the hospital, he called me, gave me a shout
out on video. You know, I mean, call me out
the blue, just say you know how you doing. You know,
just want to check on you. Ain't talking you a lot,
so you know, I love it.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
Man. I'd have ran through brick wall form over and
over again without a question.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
And you ran through a few big raws for man,
because you come back and then it's crazy you have
this journey, but then you come back and you're not
only successful, but you end up being one of the
best to do what you do. You end up making
the Pro Bowl. Man, How amazing was that?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Man?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
When you found out you were going to be a
Pro Bowl full back and only a Pro Bowl fullback,
but a starter.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
After everything Mike Selis have been through to this point.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
You know, the most frustrating part about it was that
was a seven time first alternate, seven behind all people
all start.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
You know, so I mean to finally get that nod man.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
You know, it's just my trials and tribulations are work
that I've been you know, I put in and you know, man,
that never give up attitude and just I knew I
actually be. I knew and it was just a matter
of time for me to get there. So that you know,
just kept like I said, grind, grind and grind, that's
(26:14):
what it is. Finally somebody noticed.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
And Mike, as I read your story, you know, preparing
for this interview, and even as I talk to you
and hear you talking right now, the grind, the belief
and just a fighter, a true warrior has been your
whole story. So it's wild to think that you go
through all of these things, but then your toughest battle
is after the NFL when you have to have a
heart transplant.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Now, can you tell us what happened?
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Like, what made you find When did you find out
you needed a heart transplant?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
What was wrong? What was going on? Can you just
tell us that story a little bit.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
Well, forgive me for one, if I get a emotional.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
It's okay, man, Hey, listen, you get out whatever you
need to get out. Man, who.
Speaker 6 (27:03):
There was a it was a long road, you know,
to be the health nut that I was, always in
the gym, always eating right, always doing the right things
to make sure my body was okay.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Especially after retirement, to find out my heart was feeling.
Speaker 6 (27:27):
That's a I don't care what kind of man you are,
that's that's a blow. You know I can conquerhim many things,
but you know, I put it in Guy's hands, you know,
to take care of me and look out for me.
It's a blessing. I tell you that because there was
a few times even the nurses told me when I
(27:49):
came to, I thought that was out of a coma
first of all, flat line twice. And when I came to,
the nurses were like, there were times, Mike, we didn't
think you were gonna make it. And to be where
I'm at right now, I'm at work. I'm in one
(28:10):
of the meeting rooms right now. And to be back
coaching and to see my kids and the reception I
got when I came back, you know, I came back
two months after my heart transport. My wife was too
happy about that, but uh, you know, I had to
get back, man, because I had been blessed so much
(28:32):
in life. I just blessed the kids that I'm with now,
you know, give them the knowledge I have, you know,
and the desire to succeed like I have.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
You know.
Speaker 6 (28:46):
Uh, It's been it's been a long road, man, but
I'm back. I'm about eighty five ninety percent. Uh still
got the ways to go, dude, I went in the hospital,
I was three hundred and ten pounds solid, and I
came out the hospital two hundred and thirty pounds in
a matter of four months. Yeah, so I mean I
(29:10):
I had to learn how to walk. I had to
learn and feed myself again. You know, for somebody who's
been so dominant through my whole life and to be
in a sense helpless, you know, you gotta take pride
at the door, you know what I mean, accept all
(29:32):
the help you can get.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
That couldn't have been easy for you, because you said
it earlier when we were talking. You said, you do
things on your own. Nobody could check you, nobody could
tell you what to do. You do things the way
you want to do it. But now you're in a
position where you're completely vulnerable, where you can't take care
of yourself, where you have to lean on others. How
tough was that for somebody like you that's so used
to being independent and just being, like you said, this
big strong man, and now you need help from others.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Man.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
I got the best wife on the planet, and he
was my supports system. He was there every day at
the hospital with me, didn't miss the day, quite a job,
just though she can be with me, bade me clean me,
(30:21):
it's system me to go to the bathroom. I mean,
she was there every step of the way. And I'm
fortunate that I got that woman in my corner.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
We all feel fortunate that she's there for you, man,
I mean I feel fortunate just being able to sit
and talk to you today.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
You look great, you sound great, And I appreciate the
vulnerability because I know these conversations aren't always easy, but
there's people going through the same thing that you went through.
There's people that are in it right now and that
are like feeling, Man, I might not ever get through this.
I might not be able to make it, but somebody
like you and your testimony and your honesty and your courage,
people could look at that and say, Okay, if Mike
can do it, I can do it.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
So I really do appreciate you like talking about this
because again, it's something that happens to a lot of people.
You could be the healthiest, strongest man, just like yourself right.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
And still go through these things.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Man.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And I know the transplant process isn't an easy process.
How long did it take for you to find that
donor to find that person to be able to help
you out. Man, What was that process like, Cause again,
I'm sure there's plenty of other people going through that
same thing in real time.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Man.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
I had to earn my heart in the sense man,
just the physical therapy stus I was doing. I was
going above and beyond, you know. I had to show
them that I wanted and I deserved it and just
never give up attitude. Man, doing what I had to do.
I didn't feel like getting up to go walk. I
(31:46):
had to go walk. If I had to go. Whatever
they wanted me to do, I did it, and so
I ended up they ended up. I worked so hard
they moved me up to the top of the transplant
list from a guy to just came in the hospital.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
You know.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
They moved me up to the top because they seen
how dedicated in the heart I worked. And it took
me nine days once they put me on the transplant list.
Took me nine days to find my heart.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
And during you said you were in a coma.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Was that during the process of getting the transplant or
did that happen before when they found out you needed it?
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Well, I was.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
I was in the hospital from the beginning of January
to then the May.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
More. This is it this year? Is that of this
year or last year?
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yeah? This year, this year, this year.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
So you know, they were trying to find everywhere, every
way to not have me have a transplant. I mean,
I had impellers put in me, and I've had every
type of mechanical device put in me you could possibly
think of to save my heart so I didn't have
to have it. And they got to the point where
(32:59):
it just took a turn, and you know, they had
to put me under and I think it was in
a coma for nineteen days something like that.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
And man, bro Man, you said you have the coma.
You say you flat lined a few times. Are you
aware of any of this while you're going through it?
Or is this just something you wake up one day
and people tell you all of this happened.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Did you have any awareness through all of this.
Speaker 6 (33:32):
I don't remember most of my time at the hospital.
I really don't, and I mean I mean on all
kinds of stuff. I mean, it was bad. It was
worse for my wife because she's seen the decline in
me when I couldn't tell you know, she's seen all
the stuff I was going through when I was asleep.
(33:54):
I went through a bout of delirium where I mean
I thought people were trying to attack me. And I
mean I was swinging on nurses. I mean, it was
I mean, it was it was bad. I mean, and
when I came to, and that was cognizant of what
was going around me, you know, you know, and that
started when I was feeling better. My wife would tell
(34:17):
me some of the stuff that has happened, and you know,
I just as the time where I broke down and cried,
that's not the you know, I was swinging on lady
nurses and but I didn't know, you know, to me,
(34:40):
I thought I was being robbed, you know, I.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
Mean, I had no clue. So but yeah, it's been crazy, bro,
it's been crazy. It's been crazy.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
Well, Mike, I do hope you give yourself grace through
all of this, man, because I mean, clearly you weren't yourself,
and clearly you were going through things that I mean
a lot of people wouldn't even be able to make
it through. So you're just out there fighting and battling, man.
So I do hope you give yourself grace and I
know it's tough as a man when you hear things
like that, especially because that's so out of your character,
especially growing up military. I already know you probably grew
up just like I grew up. That kind of stuff
(35:13):
don't fly. So like, Man, I hope you do give
yourself grace because you know you're just going through this, man,
and nobody has a blueprint for how to get through
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
But somehow you found a way to get through.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
Man.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
You get your heart transplant.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
You're in the hospital for months, but then you get out.
What was that part like for you, Mike, when you're
hearing these things now you know you're hearing what you've
been through, but now you're part of that recovery.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
What was that part like for you?
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Man?
Speaker 2 (35:39):
How tough was that or was it something where you
were just grateful to just have another day on this earth?
Speaker 4 (35:47):
Ollie above I mean first and foremost man, my kids,
my wife.
Speaker 6 (35:52):
You know, I live for them, you know. In the
thought process of me not being around to raise my
kids and take care of my wife, man, its just
it's something I just couldn't fathom, you know. And you know,
now I get a chance to help people out. You know,
my speak on it actually got to keep teammates and
(36:13):
I won't say their names, but they're going through some
issues and they know what I've been through, and they've
called on me to ask what to expect and you know,
what should I do?
Speaker 4 (36:24):
How you doing this? Like what helped you get through?
And I'm just a sounding boy. Man.
Speaker 6 (36:29):
If I could reach out and touch anybody to help them,
to talk them through things or whatever, man, that's what
That's what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Just trying to let people know.
Speaker 6 (36:40):
Man, go get checked out, because you know, like I said,
I was the healthiest dude after playing football, you know,
and for this to happen, you know, they can't happen
to anybody, you know.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
So you know, I'm grateful. Man.
Speaker 6 (36:54):
I say my blessings every morning I get a chance
to wake up, because every day is not given, you know,
So for me to wake up every day, I'm thankful.
You know, the life itself, things that are going in life. Man,
you know, I pay attention to things a lot more.
I see things a lot more. You know, stuff I
never paid attention to before. You know, I notice things,
(37:18):
you know, And I'm just grateful. And I'm a different
person now than I ever been. Just you know, I
got more patient. You know, life's to be short. Don't
pass things by too fast, you know, take time and
just kick back and observe and see things. You know,
And and that's all I've been doing, man, Just getting health.
(37:38):
My wife's been taking care of me, feed me good food,
getting me back healthy again, gating my way back, yes, sir,
and being around these kids. You know, I work at
one of the best schools in the in the world.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Period and can't nobody even argue with that. And I
get to coach some of the best.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
High school athletes in the nation, So you know, you know,
coming back to work was a big healing factor for me.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
Man.
Speaker 6 (38:04):
Just to come back and get these kids where they
want to go and help them earn their goals and
achieve everything that they want to achieve in life. Man,
that's a that's my blessing.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Hey man, Mike Man, that is great man.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
And your story is a blessing because again, your story alone,
of your testimony would help so many people going through
the same thing to see somebody like you that they've
probably looked up to since.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
They was younger going through the same things. Man, I'm
sure it means a lot.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
I'm sure your former teammates, as you mentioned, means a
lot to them hearing from you. And now you're good man,
Now you're back healthy, like you said, you're coaching now man.
And where are you coaching at right now? You said
you have the best school. What was the name of it?
Speaker 4 (38:40):
I'm at IMG down in Florida.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Oh man, Ah, So you really you live? You live
in that good life.
Speaker 4 (38:49):
Hey.
Speaker 6 (38:49):
We don't want for much down here, man. We got
everything we need. We just trying to win national championships.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yes, sir, yes, sir, and we love that.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
And Mike, as you mentioned, you talked about people going
to get checked out and that early detection. How did
you find out that you were going to have these
heart problems? How did you get how did you detect that?
Speaker 6 (39:06):
I just I was tired. I didn't have energy to
go to the gym. I just, you know, some just
didn't feel right. I couldn't go to sleep. When I
closed my eyes, I got like this dizzy sensation, like
I had to sleep sitting up, and I just some
weird stuff was just happening to me. And you know,
I don't ever go to the hospital. My wife will
tell you. You gotta tell me. Could have bumped a car
(39:29):
to get me to go to the hospital. And there
was this one day. I just looked at it and
I said, you know, I need to go to the hospital.
My wife looked at me like I was crazy, Like,
oh wait a minute, he saying he needed to go
to hospital. Something really going on. So and thank god
I did, because you know, I would have never known,
would have never known. And they told me I shouldn't
(39:51):
be here. I shouldn't, they said, Mike, if you hadn't
stayed in the shape that you were in, you you
would have been dead. Graceful God, man, I'm still here.
I'm still moving, I'm still coaching, I'm still doing everything
just to you know, just do guys. Grace man, I'm
I'm still moving, still getting on his kids nerves.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
That God is so good.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
And I think it's just a testimony to your job's
not finished here.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
You still got work to do.
Speaker 4 (40:21):
Man.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
You go through all of those things flatline multiple times, man,
A coma the worst thing is a lot of things
that people would never be able to get through. But
you're still here, man, and you're still affecting lives. Mike,
so thank you so much, man for taking the time
to come and talk to us on Next Man Up. Man,
your story is so powerful and so impactful, and I
hope you know the amount of love and admiration you
have here in the DMV from your Burgundy and Gold family.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
You are a redskin, one of the best at your position,
and we just appreciate you and love you.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
Man.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
We hope you come back to the DMV.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Hope you catch a game before the season is over, Man,
and just be around these folks, because I'm telling you, Man,
the DMV loves you so much and we're just so
happy that your back and healthy. And Brother, let me.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Tell you, man, I won't smoke.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
You look good, Brother, You look good, Man, so like
if you wouldn't have told me what you had been through.
You do not look like what you have been through, man,
And that's a blessing in itself. Man, So thank you, Mike.
Speaker 1 (41:12):
Appreciate Yes, sir, Yes, sir, Man.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
We have to have you back on MA have to
have you pull up to the studio, Mike, and good
luck for the rest of this season with your squad.
Bro all right, appreciates man, command is family. Our Next
man Up. The amazing, the honorable Mike Sellers. Thank you,
brother Command, this family. We hope you've enjoyed this special
episode of Next Man Up. If you want to catch
our old episodes of Next Man Up, you can on
(41:36):
the Commander's YouTube page, or you can stream the audio
wherever you get your podcasts. I am Brian Coble Jun
and this is the Next Man Up Podcast.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
I'll catch y'all next Friday.
Speaker 4 (41:46):
Come on
Command his family.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Another special episode of Next Man Up for you, we
got ce Rod Chris Rodriguez coming off of his huge
game against the Tennessee Titans. We talk about how he's
been able to stay locked in through all the ups
and downs this season has brought to him. Then we
have a special legend joining the show. Former Redskin fullback
Mike Sellers joins the show to talk about his devastating
(00:21):
heart transplant and how he's been able to bounce back
and continue to get back to the game he loves
so much and all that. The man is family for
our next man Up, it's somebody that's very familiar with
(00:42):
being the next man up, our running back Chris Rodriguez brother.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Always good to see you.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Likewise, yes, sir, thank you.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Bro.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
It's crazy because last time we spoke you as a rookie,
and a lot has changed for you since then. But
the most important thing you're married now and you got
you a wife.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
You are a husband.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
Man.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
How was that? Then? That's good?
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Man?
Speaker 5 (00:59):
I mean for people that don't know, me and my
girl been together for almost eleven years now, so high school, yes, high.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
School, but we was really together in fifth grade, off
and on like for the longest time.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
That's crazy.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Yes, So I mean my second year of college, we
when we you know, started to get back together. It
was like, it feels like we've been married since then,
so you know that it was just another thing just
to tie to not for real.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
So going to college together and all that stuff was,
was that just like random? Did y'all like kind of
have that plan?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
No?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
So we actually we just went to the same high
school that was really elementary through high school, went to
the same school, and then when I went off to college.
You know, she at the end of high school, she
was like, you know, go do your thing. So we
kind of, you know, fell off for a little bit.
And then my sophomore year at Kentucky, Uh, she was like,
(01:51):
you know, like what are you doing. We just you know,
just catching up. And then she came up for like
a weekend, and she came up for a week. Then
it was a month and I was like, all right, stay.
So then we end up staying with each other. So
then we've been staying with each other for about five
six years now, I think maybe maybe longer than that.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Man, And that's your best friend, man, best.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Friend right here, right or die.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
How valuable is it to have her here with you
through all the things you've been through these past few years,
even the things you were going through in college. In
the last time we talked, we talked about the different
obstacles you had for soccer.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
How has she been able to help you get through
those things?
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Man?
Speaker 5 (02:24):
It's she's She's tremendous man. You know, Like when I
go through things, she understands me. You know, some people
are different, they act different ways. Uh, But me, when
I am going through stuff, the way I cope with
things is I kind of just you know, want to
be left alone for a minute. And uh, I had
a real bad problem of not talking about stuff, you know,
a lot of which a lot of men do. But uh,
(02:47):
she encouraged me to, you know, start talking about things.
And when we were when I was going through things,
especially here, like she was like, all right, you know what,
we're going to talk about it.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
But when we're done, we're done. It's over with.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
And you know, stuff like that helps a lot, you know,
it helps ease the mind. And then you know, when
I did actually get cut before the Cowboys game, we
talked about it. Then we left it alone, and then
you know, whenever they did call me back to come
back up here, she was like, no, just no, this
is this is what you've been waiting for.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
When you go through those things, man, because you weren't
just cut a couple like once you cut a couple
of times, maybe've gone up and down from active to
practice squads.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
And not even on the roster.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Man.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
With all that inconsistency you're dealing with, bro, you've managed
to stay consistent.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
So have you stayed locked in?
Speaker 5 (03:33):
I mean you know it's I have a goal, you know,
and my goal isn't to just be like an average player,
you know, I want to be I want to be great.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
You know.
Speaker 5 (03:44):
So when I think about that and think about who
I am as a person, my numbers called, I'm not
just going to go out there, you know, just be inconsistent,
Like it just don't run in my blood, you know.
So whenever it's my number is called, it's like, all right,
let's you gotta go out there and give it, y'all.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
And it's easy during those times to doubt yourself, yeah,
to not be positive, to be like, dang, is this
it for me?
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Because that that last cut could be the last cut?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
It can you know what I mean, there's no promise
that you're gonna get called back to anywhere.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
How do you stay positive through that?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
And hasn't been tough to stay positive and believe in
yourself during you know, so much ups and downs.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
Yeah, man, obviously it was tough.
Speaker 5 (04:30):
But at the same time, I knew it wasn't It
wasn't the last time I was gonna be on a team,
you know. I felt like growing up, my dad instilled
in me like, hey, like, you've worked so hard, don't
go out there and just you know, just give up.
So when I go out there, it's like, all right,
not don't give up. And when I when I did
(04:52):
get cut again, like I just knew it wasn't gonna
be the end of c ROD, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
And a lot of people focus on like when somebody
it's cut, the negative of that, right, But you know
only that you've been brought back. Yeah, So to me,
that shows a positivity from the culture staff, that says,
you know, what, we believe in this guy. Because there's
plenty of running backs they can go get this, plenty
of different guys to bring in, but they keep relying
on you.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
What does that mean?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
To you, man, when this coaching staff and this ownership says,
you know what, c Rod, listen, we don't have roof
for you right now. We want to keep you close,
we want to bring you back.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
Yeah, man, it means a lot. And uh that's one
of the things that I did notice when I when
I did have that meeting with DQ and AP, you know,
they did say, you know, we we hate to do it,
you know, but it's just you know, it's the way
that you know, things fell in line. But listen, we
love you. We would love to have you back here
on practice squad. We think you're a tremendous athlete. We
like everything you do here. So when that time came,
(05:45):
I knew that those coaches still believed in me. And
then when after the I think it was a New
York game where they told me like, hey, like you're
gonna be dressing, You're gonna be playing. I was like, man,
after it was a decent game for me, and I
told them like, yeah, I appreciate you guys. You know
you guys believing in me helped me believe in myself.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You mentioned that New York game because that's when you
really got a chance to play. I think you had
over fifty yards that game. Yes, you played really well,
but then again you get cut afterwards for that I
did during that time though, when you had that New
York game, did you think you had done enough to
stay on the roster?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Honestly, I didn't know. I felt like I did, But
at the always in the back of my head, I
feel like there's just a little bit more I could
have done, you know, when I like, for instance, like
it was third and I think one on the two
yard line and they did give me the green light
to go and score, and I didn't score, as like,
oh well, if I did score, would that have changed
(06:42):
their mind? Or maybe if I would have made a
different cut or a different reader, you know, just little stuff.
But at that time, like, you know, I'm just like,
I'm excited. I got to win, I got to play,
I got fifty yards. But at the same time, it's like, okay,
we still got work to do.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
So instead of being complacent, instead of feeling bad for yourself,
you say, you know what, these are the things that
I can self reflect on and use this time to
get better.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
As a player, exactly.
Speaker 5 (07:08):
And none of that goes into the I mean I
don't know if you were going to go into the
Cowboys game where I did. I'm like, okay, the things
that I didn't do well against the Giants, how can
I do it better? And I felt like I showcased
that a little bit. But like again, man, never complacent.
Still got work to do, yes sir.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
And then man, we talking about these games is going
down the timeline. Now we're coming off of a huge
game for you, man, touchdown I think thirteen carries, ninety
five yards. Man, strong out and strong game when the
team really actually needed you yet Yeah, we were in
the lead. However, we need you know, we're down some people, man,
and we need somebody to come in and step up.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
And you did that, Yes, sir.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I gotta feel like now watching that, man. I mean
I remember actually watching the real time man, because you know,
you know, man, I love I love room for you.
I said, oh no, they ain't gonna be able to
cut them again. Yeah, ain't no way. Do you feel
like you've done enough now to solidify your position on
this team?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, I do. I feel like that.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
But again, man, it's just it's always that thought in
the back of my head, like it's happened before, so
obviously I got a good chance this week coming up,
and hopefully I get a lot of carrieres and a
lot of play time to showcase what I can do,
because man, we're still getting better. So we're gonna go
(08:26):
out there and hopefully, you know, showcase that and see what.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
All the things you have been through. Man, you get
to that Tennessee game and do what you do out there? Man,
how special was that for you?
Speaker 4 (08:35):
Bro? Man?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
It was special? It was.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
That was a really special game for me, especially man,
I mean coming off that getting cut, but it was
really special.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Man.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
I had my wife and my best friend in the
stands and you know, we talked about it. It's like, man,
like I don't want to feel that feeling no more,
you know, and my wife always sends me like, you know,
good luck text or whatever.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
But she sent the text. Man, it was.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
It almost got emotional while reading it. You know, it
was like, hey, just when you're getting the end zone,
just know you're meeting your mom there and that thing. Man,
I swear I just knew I had to go give
it my all. But man, it was it was real
special for me, and it made it feel even more
special that. You know, my teammates were happy around me.
You know a lot of people are like Chris, like
(09:25):
you seem so excited when you score. I look around, man,
my teammates were so excited for me. Everybody on the sideline, Like,
I got yelled at by coach. He was like, hey,
you're doing all that tapping up, Come over here. We
got to go through these corrections.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
So man, it was. It was a really exciting game, man.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
And you think of these moments you've had this year.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Man, You're getting married, bro, you really establishing yourself on
this team. You have this brotherhood not only just coaches,
but all the players that want to see you shine
and do well.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Man, how happy would your mom be for you?
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Man?
Speaker 5 (09:53):
She would be so happy And the crazy part, man,
Like my mom, if she was here, she'd probably be
living with me right now, be at every game.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
She'd probably be driving.
Speaker 5 (10:02):
The fans nuts because she swears up and down that
I was the best player in the world, her and
my sister. But man, I know she would be proud,
and uh, you know, every day that I go through life,
I just hope that I keep making her proud.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
And you're definitely making a proud.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Man, you're making all of us proud, and it's been
so much fun to watch you, especially like being a
part of such a special running back room. Man, what
a really good rushing team and you have a lot
to do with that. But Sodio old GI's man, you
get to play with Austin Eckler, should you even Nick Nichols? Man,
what have you gotten for being in that running back room?
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Man?
Speaker 5 (10:32):
It's a lot of knowledge in that room, you know,
as far as like be robbed. You know, I was
in college the same Thomas b Robb for a couple
of years. I remember he actually had us over at
his house and I've seen he had this trophy. It
set a first team all SEC. So he made first
team and I made second team. And I used to
hate him. I used to hate him.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I was a man. I was like, man, I should
have been first team.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
And then you know, you get to meet him and
you're like, oh, man, rob was actually like a really
good dude, and you know he he's smart. You know
a lot of people don't see it, but Biro really
knows what's going on. Like he was coaching me up
today on some the Blitz pick up and I'm like, bro,
how do you know?
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Just from sitting back here.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
And as far as J Mack and Austin, Man, Austin,
I watched girl.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Everybody watch Austin. You know everybody you know.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
So Austin I used to play with him on Madden
a lot, and then I got to finally meet him,
and then, uh, you know Austin.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
He he's really smart.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
Like he's like one of those dudes not even just
about football but outside of football, but inside of football.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Like you see him.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
He always has his iPad. He's always writing down plays.
And he actually kept me and practiced one time and
he was like, hey, like, I don't know if I'm
practice to day, so he make sure you locked in
on all these reps. So I'm locked in. I'm like,
all right, I'm about to go in there. I need
to know all the reps. I didn't get in, but
at the same time I was locked in. I told
him like, yo, I appreciate that. And then for J Max,
(11:58):
you know man, obviously he's been cut a few times
and whatever. And when I did get my opportunity, he
you know, he came up to me before the game.
It was like, yo, like stop stressing you're good, man,
go out there and play a game. And I got
a lot of respect for him for that, man, because
I was I was nervous. I was too nervous for
the New York game. Actually I was too nervous out there.
But you know, he came up to me. It was like,
(12:19):
you know, just chill out, man, go play a game.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Man.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
That's beautiful to hear man because it's like you can see,
like through all positions on this team, there's a brotherhood there,
and I know a lot of that starts with this
coaching staff. And you're really lucky man because Anthony Man,
that's that's a former head coach. Yeah, now he gets
to work with you guys and help hold you guys.
What's it been like being coached on the anthemy.
Speaker 5 (12:36):
Man coach lamb Man. He uh, you know, he's one
of those coaches. If he coaches one, he coaches all,
you know. And you know, I didn't realize that at first,
you know, especially like I don't want to compare it
like to last year. But last year, if I didn't
get a rep, you know, I was like, oh I
get it in the game. I'm like I did this,
So what do I got. Now it's different.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:58):
Now if I don't get a rep, I'm like, all right,
I know what. I still know what I got. He
and he knows it too, Like if I'm if he
sees us not doing anything, He's like, go back there
with the quarterbacks and go get these reps, you know,
and uh man, he's he's still he's one of my
favorite coaches that I've had, you know, in a long time.
He coaches us hard, but he also prepares us, you
(13:18):
know for outside outside of work. You know, like he
asked us questions like every now and then, like you know,
what are you what are you you know, grateful for?
What do you what are you passionate about? You know
outside of football? And he kind of hit me off
guard one time asking me that, and now I's like, whoa,
But you know we had that talk and uh when
I first got here, I told him about the situation
(13:39):
my mom's and you know, we got to talking a
little bit. But uh man, I really respect that guy.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
Man.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
He knows what he's doing.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
He's one of my favorite people in his building because
he does give those like this ol G uncle vibe. Yeah,
Well he gonna talk to and he might not say
too much, but when he says it, man, you're.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Really exactly exactly.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
It's been great seeing what he's been able to do
with y'all. Man, and I appreciate your time, brother, Man.
Were coming off the Bible, we have the Saints. We're
gonna be in Nola, Man, coming.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Off of a huge game. See what what can fans
expect not only from you, but these commanders.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
This Sunday Man from from us.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
You know, we're, like you said, we're coming off a
boy week and a lot of people are expecting us,
you know, still beating our legs up under us.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
No, it ain't that.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
We We came back. D Q put us in the
in the right position to go out there and play hard.
So you can expect us to go out there and
play hard.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Uh in the backs.
Speaker 5 (14:27):
You know we're gonna go out there and do We're
gonna go out there and do what we need to do.
But at the same time, you know we're gonna go
out there and stay focused, get the job done.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
See Rob Man, I appreciate you always.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
Man.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
You know we can sit here and talk, Sir. It's
always a great time.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Bro.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Just no, man, I'm out here rooting for you. Brother.
Every time you do well. You know you see these
suit as the game over. Man, I'm always so happy
for you. Man. I can't wait to see you to
be successful.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Bro, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Certain Commander's family. Our next man up.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
You're gonna be hearing his name a lot more in
the future. I got a feeling Chris Rodriguez, Brother, appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
I appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Certain Amanda's family.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Before our next man, we have somebody extremely special, former Redskin.
It's one of the more incredible paths to the NFL
that I've ever heard. Former fullback for the Redskins, Mike Sellis.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
How you doing, brother doing good? Man, highly favorite brother.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Amen of that, Amen of that.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Man.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
We appreciate your time, man, And let's get right into
it because I mentioned that path that you had. Man,
you were eighteen years old when you started playing professional
football for the CFL, the youngest to this day still
to ever play in the CFL. Man, tell us how
that happened. Give us that backstory.
Speaker 6 (15:32):
Well, obviously that was a decent athlete in high school.
But uh, you know I never took my SATs. You know,
I never really had anybody on me to take mas Sat.
So I waited till the last day, showed up Blade
and they wouldn't let me in. So I went and
played Juco for the first quarter and then right after
Juco went straight to Canada.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Dang man, what was that journey like?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
When you're your Juco kid, you definitely have the skill
set to be in the league, to being in a
high college.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Then you go to the CFL. What makes you make
that decision?
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Because again, that's not something that was done by others before,
especially your age.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
What went into that?
Speaker 6 (16:12):
I just meant I was bill different man. I came
out of high school. I was six three, two fifty
running a four or five forty. Not nobody athletic is
I could possibly be? I just my arrogance, to be honest,
it kind of helped me out, you know, knowing that
I was like, ain't nobody gonna beat me, ain't nobody
(16:34):
take me? Let's make that jump?
Speaker 1 (16:38):
And what was it like when you made that jump?
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You're eighteen years old, you go into a whole new country,
You're you're a professional athlete.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
Now, what was that like for a young eighteen year
old Mike?
Speaker 6 (16:50):
You know, being in a different country, being that young,
you know, and uh, you know it was different.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
I tell you that.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
You know, it was more of my mom worried about
me than anything. Dealing with the phone calls every day,
being so young, and you know, being in a different
country where you can actually drink, you know, you know,
that was a little different. But other than that, man,
the mindset was there. You know, It's like, I'm going
to win me at position and it worked out.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
So was the goal just to make a position and
make a name for yourself out in the CFL? Or
did you go to the CFL knowing, hey, this would
be a way for me to actually get to the NFL.
Speaker 6 (17:28):
It was my stepistone. I knew where I wanted to be.
I knew where I should be. It was just a
matter of me taking a different path to get there.
So you know, they wouldn't hold me back. You know,
like I said, I was self shit. I knew what
I could do. Just had to put it on film. Man,
That's what I did.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
So you're out there in Canada and then you do
good enough to you do get that call. You do
get that call from the NFL, the Redskins call. You
said they want to bring you in What was that moment, like,
you take a chance on yourself, You take a gamble
on yourself, probably a lot of people telling you that
this probably isn't the best to take, but you do
it anyway with that self confidence. What was that phone
call like when you're like, oh, man, I'm going back
to America.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
Man, I mean, that's all I ever wanted to do
is play football, so, you know, especially at the highest level.
And I kicked, biting, scratched to get to where I
was at and there was nothing going to stop me.
And uh, like I said, I had to put the
film out of the shelf, do it. You know, bears
up in Canada And next day, you know, I'm playing
(18:29):
with the Skins and getting that phone call from them. Man,
that's just the blessing.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
You know.
Speaker 6 (18:34):
I had the opportunity to go other places, but some
just kept telling me, you know, DCS was power for
me to be And uh, you know, just twelve years later, yeah,
I am playing, you know, playing with the Redskins.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
So and you said it's what you always wanted to do.
So I want to kind of run it back a
little bit because you said football is what you've always
wanted Where did that come from? Where did your love
for the game come from?
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Man, I've been playing football since I was four, never
missed the or wow. Yeah, you know that that's just
it was built in me. You know, no one ever
made me play football. There's something I chose to do. Uh.
No one really put me to the side and actually
taught me the sport, you know. I mean I was
dealing with my little league coaches, you know. Uh, I
(19:18):
did all in the film work. You know, I studied
up on what I needed to learn. I just knew
that it's either that or going to the military. So
my dad was retired military, so you know I knew that.
I knew that very well. So it's either one the
military NFL one of the two.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
A lot of times you're growing up a military brat.
That's really it's like college, career or military. It's like
nowhere between there.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Man.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
So I definitely understand if I wasn't doing this now.
My dad told me the same thing, where you will
be in the military.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
Get it, I understand.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Man.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
So you get this dream, Man, you get that call
from the NFL and you go over to the Redskins,
but you've already spent a few years in Canada. What
was that transition, Like, what would the difference is there?
Speaker 6 (20:01):
Oh, man, I said, I said it before I said again,
speeded the game. You know, there's a lot of people
that was fast like me, big like me, Bigger than me,
you know, faster than me. You know, when you get
to the league, everybody big, quick, physical factives, you know,
And that was an adjustment for me. But like I said, man,
my arrogance about the game and how good I knew
(20:23):
I was, that wasn't gonna stop me.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
Man.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
You know I'm gonna hit you. I don't care who
you are, You're gonna get hit. And that's one way
I made a name for myself on you know, getting
to their squad. Was when it came down to training camp,
you know it was gonna be a battle, and I
made it shirt. Let it be known that I was
coming down here on you.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
And it had been so tough because the name of
the game, especially like when you first come to a team,
is making a name for yourself. And you know there's
total polls, right you are a number one draft pick
or your seventh round pick. There's different ways that you're
going to fall into that depth truck when you get in.
But then you're somebody coming from Canada, you might be
even lower on the total pole than even that seventh around.
Pick Man, how did you come in and make a
name for yourself when you first got to the Reskins.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
Man, I just grinded, you know, every day. You know,
just I was grateful to come to practice. I was
always happy to be a practice. You know, people's worst day,
it was my greatest day, you know, like I just
knew every opportunity that I had was right in front
of me, and I had to make sure I took
advantage of it every single day. And you know, studying
(21:26):
playbook all that stuff. In the weave room. They had
to kick me out the weight room because I I
mean I was just I was a nut in the
weight room. I mean I knew that was gonna keep
me outy and I have a long career, which it did,
and you know, just I just grind it.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And that's really the story of your career, right, just
grinding and self belief. Because even when you come to
the NFL for that first time, you have your stint,
but then you go to Cleveland and then you get
cut and then the NFL's done. That dream might be
over at that point. It wasn't for you. But in
that moment, did you feel like, okay, after you got
cut by Cleveland, that your NFL might be done?
Speaker 4 (22:02):
You know for a brief moment, and then I just
you know, the regroup check.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Myself, tighten myself up, and uh, you know, just get
back on their ground again. And you know, the second
time around, I got a second chance. Man, I'm blessed
for that, you know. Uh, you know, the guys in
the front office knew who I was and what kind
of cat I was, and they knew I wasn't a
bad dude, and you know, they brought me back and
(22:30):
I made the best of it coming back my second
time around.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
And you said you had that little stinck. You had
that moment though, where you're like, dang, this might be it.
But you got yourself out of that. You can't do
that alone, right, Nobody does this journey alone. Nobody goes
through these ebbs and flows alone. Who and what helped
you get through that small part where you kind of question, hey, man,
am I done?
Speaker 4 (22:51):
Man?
Speaker 6 (22:51):
It was me. I won't lie really, I had to
do a self check. Wow, you know, because I don't
listen to nobody, but.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Me, ain't nobody gonna tell me what to.
Speaker 6 (23:02):
Do because what I've done my whole life is that
mean where I was at, I've I've been dealing with dollars.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
I've been dealing.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
With all kinds of people telling me I can't, I
couldn't and I shouldn't, and I made it. So you know,
all all the people said I had messed up this,
this and that. I just smiled in their face and
be like, I'll be back.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
And you wore back, but before you got back to
the Redskins, you went back to the CFL. Was there
anywhere luck to see leaving the NFL again to go
back to the CFL? Or You're just like, yo, whatever
it takes, I'm gonna make it happen.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
Man, I'm playing football. One, I'm playing football. I'm doing
what I do best. And I knew I said, like
I said, you know, when you put good film out
there constantly on everyday basis, somebody's gonna see you. And like, luckily,
like I said, you know, the people from Skins, the
(23:54):
front office, they knew I was a good dude.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
Man. You know, just you know, people make mistakes. You know.
Speaker 6 (24:00):
You know that doesn't necessarily mean you're a bad person,
but you know he learned from the mistakes and I had,
and they gave me a second chance. And the best
thing about it was when I came back, Joe Gibbs
put me to the side and he's like, look, Mike,
I don't care what you did before. I need you
now and I need to know that I can count
on you coming from coming from Joe Gibbs. Man, that
(24:24):
you know, that's all you need to say, you know.
So ever since then, man, I was on the straight now,
doing what I had to do, being that leader and
just trying to win for the skins, you know.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
And not everybody's receptive to those kind of moments right
where somebody pulls you to the side, it just has
a real man and man conversation with you.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
But he clearly did that because he believed in you.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Man, how much did that belief from a coach like
Joe Gibbs mean to you at that time?
Speaker 6 (24:51):
That, I mean leaves some bounds. I mean to this day, man,
that man have a great relationship. And when I was
in the hospital, he called me, gave me a shout
out on video. You know, I mean, call me out
the blue, just say you know how you doing. You know,
just want to check on you. Ain't talking you a lot,
so you know, I love it.
Speaker 4 (25:10):
Man. I'd have ran through brick wall form over and
over again without a question.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
And you ran through a few big raws for man,
because you come back and then it's crazy you have
this journey, but then you come back and you're not
only successful, but you end up being one of the
best to do what you do. You end up making
the Pro Bowl. Man, How amazing was that?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
Man?
Speaker 2 (25:28):
When you found out you were going to be a
Pro Bowl full back and only a Pro Bowl fullback,
but a starter.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (25:33):
After everything Mike Selis have been through to this point.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
You know, the most frustrating part about it was that
was a seven time first alternate, seven behind all people
all start.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
You know, so I mean to finally get that nod man.
Speaker 6 (25:53):
You know, it's just my trials and tribulations are work
that I've been you know, I put in and you know, man,
that never give up attitude and just I knew I
actually be. I knew and it was just a matter
of time for me to get there. So that you know,
just kept like I said, grind, grind and grind, that's
(26:14):
what it is. Finally somebody noticed.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
And Mike, as I read your story, you know, preparing
for this interview, and even as I talk to you
and hear you talking right now, the grind, the belief
and just a fighter, a true warrior has been your
whole story. So it's wild to think that you go
through all of these things, but then your toughest battle
is after the NFL when you have to have a
heart transplant.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Now, can you tell us what happened?
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Like, what made you find When did you find out
you needed a heart transplant?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
What was wrong? What was going on? Can you just
tell us that story a little bit.
Speaker 4 (26:51):
Well, forgive me for one, if I get a emotional.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
It's okay, man, Hey, listen, you get out whatever you
need to get out. Man, who.
Speaker 6 (27:03):
There was a it was a long road, you know,
to be the health nut that I was, always in
the gym, always eating right, always doing the right things
to make sure my body was okay.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Especially after retirement, to find out my heart was feeling.
Speaker 6 (27:27):
That's a I don't care what kind of man you are,
that's that's a blow. You know I can conquerhim many things,
but you know, I put it in Guy's hands, you know,
to take care of me and look out for me.
It's a blessing. I tell you that because there was
a few times even the nurses told me when I
(27:49):
came to, I thought that was out of a coma
first of all, flat line twice. And when I came to,
the nurses were like, there were times, Mike, we didn't
think you were gonna make it. And to be where
I'm at right now, I'm at work. I'm in one
(28:10):
of the meeting rooms right now. And to be back
coaching and to see my kids and the reception I
got when I came back, you know, I came back
two months after my heart transport. My wife was too
happy about that, but uh, you know, I had to
get back, man, because I had been blessed so much
(28:32):
in life. I just blessed the kids that I'm with now,
you know, give them the knowledge I have, you know,
and the desire to succeed like I have.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
You know.
Speaker 6 (28:46):
Uh, It's been it's been a long road, man, but
I'm back. I'm about eighty five ninety percent. Uh still
got the ways to go, dude, I went in the hospital,
I was three hundred and ten pounds solid, and I
came out the hospital two hundred and thirty pounds in
a matter of four months. Yeah, so I mean I
(29:10):
I had to learn how to walk. I had to
learn and feed myself again. You know, for somebody who's
been so dominant through my whole life and to be
in a sense helpless, you know, you gotta take pride
at the door, you know what I mean, accept all
(29:32):
the help you can get.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
That couldn't have been easy for you, because you said
it earlier when we were talking. You said, you do
things on your own. Nobody could check you, nobody could
tell you what to do. You do things the way
you want to do it. But now you're in a
position where you're completely vulnerable, where you can't take care
of yourself, where you have to lean on others. How
tough was that for somebody like you that's so used
to being independent and just being, like you said, this
big strong man, and now you need help from others.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Man.
Speaker 6 (30:01):
I got the best wife on the planet, and he
was my supports system. He was there every day at
the hospital with me, didn't miss the day, quite a job,
just though she can be with me, bade me clean me,
(30:21):
it's system me to go to the bathroom. I mean,
she was there every step of the way. And I'm
fortunate that I got that woman in my corner.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
We all feel fortunate that she's there for you, man,
I mean I feel fortunate just being able to sit
and talk to you today.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
You look great, you sound great, And I appreciate the
vulnerability because I know these conversations aren't always easy, but
there's people going through the same thing that you went through.
There's people that are in it right now and that
are like feeling, Man, I might not ever get through this.
I might not be able to make it, but somebody
like you and your testimony and your honesty and your courage,
people could look at that and say, Okay, if Mike
can do it, I can do it.
Speaker 4 (30:58):
Man.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
So I really do appreciate you like talking about this
because again, it's something that happens to a lot of people.
You could be the healthiest, strongest man, just like yourself right.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
And still go through these things.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
Man.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And I know the transplant process isn't an easy process.
How long did it take for you to find that
donor to find that person to be able to help
you out. Man, What was that process like, Cause again,
I'm sure there's plenty of other people going through that
same thing in real time.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Man.
Speaker 6 (31:25):
I had to earn my heart in the sense man,
just the physical therapy stus I was doing. I was
going above and beyond, you know. I had to show
them that I wanted and I deserved it and just
never give up attitude. Man, doing what I had to do.
I didn't feel like getting up to go walk. I
(31:46):
had to go walk. If I had to go. Whatever
they wanted me to do, I did it, and so
I ended up they ended up. I worked so hard
they moved me up to the top of the transplant
list from a guy to just came in the hospital.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
You know.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
They moved me up to the top because they seen
how dedicated in the heart I worked. And it took
me nine days once they put me on the transplant list.
Took me nine days to find my heart.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
And during you said you were in a coma.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Was that during the process of getting the transplant or
did that happen before when they found out you needed it?
Speaker 4 (32:24):
Well, I was.
Speaker 6 (32:25):
I was in the hospital from the beginning of January
to then the May.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
More. This is it this year? Is that of this
year or last year?
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Yeah? This year, this year, this year.
Speaker 6 (32:38):
So you know, they were trying to find everywhere, every
way to not have me have a transplant. I mean,
I had impellers put in me, and I've had every
type of mechanical device put in me you could possibly
think of to save my heart so I didn't have
to have it. And they got to the point where
(32:59):
it just took a turn, and you know, they had
to put me under and I think it was in
a coma for nineteen days something like that.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
And man, bro Man, you said you have the coma.
You say you flat lined a few times. Are you
aware of any of this while you're going through it?
Or is this just something you wake up one day
and people tell you all of this happened.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Did you have any awareness through all of this.
Speaker 6 (33:32):
I don't remember most of my time at the hospital.
I really don't, and I mean I mean on all
kinds of stuff. I mean, it was bad. It was
worse for my wife because she's seen the decline in
me when I couldn't tell you know, she's seen all
the stuff I was going through when I was asleep.
(33:54):
I went through a bout of delirium where I mean
I thought people were trying to attack me. And I
mean I was swinging on nurses. I mean, it was
I mean, it was it was bad. I mean, and
when I came to, and that was cognizant of what
was going around me, you know, you know, and that
started when I was feeling better. My wife would tell
(34:17):
me some of the stuff that has happened, and you know,
I just as the time where I broke down and cried,
that's not the you know, I was swinging on lady
nurses and but I didn't know, you know, to me,
(34:40):
I thought I was being robbed, you know, I.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
Mean, I had no clue. So but yeah, it's been crazy, bro,
it's been crazy. It's been crazy.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
Well, Mike, I do hope you give yourself grace through
all of this, man, because I mean, clearly you weren't yourself,
and clearly you were going through things that I mean
a lot of people wouldn't even be able to make
it through. So you're just out there fighting and battling, man.
So I do hope you give yourself grace and I
know it's tough as a man when you hear things
like that, especially because that's so out of your character,
especially growing up military. I already know you probably grew
up just like I grew up. That kind of stuff
(35:13):
don't fly. So like, Man, I hope you do give
yourself grace because you know you're just going through this, man,
and nobody has a blueprint for how to get through
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
But somehow you found a way to get through.
Speaker 4 (35:23):
Man.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
You get your heart transplant.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
You're in the hospital for months, but then you get out.
What was that part like for you, Mike, when you're
hearing these things now you know you're hearing what you've
been through, but now you're part of that recovery.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
What was that part like for you?
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Man?
Speaker 2 (35:39):
How tough was that or was it something where you
were just grateful to just have another day on this earth?
Speaker 4 (35:47):
Ollie above I mean first and foremost man, my kids,
my wife.
Speaker 6 (35:52):
You know, I live for them, you know. In the
thought process of me not being around to raise my
kids and take care of my wife, man, its just
it's something I just couldn't fathom, you know. And you know,
now I get a chance to help people out. You know,
my speak on it actually got to keep teammates and
(36:13):
I won't say their names, but they're going through some
issues and they know what I've been through, and they've
called on me to ask what to expect and you know,
what should I do?
Speaker 4 (36:24):
How you doing this? Like what helped you get through?
And I'm just a sounding boy. Man.
Speaker 6 (36:29):
If I could reach out and touch anybody to help them,
to talk them through things or whatever, man, that's what
That's what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Just trying to let people know.
Speaker 6 (36:40):
Man, go get checked out, because you know, like I said,
I was the healthiest dude after playing football, you know,
and for this to happen, you know, they can't happen
to anybody, you know.
Speaker 4 (36:51):
So you know, I'm grateful. Man.
Speaker 6 (36:54):
I say my blessings every morning I get a chance
to wake up, because every day is not given, you know,
So for me to wake up every day, I'm thankful.
You know, the life itself, things that are going in life. Man,
you know, I pay attention to things a lot more.
I see things a lot more. You know, stuff I
never paid attention to before. You know, I notice things,
(37:18):
you know, And I'm just grateful. And I'm a different
person now than I ever been. Just you know, I
got more patient. You know, life's to be short. Don't
pass things by too fast, you know, take time and
just kick back and observe and see things. You know,
And and that's all I've been doing, man, Just getting health.
(37:38):
My wife's been taking care of me, feed me good food,
getting me back healthy again, gating my way back, yes, sir,
and being around these kids. You know, I work at
one of the best schools in the in the world.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Period and can't nobody even argue with that. And I
get to coach some of the best.
Speaker 6 (37:57):
High school athletes in the nation, So you know, you know,
coming back to work was a big healing factor for me.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
Man.
Speaker 6 (38:04):
Just to come back and get these kids where they
want to go and help them earn their goals and
achieve everything that they want to achieve in life. Man,
that's a that's my blessing.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
Hey man, Mike Man, that is great man.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
And your story is a blessing because again, your story alone,
of your testimony would help so many people going through
the same thing to see somebody like you that they've
probably looked up to since.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
They was younger going through the same things. Man, I'm
sure it means a lot.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
I'm sure your former teammates, as you mentioned, means a
lot to them hearing from you. And now you're good man,
Now you're back healthy, like you said, you're coaching now man.
And where are you coaching at right now? You said
you have the best school. What was the name of it?
Speaker 4 (38:40):
I'm at IMG down in Florida.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Oh man, Ah, So you really you live? You live
in that good life.
Speaker 4 (38:49):
Hey.
Speaker 6 (38:49):
We don't want for much down here, man. We got
everything we need. We just trying to win national championships.
Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yes, sir, yes, sir, and we love that.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
And Mike, as you mentioned, you talked about people going
to get checked out and that early detection. How did
you find out that you were going to have these
heart problems? How did you get how did you detect that?
Speaker 6 (39:06):
I just I was tired. I didn't have energy to
go to the gym. I just, you know, some just
didn't feel right. I couldn't go to sleep. When I
closed my eyes, I got like this dizzy sensation, like
I had to sleep sitting up, and I just some
weird stuff was just happening to me. And you know,
I don't ever go to the hospital. My wife will
tell you. You gotta tell me. Could have bumped a car
(39:29):
to get me to go to the hospital. And there
was this one day. I just looked at it and
I said, you know, I need to go to the hospital.
My wife looked at me like I was crazy, Like,
oh wait a minute, he saying he needed to go
to hospital. Something really going on. So and thank god
I did, because you know, I would have never known,
would have never known. And they told me I shouldn't
(39:51):
be here. I shouldn't, they said, Mike, if you hadn't
stayed in the shape that you were in, you you
would have been dead. Graceful God, man, I'm still here.
I'm still moving, I'm still coaching, I'm still doing everything
just to you know, just do guys. Grace man, I'm
I'm still moving, still getting on his kids nerves.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
That God is so good.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
And I think it's just a testimony to your job's
not finished here.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
You still got work to do.
Speaker 4 (40:21):
Man.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
You go through all of those things flatline multiple times, man,
A coma the worst thing is a lot of things
that people would never be able to get through. But
you're still here, man, and you're still affecting lives. Mike,
so thank you so much, man for taking the time
to come and talk to us on Next Man Up. Man,
your story is so powerful and so impactful, and I
hope you know the amount of love and admiration you
have here in the DMV from your Burgundy and Gold family.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
Man.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
You are a redskin, one of the best at your position,
and we just appreciate you and love you.
Speaker 4 (40:50):
Man.
Speaker 1 (40:50):
We hope you come back to the DMV.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Hope you catch a game before the season is over, Man,
and just be around these folks, because I'm telling you, Man,
the DMV loves you so much and we're just so
happy that your back and healthy. And Brother, let me.
Speaker 1 (41:01):
Tell you, man, I won't smoke.
Speaker 2 (41:02):
You look good, Brother, You look good, Man, so like
if you wouldn't have told me what you had been through.
You do not look like what you have been through, man,
And that's a blessing in itself. Man, So thank you, Mike.
Speaker 1 (41:12):
Appreciate Yes, sir, Yes, sir, Man.
Speaker 2 (41:14):
We have to have you back on MA have to
have you pull up to the studio, Mike, and good
luck for the rest of this season with your squad.
Bro all right, appreciates man, command is family. Our Next
man Up. The amazing, the honorable Mike Sellers. Thank you,
brother Command, this family. We hope you've enjoyed this special
episode of Next Man Up. If you want to catch
our old episodes of Next Man Up, you can on
(41:36):
the Commander's YouTube page, or you can stream the audio
wherever you get your podcasts. I am Brian Coble Jun
and this is the Next Man Up Podcast.
Speaker 1 (41:43):
I'll catch y'all next Friday.
Speaker 4 (41:46):
Come on
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