On this episode of Next Man Up, Bryan Colbert Jr. is joined by two special guests from different generations of Washington football.
📌 Luke McCaffrey discusses his preparation for Year 2, reflects on his first career touchdown, and previews the upcoming matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
📌 Ricky Ervins, Washington legend and Super Bowl champion, looks back on his legacy, shares his favorite memories, and explains why he made the decision to retire.
From rising stars to iconic veterans, this episode bridges the past and present of Washington football.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
D H says it all the time, but the best
part of our team is the team.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Yeah, And I think you can.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Feel that, you know, you can feel the closeness, you
can feel the brotherhood, you can feel you know everybody
has each other's backs.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
The Next Man Up Podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort
from kickoff to check score, a game, change and get
away in the heart of Louder Lansdown Resort, proud partner
of the Washington Commanders Commander's family. Our Next Man Up
just got his first career touchdown and is looking to
add many more to his resume. My guy, Luke McCaffrey, brother,
(00:33):
how you doing man?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
What up doing? Well? How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I'm doing good man. I appreciate you taking the time
you fresh out of practice, man, which you came here
to kick it with us. Now, I mentioned a touchdown,
but we have not spoken since you signed your rookie deal.
So before we get to that, I want to talk
about your first NFL official offseason. Our partner's over at
Lansdown Resort like to know that you guys can get
it done on the field, but also taking the time
to relax and get yourselves right. So how did you
(00:57):
spend this first full NFL offseason getting yourself right?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
It was blast. When you don't have the combine, when
you don't have all that.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
You just get a train you get a bit. You
gotta get bigger, stronger, faster. And then I was trained
with my brother and that was just a blast, Such
a blessing to have that kind of group in there,
the competitive spirit of it, and it was a lot
of fun.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
And I know you've grown up your whole life training
with your brother's doing those things, but it had have
been a little different now that you're an NFL player.
Did it feel a little different? Was there a little
more respect? Was the level of play feel a little
more leveled now that you're in there with with your
brother as well?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Honestly, the biggest thing is you just have more time.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
You know, I wasn't going to class, didn't have all that,
and so you know, you get your workout done and
then you realize you have a whole lot of time
in the day, and so it was fun to just
be able to kind of kick it with him, have fun,
and then you know, get closer on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
When you say closer, right, because I think about the conversations,
the conversation level you have to have with all your family,
even your dad. Does that change as well now that
you have a little more experience of the things that
they've been through, Does that change too for sure?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
For sure?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
I think in football, definitely in life. I think I'm
always learning and I'm so blessed. I'm the youngest, so
I get to watch all of them. My brother just
had his first kid, and so congrasson, thank you, thank you,
and so that was a lot of fun. But just
little things like that, you know, you learn so much
about life and just the blessing that it is. And
so it's so cool to just be able to look
(02:20):
around and be grateful for the community that we kind
of have together.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
And I'm sure it's a chance to reflect on your
rookie year and the things you were able to accomplish there.
What did you take for your rookie year into this
off season and say, okay, these are points of emphasis
I want to work on.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me that I
learned from my rookie to second year was just the
blessing it is to play the game, you know, being
able to take every single rep as an individual rep
and focus and lock in, and you know, I think
bringing it down to what's your job and just doing
that was something that was fun for me to kind
of work through and learn because I think that's the
(02:52):
process that you go through and everything, whether it's on
or off the field, that's just the mindset that you
kind of take to learn and to grow into embrace
and love the world around you.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
For sure. Man, And you could tell you added some size, right,
you added some strength there. Now we're almost four weeks
into the season. Have you seen that work that you
put in this offseason? Have you kind of seen that
in these last three weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It's been a lot of fun, for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
I think we have such a good team here and
DQ says it all the time, but the best part
of our team is the team.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, And I think you.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Can feel that, you know, you can feel the closeness,
you can feel the brotherhood, you can feel you know,
everybody has each other's backs, and I think that's been
really cool. I think just seeing that develop in a
new way because it's year two and you brought in
free agents, some guys left, different things happen, and you
got a draft class that just come that just came in,
and it's so cool to just see that unity, that
(03:48):
bond and and you know we're gonna have adversity at
different times. We've already had some and so just to
be able to see how guys react to that, how
we bounce back, and how we cut we come together
and get closer from.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
That engine year two? What has been different about year
two for Luke McCaffrey. Is it different? I mean because
rookie year, I'm sure it is just like a whirlwind
all these different things. I mean even starting at the combine,
Like you said, it's been different about year two?
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, Again, I think it's just going back to the role,
you know, being comfortable, having that closeness a little bit
already built, and so you know who to go forward
to ask questions, who to learn from, who to continue
to grow alongside.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
And so it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
To do that.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And you have a wide receiver room where you've been
playing with Terry McLaurin. Then they go get a guy
in Deebo Samuel Man, another guy who has honestly, you
have a lot of skill sets that Deebo has as well.
What has it been like learning from them, to getting
to learn from Terry for another season, but also getting
to play alongside Deebo and learn from him.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Just the leadership that we have in this whole building
is incredible, and I think that that's highlighted at our
position with Deebo, with Terry, you know, you have Chris
Moore too, He's played a lot of snaps and so
for young guys like me, Jalen and and everybody in
that room, I think it's so cool to just be
able to kind of embrace that, to learn from them
and to take notes and to take tidbits. But more
(05:04):
than anything, just watch and kind of see how you
know you approach the game when you're a player like that,
but also you know how you conduct yourself, whether it's
on the field, whether it's on the sideline, whether it's
in the locker room. And so it's a lot of
fun to just learn every aspect of the game and
learn about life from you know, high achieving individuals.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Man, and you mentioned learning and being able to grow
within this game, but now you're also not a rookie.
You have a rookie in Jalen Lane who's coming in
and it's in a similar role that you were in
a young guy trying to make it. What's it been
like being the sophomore now being so like that can
look out for a guy like Jayleen give them advice.
Has that been kind of cool? Not being the new
(05:44):
guy in the house no more?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, No, it's definitely.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It's nice not to have to go get the snacks
and all that. But yeah, exactly now that he's the
youngest one. But more than that, it's nice to just
have a friend, have somebody that you're going through with it.
You know, I'm in here two and I'm still a
young guy who's getting the ropes. And obviously you gain
so much from year one to year or two, and
so I think there's some things that I can help
him a little bit. But he does such a good
(06:07):
job and he's sill on top of it that I mean,
you see it on the field. He's he's crushing it
and he's having fun. And it's nice to have somebody
who's just a friend and somebody that you can root for,
somebody that you're celebrating in, somebody that kind of has
the revere and respect for the game that I think
I have and so it's a lot of fun to
just bond over that bond over things off the field
(06:28):
and just be able to laugh, joke and have fun
with And that's.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
What's so cool about these guys on this wide receiver room,
because you guys are also versatile, right, You guys all
can be using so many different ways, and I think
people forget this is only what your fourth full year
at receiver, like this is still a fairly new position
for you. As you've been moved around, as you've got
to do different things, even special teams. Have you found
places that you're like, oh, man, I really like it here,
Like I really like this role for me. I'm really
comfortable here. Have you found things that you've liked it
(06:52):
maybe you didn't even know about yourself.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, I think there's a lot. I think it's been
fun to just embrace all kinds of different things. And
that's where it just goes down to whatever you're job
is on the singular play, just embrace it and have
fun and focus on that. You know, I don't think
you can make two plays at once, So just focus
on doing whatever the task asked of you is at
that moment. And that's been such a fun thing to
(07:13):
be able to work through on so many different levels.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
You keep saying the word fun, and I can't think
of anything more fun than getting your first real touchdown
in the NFL. Man, take us back to that play. Man,
it was a dang near fifty y bar for you.
What was it like getting that first touchdown, especially doing
it at the crib in front of our home things.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
It was awesome. It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I think just the community that this team has in
the whole city is awesome, and the whole DMV is
so fun. It's so special to see every home game
that crowd going crazy. But I think that's special. It's
a lot of fun. You know, Receivers such a cool
position because so much has to go right. Quarterback has
to get the playoff. O line has to block, quarterback
has to throw the ball. You have to get open.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So whenever that.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Can all click, it's really special and it's really cool.
I think again, the unity that we have, the bond
that we have, kind of shows that in something like that,
and so just to be able to be a part
of it's fun.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Man, your celebration had the entire area of going crazy
because I don't think I can't remember the last time
we see somebody jump into the stand and it brace
the fans. That's something you would plan to do that.
So it just happened in the moment.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
No, it just happened. It just happened.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
So what you did it?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Man? And you're in it and you're with the fans there? Man,
what was that like? Because I'm sure they're going crazy.
I'm sure it's loud, and that's going to be a
moment you'll never forget.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
No, it was awesome. It was a lot of fun. Yeah,
I was getting pushed down there for what. I didn't
know I'd be able to get back out, but uh.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, other than that, it was it was a blast.
It was fun.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Did you remember to hold onto your game ball?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
I didn't know. Terry got it for me. Okay, yeah,
that moment.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Right there, that's so cool. It's been dope because like
all of you young guys when y'all get your first test,
I was so excited and just so happy to be
helping the team. When it's cool to see these veterans
take the time. Even Jay didn't take the time to
be like, no, listen, these are the moments that matter too.
So Terry got you that. Where is it at right now? Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
It's at home right now?
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Okay, okay, you just keep it there.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
You will put it away there for a little bit now, Luke.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I mean, I gotta imagine you know, in your year two,
you get your first touchdown, there has to be some
sign of relief there. I know you were having a
great time, but does that give you more confidence as
you move forward? That help in any way with the
mental part of the game as you continue to develop
as a receiver.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I wouldn't say that. I think again, kind of what
I was saying.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Earlier, it's every play that that builds the confidence, right.
I think that's been so cool just in my mindset.
Being able to shift to focus on one play at
a time, be able to focus on what your role is,
and really just having that inner competition with yourself and
growing every single rap has definitely helped me. And I
think when it comes to that, it's it's going to
(09:46):
force every moment to kind of be the same. You know,
there's no highs or lows. It's the love of the
game and the passion that you have for the growth
and the respect that you have for the game that
kind of fulfills you.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
You know, that's that's it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
And it seems like all you guys have that and
that passion for the game, even though guys are young,
and then Jaden has that as well, and everybody that
sits here talks about how Jayden Daniels comes in and
sets that tone, And to me, I think you have
an interesting perspective because y'all are coming in the same
rookie class. Y'all are coming in around the same age,
very youthful, trying to figure this NFL thing out. How
has it been building that chemistry with a guy like
(10:20):
Jaden and getting to be able to grow with him,
knowing like, hey, I was drafted to be with his weapons.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
No, it's awesome.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Again.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I think anytime you have that like minded personality or
that like minded you know, kind of passion that you're
talking about, it makes it easy to bond, easy to click,
and so it's just so fun to be able to
come to work. I think it's nothing but a blessing
to just have this team have this unity that we've
kind of been able to start to build.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Luke, before we let you go, we got Atlanta got
back to back row games. We're gonna be taking on
the Falcons this weekend. How can you build off of
this momentum you've been able to generate between these first
three weeks.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yeah, again, I think it comes down to that.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It comes down to just focus on what your role is,
what your job is, being consistent and being the same
person every single play, whether something great happened to play
before or whether something terrible happened to play before. Coming
back and just becoming that person, becoming that team the
unity that we know we can build.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Luke. Man, it's been so fun watching you grow. It's
crazy to sitting here talking to you now. I'm thinking
of the time we spoke when you just got drafted
and things are so much different already. And again, Man,
congratulations on that first NFL touch And I know you
got to keep going to the plays, but man, that's
such a big moment. You worked your whole life for it. Brother,
So congratulations Man Command His family on Next Man Up,
Luke McCaffrey coming fresh off his first touchdown the first Committee,
(11:36):
My God, appreciate you, Mass.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Command's Family. We hope you are enjoying Next Man Up
now before we get to a very special legend. You
gotta pay some bills. So Commanders fans, this is for you.
Level up with the brand new Triple A command Is
MVP membership. You'll receive all the benefits of Triple A
such as twenty four to seven roll side assistance, plus
chances to win game tickets, access to exclusive team events andperiances,
(12:00):
along with fifteen percent off commandage gear at the online
pro shop. Already a Triple A member, add the Commander's
MVP membership for free. That's right, for free hit a
Triple A dot com. So that's commands to upgrade or
join the squad and put your fandom and drive now
back to the show. Command is Family for our Next
Man Up. Normally, our legends they zoom in because they're
(12:23):
busy doing a lot of things. But this brother right
here pulled up to the studio to kick it with
us for his first time on Next Man Up. Former
Washington running back and Super Bowl champion Ricky Irvis. Ricky,
how you doing, brother man?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
I'm doing great? Man. How you doing?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Oh man? I'm blessed man.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Every time you can just breathe and wake up, you're
doing great well.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
I a man. I say that all the time, and
especially when you can breathe and shed the air with
Super Bowl champion. Man. Now again, like I said, this
is your first time on Next Man Up in We
like talking football, but we really like talking about the person.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Man.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
So let's take it back to when you was in
college at USC running around. Man, you did so much
you were able to get drafted by the Washington Reskins.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Yeah, and that way back on that that was kind
of scary too, because looking back, my junior year was
my best year. That's the year I really got drafted though.
So when my senior year came around, I got hurt
my fourth game against Ohio State, I had by the
two hundred yards in the third quarter, but I got
hurt my ankle. So I went ten more plays and
(13:22):
I couldn't do no more. So that whole year I
was out because of my ankle. So then when I
went to UH, I guess uh they went. I went
to UH the combines and all that and did everything,
ran fast forward and everything. They tested my ankle out,
which was funny. We had spring ball and I'm hearing
this two big linemen on our team talking about Yeah,
(13:44):
Dallas cot Boys called me and uh, you had the
giants called me. I'm like, damn, ain't nobody called me, Like,
I guess I ain't get drafted. So I'm sitting there.
I'm sad like kind of like, man, okay. I went
back to my place and I'm like, man, okay, I
guess that this. I gotta work harder. Some I got it.
I was a free agent and I just got to work.
And that that day on the draft, being on the
(14:07):
West coast, the draft started around like twelve o'clock and
it was that first round was long. That's when we had.
The first back to go was Russell Leonard Big Russell,
big dude from Long Beach Polly and he went to
Arizona from Arizona State. Ended up going I don't know
where it went, but I'm like okay, And I was
doing a report. My wife now was my best friend, uh,
(14:29):
and she was there with me. And it's twelve, it's one,
it's two, it's three or four five. All of a sudden,
my my sister called my phone rings, my partner phone ring.
Because I ain't have no money. My phone was disconnected.
Oh man, they had this number, and so uh, okay, hey,
I'll go answer it. And it's a Vanessa. I said, girl,
what you doing calling me?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Hey?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
What the phone? I said, don't call me to it.
When they finished call, I'll call you back all right.
Next thing, you know, the phone. I ended up going
to sleep for about an hour. Phone rings about six
o'clock and it's Charlie Castley and he said, uh, and
we're thinking about picking you in this next around. They'll
call you back in two minutes. Man. I was so
(15:09):
excited that someone called because I didn't get no calls,
and I'm thinking, like, I gotta go be a free agent.
And so me and my my friend just looking at
the phone the whole time on while it's on his bed,
just looking at it, looking at it, counting the time.
And they called back, say, congratulations, you're Resking. Now back
in the day ied to hate the Reskins. That's funny, man,
(15:32):
I tell a funny story about art because I didn't like,
you know, I get to that later, but he called
said you're you know, you're Reskin. So I ended up
talking to Charlie running back coach coach Gibbs, and they
flew me in the next day. And man, which is
funny because you know old redskin part right, Yes, sir.
So when you were a kid, you thinking these guys
(15:54):
got money, They got the biggest, the best buildings, everything.
I got picked up. I'm thinking I'm gonna get picked
up in a limousine. Got a white truck picked me up,
so I ain't really a trip. And so we're driving
and we get to the place where they practiced, that
old rescue park. But I'm sitting there like going like
and I look at the drive rested a while. You stop,
(16:17):
he said, oh you're here. I'm like, where at the place.
I said, Oh, man, I ain't got no money because
you're from Uscna.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I said, oh my god.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Then you walk in, it was like, oh it was
I'm sure it was great when they had it, but
it was bad. It was bad. Man. Then we had
the other facility built in ninety two.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Man.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
So but it was a great ride though, Man. I
enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
And you think about that call, right, because you made
it sound like you didn't think it was going to
get drafted at all. And when you get that call
and you hang up that phone, do you remember what
you did, what you said, what you was froming?
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Yes, I did, because again I asked. The guy asked Charlie.
I said, excuse me, I said, the coverage went off
fairly soon out here. Can you tell me I thought
I was a free agent? I said, can you tell
me what around you picked me in? He said, oh,
you use our second pick, third round. I said, oh, okay,
thank you. When I hung the food, I said, oh,
I chill because I had a report to do. I
(17:13):
didn't call nobody. Finish my report.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
This is a report for school.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Yeah yeah, school, yeah yeah. And I said, okay, it's
gonna come on TV because I already had Tom Marinovitch
was the first guy to go from us see. Then uh,
we had somebody else then met and they end up
showing that later. Then all of a sudden, I can
start getting bump bottled all these calls and uh. And
then I flew out the next day. And that's another
thing that tripped me out, was like when I flew
(17:38):
in to Virginia, you're talking about my brother being scared
as hell. You see in all these trees. Oh, I
ain't never seen that before in my life, because when
you find in California, all you see is pavement, yeah,
or brown trees everywhere and it wasn't like it is today.
You got all these houses that it was trees everywhere.
That's like, oh my, I'm moving to the woods. It
(17:59):
was scared, you know, it was just real scared. So
but I may do. I got happy when I got here.
I knew instantly just by I don't know why I
thought this, but when I saw the cars in the
parking lot, it was just like blue collar cars, like
big trucks, and there wasn't no fancy stuff. So I said, man,
(18:20):
I think we're gonna be really good man, because they serious.
And then you got big MONI comen and you see
all these cats. I'm like, okay. The vibe that I
felt just when I got there, even a mini camp,
I was like, man, they're gonna be pretty good.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
And you guys wore pretty good. I mean, there's not
many rookies that come into this situation like you came
into getting to that super Bowl. But before we talk
about that super Bowl, you got to get there first, right,
What was that rookie year like for you? Because you
said you didn't even like the Reds kids, You're looking around,
this is all brand new. I know that's not an
easy adjustment. For young man.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Let me go to training camp and my introduction to
be Mitch for this whole thing. Because we go to
training camp, no one told me about the humidity out
in this area. Okay, So the way I dress and
what pads on, it's like, first of all, I thought
we go shorts for the first four four or five days.
(19:16):
Now first day was passed. So I go to the
locker room and everybody getting dressed. I'm like, what cha doing?
Why I getting dressed? It's like rookie, it's a big leads.
We don't go no short. I'm like, what, So I
get my path I'm putting my paths in my everything.
And Brian mitt to looking at me. I got I
should have brought him too. I got passed this big
thipads knee passed like that. I had a hip pass in,
(19:41):
I had elbow pass. I'm like, cause it's the pros man.
They hit harder than college. That's what I think. And
so Brian said, hey, bro, all that right there is coming.
You're coming out with that. I said, no, man, that's
how I dressed. That's my plane. No man, trust me.
All that coming out if not now second practice whatever, man,
we get out there. Bro, I don't know what it was.
(20:01):
No one told me about it, but I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't move, Like the first ten to fifteen minutes
We're doing these drills and I'm just like now, I
was in great shape and I'm like, what is going on?
While my chest felt like this. Everything was going on
and it's like man'sday. Minutely bruh, I told you you
should be wearing That second practice, I was down near naked.
(20:22):
Oh my god. This it was crazy, man. But those
practices that we had, man, man, it was just it
was it was fast, it was just a lot of hitting.
It was just so it was it. I think that
week we scrimmaged the Jets on Wednesday, they went with
the Pittsburgh Saturday. I'm like, we it's like the first
(20:45):
week of trading camp. Why are we doing this so soon?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Man?
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Everything was popping like this though, But man, it was
it was real and we loved it. We we we
loved that commandery that had it was like everybody together.
Many Coma was the key to though. He was that
voice that kept everybody together and just when you when
you heard it, it was like, man, we just sit
there and just listen, man. So I love him for that, though.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Bro, when you have a MONI call me when you
have a Brian Mitchell. Guys that have done it, Guys
that you probably were looking at on TV like, oh man,
these guys are stars and now you get to play
with them. How beneficial is that to have those old
g's in that locker room that actually care because we
didn't have to say none to you. You could have
let you go out there and figured out.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Well, so you know, when I came in, I'm sizing
guys up to my running backs just like so it's
another funny story. I got into Mini Camp. I thought
Ernest Bonner was a coach because he he had he
had him glass, and he had these this beard that
was like kind of grayish and everything. So I didn't
think none of him. But when I saw the running backs,
(21:48):
I looked at Danny Coplan and I saw the way
he ran. I got him if I could. Usually I
set up when I do this, though, but John Subtle,
my dude from Atlanta, he slew foot and he walked
like this. I said, well, I damn show got him.
We had Joe Ray. I said, he too big and
he probably passed his prime, so I ain't worried about him.
(22:09):
And then when I saw be Mitch, I said, okay,
b Mitch's he a little young, young cat, you know,
got energy. But I think I'll get him too.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
You know.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
It be tough, but I think I get it. So
I ain't thinking. I said I could start it, you know.
And all of a sudden, we're getting Redy to start
one on one drills and Ernest come running out and
he gets in the front of the line. So when
you get in front of the line, that tells me
that you are d bat. You're the man, you know
what I'm saying. So I'm like, but dude, I thought
you was a coach what you're doing. So all of
(22:38):
a sudden he go out there boom boom, boom boom bah.
I said, oh, that's gonna be a problem. As soon
as he did his route on Moni Coleman, he came back.
I said, man, because I didn't know. See, I knew
Ernest's buying it from Cleveland. I didn't. I was so
naive about teams changing players changing changing teams. I didn't
know who he was. And I said, hey, man, he
(23:00):
came back because I'm I'm curious about this. I say, man, uh,
you been here the whole time, this Scince. He's like, nah,
I was. I said, Cleveland, Cleveland. I know Cleveland. I'm
going back and you know, I do my route and
I did it on with Marshall beat him every time.
Every time I thought he was gonna because again I
didn't know players. I'm thinking they're gonna cut this dude,
(23:20):
and I'm killing them. I'm killing it. I'll go back
and tell my boys. But I get back to my
to rest up, and I'm thinking, like, Okay, who was
this dude? Cleveland, Cleveland clean? They had forty four and
they had a big mac to big full back and
I'm like, heh, man, what was your number? He said
forty four? Oh you that dude? Man, I'm sorry from
the ball and end zo man, oh.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Man, you was freaking it.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Oh my god. So I didn't know that these guys
were here, bruh. And I'm like, and I learned so
much from that from Ernest Bonder. He's my mentor by far.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
So what are those kinds of things that he taught you?
Was it was it just life things? Was it feel?
Speaker 4 (23:55):
I went off the field. We let's start with the field.
The way he looked at you, see this is where
you need. I need to be moving and show you
this because the way he approached the game, how he
looks at the linebackers with his eyes, his intent was
just so just like like he zoned He is zoned in.
(24:15):
You can just tell instantly. You can't say nothing, Ernest,
he ain't hearing you because he's so sowed in and
he looks at you the whole time. He don't take
his eye off you make that move about. I did
exactly like him time, everything he did running around. I
try to be like him because it was so nice
and so intentional. So I said okay, and then we
(24:36):
would go over his house. He would cook for us,
you know from Georgia. He'll cook for us. Man being
like in the book reading group and all that stuff.
We did a lot of stuff. Eb Man. He was
really that big brother.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
And even when you're a younger brother, right, because I'm
a younger brother, right, You look at your older siblings sometimes,
so there's an admiration there, there's a respect there. But
you said it when you walked in. You size the
folks up. That's a competitive mindset. Did you have that
with him as well, where you're like, Okay, I know
you the guy. Yeah, I know you, my big bro,
but I want to show you I'm him too well.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
But I think they knew that because once we did
our scrimmages and everything, I displayed that. I let them
know from from from one on one drills with the linebackers. Again,
I'm killing Whilbert and Weber always wanted to go with me, right,
And I'll go back to my my not Dorham, but
I guess Durham. I'll call my boy my best friend
(25:30):
said hey, man, I'm out here doing my thing, bro,
but I'm killing this guy named Marshall. Man, he just man,
they gonna cut him. He's just I don't know what's wrong.
He I'm killing every time though, He said, whoo whoob Marshall.
I don't know his first name, but something Marshall number
fifty eight. And so I go to Marshall he said, man,
because my boy versus man, I think he played for Chicago.
(25:50):
Said no, he ain't play for Chicago. So I go
to it, said Marshall, Hey, hey, did you play for Chicago?
He said, yeah, wait you oh you fifty eight he said, okay,
he said, I don't. I don't hate guys in practice.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Yeah you up? Yes, I said, know that.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
He said you're good. I said, whoa okay, and I
was like, man, I am tripping. And then Art Monk.
I used to hate Art Monk because he will always
beat my cowboys. But I hated him because the way
he looked in his uniform. He would have his shoulder
pads flapping out, Jericho hanging out in the back. It
(26:36):
was just looking real sloppy. And as a as a kid,
you see these things and it's like you already hate
the Redskins anyway, but now the players on this like,
I can't stand him because he's just all sloppy. When
you watch the door set, he was all clean, just smooth.
Then I get here and I'm looking at Art was
actually in the weight room in the old weight room,
and I was just watching it. It's just so chill
(26:59):
and get quiet, and I said, man, Art, I used
to hate you man, I said, yeah, as a kid, Man,
I watched you play and you always be my comboence.
But your uniform you look this shovel and everything, and
I just didn't like it. But I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
I just start laughing, dude, because in our city that
are so quiet, you probably didn't even respond to it.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
Yeah, you know what I mean. So ye had a
great time.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
So you're a rookie man, you're going through all these things,
you're learning. It sounds like you're just learning so much
before the season even starts. But this is a super
Bowl team. You said it when you drove in that
you could tell, hey man, this is lunch peal type guys.
These guys just getting it. When did you know within
that rookie season that y'all were onto something special.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
I'm gonna take you to the Giants game. The Giants game?
Was it the first game? I think it was the
first one. Yeah, so we didn't beat Cleveland. This is
after I think we played Cleveland before a Giants. But
when Ernest was having some problems with a Cleveland, I
(28:01):
think he was trying to press too much because you
know he's been there. So Gibbs finally put me in
and that's when I displayed what I can do. Had
what thirteen cares one hundred thirty three yards to TDS.
I almost ran a kick off back because I wanted
to be on that field right I wanted to show
the world what I can do, and when I got
the opportunity, I did so. Now Gibbs is starting to
(28:23):
put me more in the second half. Right, we're playing
the Giants, and this is when I knew. I said, okay,
it's about to be on. We're playing a Giant, and
it's like, I don't know, it's real close. Thirteen ten
something like that or thirteen zip. At first, giants were
beating us, and we're up there and Gary scores a touchdown.
(28:45):
We get up close. I think we either make minute
even or in the lead, and they put me in.
I'm in the second half. I'm just running the ball
all over all over it. I had like eighty three
yards in the second half. But every time.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Lead.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Now I get the ball, they keep saying, Rick, don't fumble,
don't fumble. Every time win a huddle, hold on to
the ball. I said, man, listen, he said, because we
ain't beat these guys in six times. I said, listen.
I wasn't here those times. It doesn't matter to me.
I have no I don't I don't care. But telling
me not I knock on thumble this ball. If you
keep telling me that you're gonna make me really and
(29:20):
I can't run the way I want to. So it
was that was a little difficult. But when we won
that game up there, I said, yeah, it's all now,
it's about to be a ride. And even when we
went leven in no and we played the Cowboys, man,
we could have won that game. We were just just
I we were just I guess feeling ourselves because when
(29:42):
we came to work on Mondays, because Mondays was we
got Mondays off. We're supposed to work on Mondays. But
every time Gibbs said you win, Coach Gibbs said, if
you win, you got Monday. You already got Tuesday off,
so we got two days off. So you're having that
leven and no stretch without that that Monday free. So noah, man,
we can't do no more. We got we gotta have
our money's free. So when you know undefeated, of course
(30:04):
you know we lost to Eagles on purpose. We're trying
to win that, especially when you're put in the third
string linemen. Yeah. No, so we knew that we had
that game and we had the NFC wrapped up. Come
man to uh, the way we practice at the Super Bowl.
If anybody would watch our practices, they would have said,
(30:25):
oh okay, they about to.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Beat they tail what about those practices?
Speaker 4 (30:29):
It was so they had to stop it because it
was so intense. We was hitting so hard and just
moved flying around the field as if we were playing
a game. Right then every practice Gills had to cut
it short.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Who sets that tone? Who sets that energy? Right there?
Is it?
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Coach Gibbs, it's the players. To me, it's money coming,
it's to leaders. Because again will Mini give his speeches
might be powerful, and just to hear his baritone voice,
how you talk, I'm like, man, I be looking. I'm like, hey, man,
you're gonna get another one because I'm ready for it
because it got me, got me ready. But man, it
was just like I don't want to let nobody now.
(31:05):
I'm gonna do my part. And that's how you felt
if your player had a job to do. And the
way Coach Gibbs approaching man is just how he had
his plays. How we run our plays and practice you
get confident about it so you know what to expect.
You know what's gonna happen how and this guy gona
block and you know you just knew all that stuff
because We did it over and over and over again.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
And I think that's what's so impressive when I look
at you being a rookie all these new things. Man,
you're already on the team that's established. They you could
have never played, you could have never saw the field.
But when you got your chance to get on that field,
you played so well that you end up leading us
in rushing in the Super Bowl. Man, I want to
really dive into that. Going into the Super Bowl, right,
(31:47):
you've never done this before. You are rookie, You've never
seen this stage. I gotta imagine, Man, nerves are going crazy,
butterflies are where you or what? You just just so excited.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
For the reason being, I was not nervous or anything,
because to me, it didn't feel like a super Bowl
because we were in Minnesota, snow up there to the roof,
so you're in a hotel the whole time. So what
you see now with all these festivities going on, we
didn't have none of that. We're in a cold place
(32:18):
and you never supposed to have a super Bowl in Minnesota.
What's going on with that? So we didn't get a
chance to get excited, you know, spend time a week,
you know, with the family having a great that we
didn't know. We all stuck in a hotel and this
is when I got introduced to Brian's fried turkey. His
whole family there and there had every room in the hotel. Right, Rick,
(32:40):
come try this. He tried to get me forever to
try this fire turck. No, man, I'm going on, damn
fried turkey. Now, who's what's fried turkey? No, get that
out of here, Brick, try it. No, no, no, no.
My wife tried it. She was like, it's good, said, oh,
let me try it. I said, bruh, what's this? I
got Yeah, And from that port, I have not baked
a turkey since. But let's keep it. I'm gonna keep
(33:03):
it there though. But as far as talking about we
like you have games now, like they all in warm places,
they're having a great time. You know it's gonna be
a nice But it didn't feel like that because it
felt like a regular game, and the way we approach
regular games, it's the same every single every single week,
(33:25):
and it felt like a regular game. It didn't feel
like the big thing. Only until they dropped those balloons
at the end. That's the only time it felt like
I said Oh this is big, but I didn't trip
on it because it just felt like another game only
because it was in Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
That had to add to you being pretty calm though, right?
Did that help you kind of just be calm and
just treated like.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Because again Gibbs like this, do your job, do your job,
and we will be all right. And I just I
didn't want to you know, I don't want to disappoint nobody. Plus,
I know when I get in I want the world
to see who I was. That's how I always thought.
I want you to know who thirty two is, what
Irvanes mean.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
And you did do that. So what happens after the fact, right,
you you lead the team in rushing yards, you win
this Super Bowl? Now everybody knows your name. How do
things change for you after that?
Speaker 4 (34:14):
When I went back to school to finish up, I
had three more classes, went back to school and being
at USC at that time, and my boyfriend were going
everywhere I went most time. You had to dress up.
We had to dress up. We walk into a club. Oh,
we got Rick Irvans in the house from the Super Bowl.
Tamp I have on boots long that's what we had.
(34:36):
Trenches back then. How old are you.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
I'm thirty three.
Speaker 4 (34:39):
Tell you that my daughter bro.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
So back then we is addressed with these trench coaches,
trench coats and boots. Now come up in here and
you have them moving and just be smooth. But and
I want to say, because Magic would have parties out
there a lot too that we would go to and
you had to be dressed up. I come in there
with trench coat and boots and just chill. I get
in because I'm Rick Curves from the super Bowl do
(35:07):
so it was. It was, It was great, man. I
enjoyed it. Even when super Bowl was out there in
ninety three at the Rose Bowl, they had a big
picture of me. I think Dallas played It was Dallas
when they played Buffalo. They had a big picture of
me and one of the when they had like all
of this ah, like a little party going on during
the all the fecifties going on that week. So they
(35:28):
had a big picture of me a booth that you
could take a picture with. It was crazy, man, so
much years yes, yes, yeah, then so much can change. Yeah,
you're right, because we went once Coach Gibbs left right.
Didn't realize it would be like that. Right, I did
not realize that we would tank so easily. Had he
(35:52):
been here, we'll still be winning. Some games would have
been because he had that. His philosophy was just just great.
Loved it. Just do your job, man, do your job.
Everybody take care of himself and don't worry about the
next person. But man, that what going three and thirteen
(36:13):
was our my third year lord ha mercy.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
I mean because you start here right like, that's that's
gotta be tough for any workie. Like you're you're at
the pinnacle. Man. You see all of the success, and
then afterwards it's got to be like the day after
Christmas right where it's like, Yo, does any season ever
feel that good against you?
Speaker 4 (36:31):
Now? And it's funny because I told you, I told Money,
it's funny. We uh in the super Bowl that Rick.
This don't happen all the time. I said, man, please,
maybe gonna get back here next year.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
It's this we kicking everybody at your boy confidence.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
I'm like what he was right, like, this doesn't happen.
This is this is a freak man. It's a one
time thing. Man. It doesn't happen our time and when
it so we need to make sure we seize this moment,
but it was funny. Another thing the store. I love
to tells that my first time playing on RFK, it's crazy.
(37:07):
Now I played in a hundred before one hundred thousand
people at the Rose Bowl, ninety six thousand at the Coliseum.
I'm used to crowd. I want people to see me play.
I get to our first game against Detroit that year
and I'm out there and warm up and I'm looking
at the stands going like, I meant, nobody here, anybody
(37:27):
come into the games. I don't know the history of
Redskins about people coming to the game late or whatever.
I don't know none of that. I just know anybody
in the stands and I know the game ain't start
it yet, but ain't nobody gonna fill up the stand that?
And that's what thirty minutes, you know what I mean,
something like damn money, ain't where everybody at Rick trust me.
By the time we go back in there come back out,
(37:48):
it's gonna before I'm like, man, this is you crazy.
Ain't nobody they all in the parking, they all tailgate,
yeah whatever. So I'll go back in and I'm like,
this is I can't get excited because I always I
would get my I have my musical. I'm like, man,
so now it's time for to come out. I'm just
like kind of this down a little bit. Man said,
(38:10):
you walk out and then you just say, I see us.
You've never been so you never never have to beat
no man. You need to experience. That's why I hope
when they make the new stadium that they trying to
replicate the stairs going up and down when you When
I saw that, I didn't just start crying because you
see all these folks, the energy in it and stances
(38:31):
going up and down like this, and I'm like, oh, man,
I said, game over it. I said, they have no
clue that they lost this game. It's just a matter
of how much we're gonna beat them by game over
it already, because that that crowd puts so much energy
into you. I blew it, blew my mind. They need
to have that in the next dadium. They got to
figure out a way how to do it.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
So I imagine you're pretty excited to hear about the
news and that the fact that we'll be going back
to RFK. I gotta imagine players like you, man, it
means something because unlike some like me who didn't get
to go there. You've been there and this hey day, Man,
how excited were you to hear that news?
Speaker 4 (39:04):
But I was hoping that they was going to do
that because that's the place where it needs to go
because I been to Foxborough before and when I saw
Foxborough and I saw how they had it, I said,
this is an experience.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
They got a hotel, restaurants, movie theater, it's all connected
to this whole, this football stadium. We could do the
same thing at r RFK. Ikenp wanting to say, but RFK,
because that's where it needs to be. Man, It's just
that's redskin football RFK right there, and it's going to
be an experience. When people come, people gonna be talking
(39:39):
about that. So I'm hoping they do that, you know,
build it like the way Foxborough and but man, I
was so happy they put it in DC because now
we got all the sports in DC. Now you get
really call them in Washington the man that's not the
Maryland Commanders, what the technice they are?
Speaker 3 (39:56):
So yeah, before we got started, I was talking to you.
I to ask you. You said, you play about five years
in the NFL, right, and I asked you why because
you were so talented, because you had so much Do
you mind sharing that story you share with me there
on when you knew, yeah, that my career in the
NFL show is about over. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
Man. We were playing Tempa Bay in nineteen ninety four
home and one of the I got a pitch to
the left, normal play, and me and the dB collided
head to head and my body went and scared the
blank out of me. Bro And ever since that, that
play has been in my head. I always want to
(40:37):
always tell myself, I don't want to get paralysed. Don't
want to get paralyzed, you know, because you see Daryl Steingelan,
you see guys like that, these all these hits, and
so that's always in your mind when you sometimes when
you're playing, when you see all these calipties, these I
call them car wrecks ca me being on the sideline.
Now I'm watching this stuff up close, and I will
tell myself, how in the hell did I play this
(40:57):
game hitting like this? So I had to go back
and actually watch tapes, going like, oh, I used to
do the same thing, but my body was built for it,
you know what I mean. But man, it's just like
these are car wrecks that happens every time. And so
when that happened to me, it did something to my
mental and I couldn't I couldn't straighten it out.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
And is it just a more timidness about the way
you run after something like that?
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Yeah, because it's now it's like do I because I
was used to just running, you know, I would run
people over too, you know, I put my head boom,
I'm gone. But now it's like, do I do that now?
So now when I'm in between that, you're in trouble. Now,
when I'm in between thinking do I do this? I
do that? Came over it because now I'm really about
to get hurt because I'm being indecisive.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
So how long in between that moment where you got
that hit to the time you decided to retire? When
did you know though that? Hey, I'm suse I know
it takes a minute for the mind to catch up
with the bodies trying to tell you.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
So we uh finished that year and and then signed
back with I went to the forty Niners. I always
wanted to play for them because I loved the way
their offense, how they was hit quick quick, So I
wanted to get over there, and it was that or Chicago.
I was gonna go to Chicago. Chicago wanted me to,
but I ended up going to for the Niners because
(42:14):
Ricky Waters end up going to Philly, so he left.
So I go over there and their system, man, man,
they had to run it back doing everything. I had
to learn, not just tell back, but all the receivers
because they in all those spots. So it was a
lot to learn and I learned it too. But they
already promised Derek Ville that spot because he could have
(42:38):
gone to Denver as Mike Shanahan I think went to
Denver and they wanted him over there and they just
just resigned him. So they made him the man no
matter what. So, uh, I'm gonna take the stream. I
ain't play as much, but I knew things were fading,
and I only had a one year deal. I didn't
resign and I wasn't playing. I didn't want to want to.
(43:00):
That's another thing. I didn't want to play special teams.
I wasn't a special team player. That's how I felt.
I'm a starter, and that was my mindset, and you
know it shouldn't have been like that. You know, I
should have just said embrace being a special team player
as well, but I just didn't like that because man,
they get tired too quick. You'd be playing on everything
(43:21):
and like, b Mitch, I'm like, I don't know how
he did that. Mitchell's on every special team and then
he'll come play. See Mitch is a machine. Yeah he
created Bruh. Anytime you throw a touchdown in college, you
run over to the other sideline and to start doing
push ups in front of him. Something wrong with your mentor.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Crazy? He's so crazy?
Speaker 5 (43:45):
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, yeah, man, I felt had I
embraced being a special team but I probably would have
played another five years.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
But it's it's a blessing that you were able to
leave on your own accord, because again there's people that
do not leave that field on their own.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (44:03):
I was taking that when I was what the forty
nine ers, I was actually taking studying for it to
be a personal trainer. Uh ccs would our guy here
Dan not Dann Raley but Phil Fielding. He had a company.
So I was studying every night to do that because
(44:24):
I knew my time was coming, and just I was like,
I wasn't having fun because at anytime you you you start
putting all this political stuff in front of me. I
ain't having fun. And when I got to the Raiders,
I tell you my list thing with them. So George
Carris was there GM He calls me, hey, well, once
(44:46):
you come to the Raiders, you know, training camp. Okay,
this is the first one. I'll go over there. And
I knew I didn't want to go over there. When
I got there, Oh my god, dude me, all these
fancy cars and weren't nobody serious about playing? And they
(45:08):
think and again when I went there, I felt like
I hit rock bottom because it's like when you go
to the Raiders at this point, at that point in time,
it's like rock bottom. And you could tell because it
wasn't nobody serious about playing. It was all about money
and driving cars, not serious about their game. So uh
that I didn't finish that year. I got cut in
(45:31):
training training camp. So I said, okay, I'm I'm done.
I'm gonna go ahead and do my personally. I was
running track too, do my procetrating and running track. And
so that year go by, another year, come up call
me again. I was like, nah, I ain't doing that.
So nah, I told my wife if they call, don't
answer the phone. So they called about three times and
she accidentally answered it. And I told you, and George goes, hey,
(45:54):
we want to I said, nah, I'm good. I said, no, no, God,
you know, I said, I I got a Hamstreet problem
because I did I kind of pull my hamstring. He said, well,
we know you got family and Sano sid you can
stay there for a little bit and you and I'm
like whatever. So I go out there and I'm there
for about maybe maybe a week, and I didn't I
didn't unpack my stuff, and I was like, man, I'm
(46:18):
not having fun. And Bruce Allen was the gym, so
I said. I was sitting there in my dorm. I
think I called my wife. I said, how would you
feel if I just not playing it?
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Hm?
Speaker 4 (46:32):
HM said you know, I don't care. You know, do
what you do what you feel. So I said, I'm
not having fun. So to I go. I go to Bruce.
I say, man, I love this game, but I'm not
in love with it. I need to be doing something else.
And he said, well, no, okay, okay, I tell you what.
Just take a week off. I know, you got people
(46:55):
in San Jose and you know, stay for a little bit.
I said, Noah, that's time for I'm gonna go.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 4 (47:01):
I left. And then I told myself, I said, if
I go to a game and when I leave it
because when you got the game, you're gonna feel it,
you gonna smell that grass. I want to play, I said,
but when I leave this stadium and I'm still thinking
about this, then I need to be playing. And I
(47:25):
don't know what game I went to my first game,
but I went and when I left the stadium, I
wasn't thinking about it, not on my mind. I said, Okay,
I don't need this game, tomore. I have my fun.
I did what the Lord gave me.
Speaker 3 (47:41):
You know.
Speaker 4 (47:41):
Now it's telling me to do something else. And I've
been doing my personal training since ninety six, you know,
and other things. But I had a lot of fun,
you know, and meet people like be Mitch Great, Oh
my god, it's just you know g Man and Gary
Clark Man. I love. I'm glad you're doing this because
I like tellim to telling these stories about my induction
(48:06):
and Gary Clark and Coach Gibbs and how he you know,
he was born again Christian and so may be miss
talking at mini camp and he said, yeah, I said,
I want you to watch this now. So coach Gibbs,
they say he's a born again Christian. Ain't don't like cussing,
came Cusser Rocker, he said, but watch what happened in
(48:27):
eighty four roper Pants. He said, just watch what happened
so and it just so happened. We in team Gary
runs the street, Mark throws it and he misses it.
He dropped every f bomb you could think of. And
I turned to look at I'm looking at Gibbs like this.
(48:48):
He ain't said nothing, and I'm like, didn't you just
tell me? Brian Dady he said, Ji could do it
thing he want to. He's that due. I said, oh,
and I see why because he is different, you know,
and so but g was the only guy that can cuss.
Can't nobody else.
Speaker 3 (49:07):
To this day. He lives by rules. And we love
Gary Ricky man. I love these walks down memory lanes
and then closing and you look behind us. Get this,
Oh I got you man. I made this for You'll
make sure you get it. And you know we talk
about all this. You get to reminisce when you sit
and talk, when you sit and look at these photos,
and you sit and think about those Super Bowls? What
(49:28):
do you want Ricky Irving's legacy to be?
Speaker 4 (49:30):
Man? I never thought about that, man, but I always
want to when I leave this game and not I don't.
I don't want it to be about me just playing football,
but me doing other things. Because I'm very good with people,
So that's why I wanted to train it. So I
want people to when they think of Ricky, that mean
he's a funny dude. He loves working with people, he
(49:51):
loves working with kids, and he just loved to have fun.
To me, that's and I got two beautiful daughters, beautiful wife.
My best friends been my part in a sense, I
want to say, what ninety one? That's my dog, man,
So yeah, then I'm a I'm a lover. But guy, man,
you mean to tell you that?
Speaker 3 (50:12):
I mean, I know that for being able to kick
you with you, man, I mean I think the fans
are going to be able to see a different side
of you. I don't know how many times you've gotten
a chance to tell these stories, man, but I appreciate
you so much for taking the time, and this is
the first of many. I feel like we got a
lot more than I wanted to the corner you right
off the street. Now now I know that I won't
we bother you.
Speaker 4 (50:29):
We can do it.
Speaker 3 (50:30):
Comved this family, our Next Man Up, Suer Bowl champion
and just an amazing human being. Ricky Irvins our Next
Man thank you so much for your time, bro, man.
Speaker 4 (50:39):
I appreciate it. And I ain't mean to get emotional, man,
but sometimes we talk about certain things. It can't help.
Speaker 3 (50:43):
But see that's that's the beauty of this show is
we we open that space for you. It's a safe
space because at the end of the day, yeah, you
afate this big strong man, but you're a human being. Man,
you are a human being and you are allowed to
feel whatever because you went through these things and fought
hard and you earned that. Brother, So there's no when
you would BC let them tears Flypall. I'll cry with you, brother,
Comanda Family, our Next Man Up. Ricky Irvis, thank you
(51:06):
so much, Commanded family. We hope you enjoyed this episode
of Next Man Up. Remember you can stream all of
the Next Man Up episodes right now on the Commander's
YouTube page or the audio wherever you get your podcast.
Thank you so much for supporting the Next Man Up Podcast.
You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but
two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosted and Best
(51:27):
Black Male Hosted Podcast. And that's all because of the
best fans in the NFL. I appreciate y'all so much
for supporting us. It's crazy to think we're already in
season three of Next Man Up.
D H says it all the time, but the best
part of our team is the team.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Yeah, And I think you can.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Feel that, you know, you can feel the closeness, you
can feel the brotherhood, you can feel you know everybody
has each other's backs.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
The Next Man Up Podcast is presented by Lansdown Resort
from kickoff to check score, a game, change and get
away in the heart of Louder Lansdown Resort, proud partner
of the Washington Commanders Commander's family. Our Next Man Up
just got his first career touchdown and is looking to
add many more to his resume. My guy, Luke McCaffrey, brother,
(00:33):
how you doing man?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
What up doing? Well? How are you doing?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I'm doing good man. I appreciate you taking the time
you fresh out of practice, man, which you came here
to kick it with us. Now, I mentioned a touchdown,
but we have not spoken since you signed your rookie deal.
So before we get to that, I want to talk
about your first NFL official offseason. Our partner's over at
Lansdown Resort like to know that you guys can get
it done on the field, but also taking the time
to relax and get yourselves right. So how did you
(00:57):
spend this first full NFL offseason getting yourself right?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
It was blast. When you don't have the combine, when
you don't have all that.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
You just get a train you get a bit. You
gotta get bigger, stronger, faster. And then I was trained
with my brother and that was just a blast, Such
a blessing to have that kind of group in there,
the competitive spirit of it, and it was a lot
of fun.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
And I know you've grown up your whole life training
with your brother's doing those things, but it had have
been a little different now that you're an NFL player.
Did it feel a little different? Was there a little
more respect? Was the level of play feel a little
more leveled now that you're in there with with your
brother as well?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Honestly, the biggest thing is you just have more time.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
You know, I wasn't going to class, didn't have all that,
and so you know, you get your workout done and
then you realize you have a whole lot of time
in the day, and so it was fun to just
be able to kind of kick it with him, have fun,
and then you know, get closer on and off the field.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
When you say closer, right, because I think about the conversations,
the conversation level you have to have with all your family,
even your dad. Does that change as well now that
you have a little more experience of the things that
they've been through, Does that change too for sure?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
For sure?
Speaker 1 (01:59):
I think in football, definitely in life. I think I'm
always learning and I'm so blessed. I'm the youngest, so
I get to watch all of them. My brother just
had his first kid, and so congrasson, thank you, thank you,
and so that was a lot of fun. But just
little things like that, you know, you learn so much
about life and just the blessing that it is. And
so it's so cool to just be able to look
(02:20):
around and be grateful for the community that we kind
of have together.
Speaker 3 (02:23):
And I'm sure it's a chance to reflect on your
rookie year and the things you were able to accomplish there.
What did you take for your rookie year into this
off season and say, okay, these are points of emphasis
I want to work on.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me that I
learned from my rookie to second year was just the
blessing it is to play the game, you know, being
able to take every single rep as an individual rep
and focus and lock in, and you know, I think
bringing it down to what's your job and just doing
that was something that was fun for me to kind
of work through and learn because I think that's the
(02:52):
process that you go through and everything, whether it's on
or off the field, that's just the mindset that you
kind of take to learn and to grow into embrace
and love the world around you.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
For sure. Man, And you could tell you added some size, right,
you added some strength there. Now we're almost four weeks
into the season. Have you seen that work that you
put in this offseason? Have you kind of seen that
in these last three weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It's been a lot of fun, for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
I think we have such a good team here and
DQ says it all the time, but the best part
of our team is the team.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, And I think you.
Speaker 1 (03:26):
Can feel that, you know, you can feel the closeness,
you can feel the brotherhood, you can feel you know,
everybody has each other's backs, and I think that's been
really cool. I think just seeing that develop in a
new way because it's year two and you brought in
free agents, some guys left, different things happen, and you
got a draft class that just come that just came in,
and it's so cool to just see that unity, that
(03:48):
bond and and you know we're gonna have adversity at
different times. We've already had some and so just to
be able to see how guys react to that, how
we bounce back, and how we cut we come together
and get closer from.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
That engine year two? What has been different about year
two for Luke McCaffrey. Is it different? I mean because
rookie year, I'm sure it is just like a whirlwind
all these different things. I mean even starting at the combine,
Like you said, it's been different about year two?
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, Again, I think it's just going back to the role,
you know, being comfortable, having that closeness a little bit
already built, and so you know who to go forward
to ask questions, who to learn from, who to continue
to grow alongside.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
And so it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
To do that.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
And you have a wide receiver room where you've been
playing with Terry McLaurin. Then they go get a guy
in Deebo Samuel Man, another guy who has honestly, you
have a lot of skill sets that Deebo has as well.
What has it been like learning from them, to getting
to learn from Terry for another season, but also getting
to play alongside Deebo and learn from him.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
Just the leadership that we have in this whole building
is incredible, and I think that that's highlighted at our
position with Deebo, with Terry, you know, you have Chris
Moore too, He's played a lot of snaps and so
for young guys like me, Jalen and and everybody in
that room, I think it's so cool to just be
able to kind of embrace that, to learn from them
and to take notes and to take tidbits. But more
(05:04):
than anything, just watch and kind of see how you
know you approach the game when you're a player like that,
but also you know how you conduct yourself, whether it's
on the field, whether it's on the sideline, whether it's
in the locker room. And so it's a lot of
fun to just learn every aspect of the game and
learn about life from you know, high achieving individuals.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Man, and you mentioned learning and being able to grow
within this game, but now you're also not a rookie.
You have a rookie in Jalen Lane who's coming in
and it's in a similar role that you were in
a young guy trying to make it. What's it been
like being the sophomore now being so like that can
look out for a guy like Jayleen give them advice.
Has that been kind of cool? Not being the new
(05:44):
guy in the house no more?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah, No, it's definitely.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It's nice not to have to go get the snacks
and all that. But yeah, exactly now that he's the
youngest one. But more than that, it's nice to just
have a friend, have somebody that you're going through with it.
You know, I'm in here two and I'm still a
young guy who's getting the ropes. And obviously you gain
so much from year one to year or two, and
so I think there's some things that I can help
him a little bit. But he does such a good
(06:07):
job and he's sill on top of it that I mean,
you see it on the field. He's he's crushing it
and he's having fun. And it's nice to have somebody
who's just a friend and somebody that you can root for,
somebody that you're celebrating in, somebody that kind of has
the revere and respect for the game that I think
I have and so it's a lot of fun to
just bond over that bond over things off the field
(06:28):
and just be able to laugh, joke and have fun
with And that's.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
What's so cool about these guys on this wide receiver room,
because you guys are also versatile, right, You guys all
can be using so many different ways, and I think
people forget this is only what your fourth full year
at receiver, like this is still a fairly new position
for you. As you've been moved around, as you've got
to do different things, even special teams. Have you found
places that you're like, oh, man, I really like it here,
Like I really like this role for me. I'm really
comfortable here. Have you found things that you've liked it
(06:52):
maybe you didn't even know about yourself.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, I think there's a lot. I think it's been
fun to just embrace all kinds of different things. And
that's where it just goes down to whatever you're job
is on the singular play, just embrace it and have
fun and focus on that. You know, I don't think
you can make two plays at once, So just focus
on doing whatever the task asked of you is at
that moment. And that's been such a fun thing to
(07:13):
be able to work through on so many different levels.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
You keep saying the word fun, and I can't think
of anything more fun than getting your first real touchdown
in the NFL. Man, take us back to that play. Man,
it was a dang near fifty y bar for you.
What was it like getting that first touchdown, especially doing
it at the crib in front of our home things.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
It was awesome. It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I think just the community that this team has in
the whole city is awesome, and the whole DMV is
so fun. It's so special to see every home game
that crowd going crazy. But I think that's special. It's
a lot of fun. You know, Receivers such a cool
position because so much has to go right. Quarterback has
to get the playoff. O line has to block, quarterback
has to throw the ball. You have to get open.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
So whenever that.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Can all click, it's really special and it's really cool.
I think again, the unity that we have, the bond
that we have, kind of shows that in something like that,
and so just to be able to be a part
of it's fun.
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Man, your celebration had the entire area of going crazy
because I don't think I can't remember the last time
we see somebody jump into the stand and it brace
the fans. That's something you would plan to do that.
So it just happened in the moment.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
No, it just happened. It just happened.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
So what you did it?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Man? And you're in it and you're with the fans there? Man,
what was that like? Because I'm sure they're going crazy.
I'm sure it's loud, and that's going to be a
moment you'll never forget.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
No, it was awesome. It was a lot of fun. Yeah,
I was getting pushed down there for what. I didn't
know I'd be able to get back out, but uh.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, other than that, it was it was a blast.
It was fun.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Did you remember to hold onto your game ball?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
I didn't know. Terry got it for me. Okay, yeah,
that moment.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Right there, that's so cool. It's been dope because like
all of you young guys when y'all get your first test,
I was so excited and just so happy to be
helping the team. When it's cool to see these veterans
take the time. Even Jay didn't take the time to
be like, no, listen, these are the moments that matter too.
So Terry got you that. Where is it at right now? Oh?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
It's at home right now?
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Okay, okay, you just keep it there.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
You will put it away there for a little bit now, Luke.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I mean, I gotta imagine you know, in your year two,
you get your first touchdown, there has to be some
sign of relief there. I know you were having a
great time, but does that give you more confidence as
you move forward? That help in any way with the
mental part of the game as you continue to develop
as a receiver.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I wouldn't say that. I think again, kind of what
I was saying.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Earlier, it's every play that that builds the confidence, right.
I think that's been so cool just in my mindset.
Being able to shift to focus on one play at
a time, be able to focus on what your role is,
and really just having that inner competition with yourself and
growing every single rap has definitely helped me. And I
think when it comes to that, it's it's going to
(09:46):
force every moment to kind of be the same. You know,
there's no highs or lows. It's the love of the
game and the passion that you have for the growth
and the respect that you have for the game that
kind of fulfills you.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
You know, that's that's it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
And it seems like all you guys have that and
that passion for the game, even though guys are young,
and then Jaden has that as well, and everybody that
sits here talks about how Jayden Daniels comes in and
sets that tone, And to me, I think you have
an interesting perspective because y'all are coming in the same
rookie class. Y'all are coming in around the same age,
very youthful, trying to figure this NFL thing out. How
has it been building that chemistry with a guy like
(10:20):
Jaden and getting to be able to grow with him,
knowing like, hey, I was drafted to be with his weapons.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
No, it's awesome.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Again.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I think anytime you have that like minded personality or
that like minded you know, kind of passion that you're
talking about, it makes it easy to bond, easy to click,
and so it's just so fun to be able to
come to work. I think it's nothing but a blessing
to just have this team have this unity that we've
kind of been able to start to build.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Luke, before we let you go, we got Atlanta got
back to back row games. We're gonna be taking on
the Falcons this weekend. How can you build off of
this momentum you've been able to generate between these first
three weeks.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yeah, again, I think it comes down to that.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It comes down to just focus on what your role is,
what your job is, being consistent and being the same
person every single play, whether something great happened to play
before or whether something terrible happened to play before. Coming
back and just becoming that person, becoming that team the
unity that we know we can build.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
Luke. Man, it's been so fun watching you grow. It's
crazy to sitting here talking to you now. I'm thinking
of the time we spoke when you just got drafted
and things are so much different already. And again, Man,
congratulations on that first NFL touch And I know you
got to keep going to the plays, but man, that's
such a big moment. You worked your whole life for it. Brother,
So congratulations Man Command His family on Next Man Up,
Luke McCaffrey coming fresh off his first touchdown the first Committee,
(11:36):
My God, appreciate you, Mass.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Command's Family. We hope you are enjoying Next Man Up
now before we get to a very special legend. You
gotta pay some bills. So Commanders fans, this is for you.
Level up with the brand new Triple A command Is
MVP membership. You'll receive all the benefits of Triple A
such as twenty four to seven roll side assistance, plus
chances to win game tickets, access to exclusive team events andperiances,
(12:00):
along with fifteen percent off commandage gear at the online
pro shop. Already a Triple A member, add the Commander's
MVP membership for free. That's right, for free hit a
Triple A dot com. So that's commands to upgrade or
join the squad and put your fandom and drive now
back to the show. Command is Family for our Next
Man Up. Normally, our legends they zoom in because they're
(12:23):
busy doing a lot of things. But this brother right
here pulled up to the studio to kick it with
us for his first time on Next Man Up. Former
Washington running back and Super Bowl champion Ricky Irvis. Ricky,
how you doing, brother man?
Speaker 4 (12:35):
I'm doing great? Man. How you doing?
Speaker 3 (12:36):
Oh man? I'm blessed man.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Every time you can just breathe and wake up, you're
doing great well.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
I a man. I say that all the time, and
especially when you can breathe and shed the air with
Super Bowl champion. Man. Now again, like I said, this
is your first time on Next Man Up in We
like talking football, but we really like talking about the person.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
Man.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
So let's take it back to when you was in
college at USC running around. Man, you did so much
you were able to get drafted by the Washington Reskins.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Yeah, and that way back on that that was kind
of scary too, because looking back, my junior year was
my best year. That's the year I really got drafted though.
So when my senior year came around, I got hurt
my fourth game against Ohio State, I had by the
two hundred yards in the third quarter, but I got
hurt my ankle. So I went ten more plays and
(13:22):
I couldn't do no more. So that whole year I
was out because of my ankle. So then when I
went to UH, I guess uh they went. I went
to UH the combines and all that and did everything,
ran fast forward and everything. They tested my ankle out,
which was funny. We had spring ball and I'm hearing
this two big linemen on our team talking about Yeah,
(13:44):
Dallas cot Boys called me and uh, you had the
giants called me. I'm like, damn, ain't nobody called me, Like,
I guess I ain't get drafted. So I'm sitting there.
I'm sad like kind of like, man, okay. I went
back to my place and I'm like, man, okay, I
guess that this. I gotta work harder. Some I got it.
I was a free agent and I just got to work.
And that that day on the draft, being on the
(14:07):
West coast, the draft started around like twelve o'clock and
it was that first round was long. That's when we had.
The first back to go was Russell Leonard Big Russell,
big dude from Long Beach Polly and he went to
Arizona from Arizona State. Ended up going I don't know
where it went, but I'm like okay, And I was
doing a report. My wife now was my best friend, uh,
(14:29):
and she was there with me. And it's twelve, it's one,
it's two, it's three or four five. All of a sudden,
my my sister called my phone rings, my partner phone ring.
Because I ain't have no money. My phone was disconnected.
Oh man, they had this number, and so uh, okay, hey,
I'll go answer it. And it's a Vanessa. I said, girl,
what you doing calling me?
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Hey?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
What the phone? I said, don't call me to it.
When they finished call, I'll call you back all right.
Next thing, you know, the phone. I ended up going
to sleep for about an hour. Phone rings about six
o'clock and it's Charlie Castley and he said, uh, and
we're thinking about picking you in this next around. They'll
call you back in two minutes. Man. I was so
(15:09):
excited that someone called because I didn't get no calls,
and I'm thinking, like, I gotta go be a free agent.
And so me and my my friend just looking at
the phone the whole time on while it's on his bed,
just looking at it, looking at it, counting the time.
And they called back, say, congratulations, you're Resking. Now back
in the day ied to hate the Reskins. That's funny, man,
(15:32):
I tell a funny story about art because I didn't like,
you know, I get to that later, but he called
said you're you know, you're Reskin. So I ended up
talking to Charlie running back coach coach Gibbs, and they
flew me in the next day. And man, which is
funny because you know old redskin part right, Yes, sir.
So when you were a kid, you thinking these guys
(15:54):
got money, They got the biggest, the best buildings, everything.
I got picked up. I'm thinking I'm gonna get picked
up in a limousine. Got a white truck picked me up,
so I ain't really a trip. And so we're driving
and we get to the place where they practiced, that
old rescue park. But I'm sitting there like going like
and I look at the drive rested a while. You stop,
(16:17):
he said, oh you're here. I'm like, where at the place.
I said, Oh, man, I ain't got no money because
you're from Uscna.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
I said, oh my god.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Then you walk in, it was like, oh it was
I'm sure it was great when they had it, but
it was bad. It was bad. Man. Then we had
the other facility built in ninety two.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Man.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
So but it was a great ride though, Man. I
enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
And you think about that call, right, because you made
it sound like you didn't think it was going to
get drafted at all. And when you get that call
and you hang up that phone, do you remember what
you did, what you said, what you was froming?
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Yes, I did, because again I asked. The guy asked Charlie.
I said, excuse me, I said, the coverage went off
fairly soon out here. Can you tell me I thought
I was a free agent? I said, can you tell
me what around you picked me in? He said, oh,
you use our second pick, third round. I said, oh, okay,
thank you. When I hung the food, I said, oh,
I chill because I had a report to do. I
(17:13):
didn't call nobody. Finish my report.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
This is a report for school.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Yeah yeah, school, yeah yeah. And I said, okay, it's
gonna come on TV because I already had Tom Marinovitch
was the first guy to go from us see. Then uh,
we had somebody else then met and they end up
showing that later. Then all of a sudden, I can
start getting bump bottled all these calls and uh. And
then I flew out the next day. And that's another
thing that tripped me out, was like when I flew
(17:38):
in to Virginia, you're talking about my brother being scared
as hell. You see in all these trees. Oh, I
ain't never seen that before in my life, because when
you find in California, all you see is pavement, yeah,
or brown trees everywhere and it wasn't like it is today.
You got all these houses that it was trees everywhere.
That's like, oh my, I'm moving to the woods. It
(17:59):
was scared, you know, it was just real scared. So
but I may do. I got happy when I got here.
I knew instantly just by I don't know why I
thought this, but when I saw the cars in the
parking lot, it was just like blue collar cars, like
big trucks, and there wasn't no fancy stuff. So I said, man,
(18:20):
I think we're gonna be really good man, because they serious.
And then you got big MONI comen and you see
all these cats. I'm like, okay. The vibe that I
felt just when I got there, even a mini camp,
I was like, man, they're gonna be pretty good.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
And you guys wore pretty good. I mean, there's not
many rookies that come into this situation like you came
into getting to that super Bowl. But before we talk
about that super Bowl, you got to get there first, right,
What was that rookie year like for you? Because you
said you didn't even like the Reds kids, You're looking around,
this is all brand new. I know that's not an
easy adjustment. For young man.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Let me go to training camp and my introduction to
be Mitch for this whole thing. Because we go to
training camp, no one told me about the humidity out
in this area. Okay, So the way I dress and
what pads on, it's like, first of all, I thought
we go shorts for the first four four or five days.
(19:16):
Now first day was passed. So I go to the
locker room and everybody getting dressed. I'm like, what cha doing?
Why I getting dressed? It's like rookie, it's a big leads.
We don't go no short. I'm like, what, So I
get my path I'm putting my paths in my everything.
And Brian mitt to looking at me. I got I
should have brought him too. I got passed this big
thipads knee passed like that. I had a hip pass in,
(19:41):
I had elbow pass. I'm like, cause it's the pros man.
They hit harder than college. That's what I think. And
so Brian said, hey, bro, all that right there is coming.
You're coming out with that. I said, no, man, that's
how I dressed. That's my plane. No man, trust me.
All that coming out if not now second practice whatever, man,
we get out there. Bro, I don't know what it was.
(20:01):
No one told me about it, but I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't move, Like the first ten to fifteen minutes
We're doing these drills and I'm just like now, I
was in great shape and I'm like, what is going on?
While my chest felt like this. Everything was going on
and it's like man'sday. Minutely bruh, I told you you
should be wearing That second practice, I was down near naked.
(20:22):
Oh my god. This it was crazy, man. But those
practices that we had, man, man, it was just it
was it was fast, it was just a lot of hitting.
It was just so it was it. I think that
week we scrimmaged the Jets on Wednesday, they went with
the Pittsburgh Saturday. I'm like, we it's like the first
(20:45):
week of trading camp. Why are we doing this so soon?
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Man?
Speaker 4 (20:48):
Everything was popping like this though, But man, it was
it was real and we loved it. We we we
loved that commandery that had it was like everybody together.
Many Coma was the key to though. He was that
voice that kept everybody together and just when you when
you heard it, it was like, man, we just sit
there and just listen, man. So I love him for that, though.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Bro, when you have a MONI call me when you
have a Brian Mitchell. Guys that have done it, Guys
that you probably were looking at on TV like, oh man,
these guys are stars and now you get to play
with them. How beneficial is that to have those old
g's in that locker room that actually care because we
didn't have to say none to you. You could have
let you go out there and figured out.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Well, so you know, when I came in, I'm sizing
guys up to my running backs just like so it's
another funny story. I got into Mini Camp. I thought
Ernest Bonner was a coach because he he had he
had him glass, and he had these this beard that
was like kind of grayish and everything. So I didn't
think none of him. But when I saw the running backs,
(21:48):
I looked at Danny Coplan and I saw the way
he ran. I got him if I could. Usually I
set up when I do this, though, but John Subtle,
my dude from Atlanta, he slew foot and he walked
like this. I said, well, I damn show got him.
We had Joe Ray. I said, he too big and
he probably passed his prime, so I ain't worried about him.
(22:09):
And then when I saw be Mitch, I said, okay,
b Mitch's he a little young, young cat, you know,
got energy. But I think I'll get him too.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
You know.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
It be tough, but I think I get it. So
I ain't thinking. I said I could start it, you know.
And all of a sudden, we're getting Redy to start
one on one drills and Ernest come running out and
he gets in the front of the line. So when
you get in front of the line, that tells me
that you are d bat. You're the man, you know
what I'm saying. So I'm like, but dude, I thought
you was a coach what you're doing. So all of
(22:38):
a sudden he go out there boom boom, boom boom bah.
I said, oh, that's gonna be a problem. As soon
as he did his route on Moni Coleman, he came back.
I said, man, because I didn't know. See, I knew
Ernest's buying it from Cleveland. I didn't. I was so
naive about teams changing players changing changing teams. I didn't
know who he was. And I said, hey, man, he
(23:00):
came back because I'm I'm curious about this. I say, man, uh,
you been here the whole time, this Scince. He's like, nah,
I was. I said, Cleveland, Cleveland. I know Cleveland. I'm
going back and you know, I do my route and
I did it on with Marshall beat him every time.
Every time I thought he was gonna because again I
didn't know players. I'm thinking they're gonna cut this dude,
(23:20):
and I'm killing them. I'm killing it. I'll go back
and tell my boys. But I get back to my
to rest up, and I'm thinking, like, Okay, who was
this dude? Cleveland, Cleveland clean? They had forty four and
they had a big mac to big full back and
I'm like, heh, man, what was your number? He said
forty four? Oh you that dude? Man, I'm sorry from
the ball and end zo man, oh.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Man, you was freaking it.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Oh my god. So I didn't know that these guys
were here, bruh. And I'm like, and I learned so
much from that from Ernest Bonder. He's my mentor by far.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
So what are those kinds of things that he taught you?
Was it was it just life things? Was it feel?
Speaker 4 (23:55):
I went off the field. We let's start with the field.
The way he looked at you, see this is where
you need. I need to be moving and show you
this because the way he approached the game, how he
looks at the linebackers with his eyes, his intent was
just so just like like he zoned He is zoned in.
(24:15):
You can just tell instantly. You can't say nothing, Ernest,
he ain't hearing you because he's so sowed in and
he looks at you the whole time. He don't take
his eye off you make that move about. I did
exactly like him time, everything he did running around. I
try to be like him because it was so nice
and so intentional. So I said okay, and then we
(24:36):
would go over his house. He would cook for us,
you know from Georgia. He'll cook for us. Man being
like in the book reading group and all that stuff.
We did a lot of stuff. Eb Man. He was
really that big brother.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
And even when you're a younger brother, right, because I'm
a younger brother, right, You look at your older siblings sometimes,
so there's an admiration there, there's a respect there. But
you said it when you walked in. You size the
folks up. That's a competitive mindset. Did you have that
with him as well, where you're like, Okay, I know
you the guy. Yeah, I know you, my big bro,
but I want to show you I'm him too well.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
But I think they knew that because once we did
our scrimmages and everything, I displayed that. I let them
know from from from one on one drills with the linebackers. Again,
I'm killing Whilbert and Weber always wanted to go with me, right,
And I'll go back to my my not Dorham, but
I guess Durham. I'll call my boy my best friend
(25:30):
said hey, man, I'm out here doing my thing, bro,
but I'm killing this guy named Marshall. Man, he just man,
they gonna cut him. He's just I don't know what's wrong.
He I'm killing every time though, He said, whoo whoob Marshall.
I don't know his first name, but something Marshall number
fifty eight. And so I go to Marshall he said, man,
because my boy versus man, I think he played for Chicago.
(25:50):
Said no, he ain't play for Chicago. So I go
to it, said Marshall, Hey, hey, did you play for Chicago?
He said, yeah, wait you oh you fifty eight he said, okay,
he said, I don't. I don't hate guys in practice.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Yeah you up? Yes, I said, know that.
Speaker 4 (26:15):
He said you're good. I said, whoa okay, and I
was like, man, I am tripping. And then Art Monk.
I used to hate Art Monk because he will always
beat my cowboys. But I hated him because the way
he looked in his uniform. He would have his shoulder
pads flapping out, Jericho hanging out in the back. It
(26:36):
was just looking real sloppy. And as a as a kid,
you see these things and it's like you already hate
the Redskins anyway, but now the players on this like,
I can't stand him because he's just all sloppy. When
you watch the door set, he was all clean, just smooth.
Then I get here and I'm looking at Art was
actually in the weight room in the old weight room,
and I was just watching it. It's just so chill
(26:59):
and get quiet, and I said, man, Art, I used
to hate you man, I said, yeah, as a kid, Man,
I watched you play and you always be my comboence.
But your uniform you look this shovel and everything, and
I just didn't like it. But I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
I just start laughing, dude, because in our city that
are so quiet, you probably didn't even respond to it.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
Yeah, you know what I mean. So ye had a
great time.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
So you're a rookie man, you're going through all these things,
you're learning. It sounds like you're just learning so much
before the season even starts. But this is a super
Bowl team. You said it when you drove in that
you could tell, hey man, this is lunch peal type guys.
These guys just getting it. When did you know within
that rookie season that y'all were onto something special.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
I'm gonna take you to the Giants game. The Giants game?
Was it the first game? I think it was the
first one. Yeah, so we didn't beat Cleveland. This is
after I think we played Cleveland before a Giants. But
when Ernest was having some problems with a Cleveland, I
(28:01):
think he was trying to press too much because you
know he's been there. So Gibbs finally put me in
and that's when I displayed what I can do. Had
what thirteen cares one hundred thirty three yards to TDS.
I almost ran a kick off back because I wanted
to be on that field right I wanted to show
the world what I can do, and when I got
the opportunity, I did so. Now Gibbs is starting to
(28:23):
put me more in the second half. Right, we're playing
the Giants, and this is when I knew. I said, okay,
it's about to be on. We're playing a Giant, and
it's like, I don't know, it's real close. Thirteen ten
something like that or thirteen zip. At first, giants were
beating us, and we're up there and Gary scores a touchdown.
(28:45):
We get up close. I think we either make minute
even or in the lead, and they put me in.
I'm in the second half. I'm just running the ball
all over all over it. I had like eighty three
yards in the second half. But every time.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
Lead.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Now I get the ball, they keep saying, Rick, don't fumble,
don't fumble. Every time win a huddle, hold on to
the ball. I said, man, listen, he said, because we
ain't beat these guys in six times. I said, listen.
I wasn't here those times. It doesn't matter to me.
I have no I don't I don't care. But telling
me not I knock on thumble this ball. If you
keep telling me that you're gonna make me really and
(29:20):
I can't run the way I want to. So it
was that was a little difficult. But when we won
that game up there, I said, yeah, it's all now,
it's about to be a ride. And even when we
went leven in no and we played the Cowboys, man,
we could have won that game. We were just just
I we were just I guess feeling ourselves because when
(29:42):
we came to work on Mondays, because Mondays was we
got Mondays off. We're supposed to work on Mondays. But
every time Gibbs said you win, Coach Gibbs said, if
you win, you got Monday. You already got Tuesday off,
so we got two days off. So you're having that
leven and no stretch without that that Monday free. So noah, man,
we can't do no more. We got we gotta have
our money's free. So when you know undefeated, of course
(30:04):
you know we lost to Eagles on purpose. We're trying
to win that, especially when you're put in the third
string linemen. Yeah. No, so we knew that we had
that game and we had the NFC wrapped up. Come
man to uh, the way we practice at the Super Bowl.
If anybody would watch our practices, they would have said,
(30:25):
oh okay, they about to.
Speaker 3 (30:27):
Beat they tail what about those practices?
Speaker 4 (30:29):
It was so they had to stop it because it
was so intense. We was hitting so hard and just
moved flying around the field as if we were playing
a game. Right then every practice Gills had to cut
it short.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Who sets that tone? Who sets that energy? Right there?
Is it?
Speaker 4 (30:44):
Coach Gibbs, it's the players. To me, it's money coming,
it's to leaders. Because again will Mini give his speeches
might be powerful, and just to hear his baritone voice,
how you talk, I'm like, man, I be looking. I'm like, hey, man,
you're gonna get another one because I'm ready for it
because it got me, got me ready. But man, it
was just like I don't want to let nobody now.
(31:05):
I'm gonna do my part. And that's how you felt
if your player had a job to do. And the
way Coach Gibbs approaching man is just how he had
his plays. How we run our plays and practice you
get confident about it so you know what to expect.
You know what's gonna happen how and this guy gona
block and you know you just knew all that stuff
because We did it over and over and over again.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
And I think that's what's so impressive when I look
at you being a rookie all these new things. Man,
you're already on the team that's established. They you could
have never played, you could have never saw the field.
But when you got your chance to get on that field,
you played so well that you end up leading us
in rushing in the Super Bowl. Man, I want to
really dive into that. Going into the Super Bowl, right,
(31:47):
you've never done this before. You are rookie, You've never
seen this stage. I gotta imagine, Man, nerves are going crazy,
butterflies are where you or what? You just just so excited.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
For the reason being, I was not nervous or anything,
because to me, it didn't feel like a super Bowl
because we were in Minnesota, snow up there to the roof,
so you're in a hotel the whole time. So what
you see now with all these festivities going on, we
didn't have none of that. We're in a cold place
(32:18):
and you never supposed to have a super Bowl in Minnesota.
What's going on with that? So we didn't get a
chance to get excited, you know, spend time a week,
you know, with the family having a great that we
didn't know. We all stuck in a hotel and this
is when I got introduced to Brian's fried turkey. His
whole family there and there had every room in the hotel. Right, Rick,
(32:40):
come try this. He tried to get me forever to
try this fire turck. No, man, I'm going on, damn
fried turkey. Now, who's what's fried turkey? No, get that
out of here, Brick, try it. No, no, no, no.
My wife tried it. She was like, it's good, said, oh,
let me try it. I said, bruh, what's this? I
got Yeah, And from that port, I have not baked
a turkey since. But let's keep it. I'm gonna keep
(33:03):
it there though. But as far as talking about we
like you have games now, like they all in warm places,
they're having a great time. You know it's gonna be
a nice But it didn't feel like that because it
felt like a regular game, and the way we approach
regular games, it's the same every single every single week,
(33:25):
and it felt like a regular game. It didn't feel
like the big thing. Only until they dropped those balloons
at the end. That's the only time it felt like
I said Oh this is big, but I didn't trip
on it because it just felt like another game only
because it was in Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
That had to add to you being pretty calm though, right?
Did that help you kind of just be calm and
just treated like.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Because again Gibbs like this, do your job, do your job,
and we will be all right. And I just I
didn't want to you know, I don't want to disappoint nobody. Plus,
I know when I get in I want the world
to see who I was. That's how I always thought.
I want you to know who thirty two is, what
Irvanes mean.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
And you did do that. So what happens after the fact, right,
you you lead the team in rushing yards, you win
this Super Bowl? Now everybody knows your name. How do
things change for you after that?
Speaker 4 (34:14):
When I went back to school to finish up, I
had three more classes, went back to school and being
at USC at that time, and my boyfriend were going
everywhere I went most time. You had to dress up.
We had to dress up. We walk into a club. Oh,
we got Rick Irvans in the house from the Super Bowl.
Tamp I have on boots long that's what we had.
(34:36):
Trenches back then. How old are you.
Speaker 3 (34:38):
I'm thirty three.
Speaker 4 (34:39):
Tell you that my daughter bro.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (34:44):
So back then we is addressed with these trench coaches,
trench coats and boots. Now come up in here and
you have them moving and just be smooth. But and
I want to say, because Magic would have parties out
there a lot too that we would go to and
you had to be dressed up. I come in there
with trench coat and boots and just chill. I get
in because I'm Rick Curves from the super Bowl do
(35:07):
so it was. It was, It was great, man. I
enjoyed it. Even when super Bowl was out there in
ninety three at the Rose Bowl, they had a big
picture of me. I think Dallas played It was Dallas
when they played Buffalo. They had a big picture of
me and one of the when they had like all
of this ah, like a little party going on during
the all the fecifties going on that week. So they
(35:28):
had a big picture of me a booth that you
could take a picture with. It was crazy, man, so
much years yes, yes, yeah, then so much can change. Yeah,
you're right, because we went once Coach Gibbs left right.
Didn't realize it would be like that. Right, I did
not realize that we would tank so easily. Had he
(35:52):
been here, we'll still be winning. Some games would have
been because he had that. His philosophy was just just great.
Loved it. Just do your job, man, do your job.
Everybody take care of himself and don't worry about the
next person. But man, that what going three and thirteen
(36:13):
was our my third year lord ha mercy.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
I mean because you start here right like, that's that's
gotta be tough for any workie. Like you're you're at
the pinnacle. Man. You see all of the success, and
then afterwards it's got to be like the day after
Christmas right where it's like, Yo, does any season ever
feel that good against you?
Speaker 4 (36:31):
Now? And it's funny because I told you, I told Money,
it's funny. We uh in the super Bowl that Rick.
This don't happen all the time. I said, man, please,
maybe gonna get back here next year.
Speaker 3 (36:40):
It's this we kicking everybody at your boy confidence.
Speaker 4 (36:44):
I'm like what he was right, like, this doesn't happen.
This is this is a freak man. It's a one
time thing. Man. It doesn't happen our time and when
it so we need to make sure we seize this moment,
but it was funny. Another thing the store. I love
to tells that my first time playing on RFK, it's crazy.
(37:07):
Now I played in a hundred before one hundred thousand
people at the Rose Bowl, ninety six thousand at the Coliseum.
I'm used to crowd. I want people to see me play.
I get to our first game against Detroit that year
and I'm out there and warm up and I'm looking
at the stands going like, I meant, nobody here, anybody
(37:27):
come into the games. I don't know the history of
Redskins about people coming to the game late or whatever.
I don't know none of that. I just know anybody
in the stands and I know the game ain't start
it yet, but ain't nobody gonna fill up the stand that?
And that's what thirty minutes, you know what I mean,
something like damn money, ain't where everybody at Rick trust me.
By the time we go back in there come back out,
(37:48):
it's gonna before I'm like, man, this is you crazy.
Ain't nobody they all in the parking, they all tailgate,
yeah whatever. So I'll go back in and I'm like,
this is I can't get excited because I always I
would get my I have my musical. I'm like, man,
so now it's time for to come out. I'm just
like kind of this down a little bit. Man said,
(38:10):
you walk out and then you just say, I see us.
You've never been so you never never have to beat
no man. You need to experience. That's why I hope
when they make the new stadium that they trying to
replicate the stairs going up and down when you When
I saw that, I didn't just start crying because you
see all these folks, the energy in it and stances
(38:31):
going up and down like this, and I'm like, oh, man,
I said, game over it. I said, they have no
clue that they lost this game. It's just a matter
of how much we're gonna beat them by game over
it already, because that that crowd puts so much energy
into you. I blew it, blew my mind. They need
to have that in the next dadium. They got to
figure out a way how to do it.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
So I imagine you're pretty excited to hear about the
news and that the fact that we'll be going back
to RFK. I gotta imagine players like you, man, it
means something because unlike some like me who didn't get
to go there. You've been there and this hey day, Man,
how excited were you to hear that news?
Speaker 4 (39:04):
But I was hoping that they was going to do
that because that's the place where it needs to go
because I been to Foxborough before and when I saw
Foxborough and I saw how they had it, I said,
this is an experience.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Yep.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
They got a hotel, restaurants, movie theater, it's all connected
to this whole, this football stadium. We could do the
same thing at r RFK. Ikenp wanting to say, but RFK,
because that's where it needs to be. Man, It's just
that's redskin football RFK right there, and it's going to
be an experience. When people come, people gonna be talking
(39:39):
about that. So I'm hoping they do that, you know,
build it like the way Foxborough and but man, I
was so happy they put it in DC because now
we got all the sports in DC. Now you get
really call them in Washington the man that's not the
Maryland Commanders, what the technice they are?
Speaker 3 (39:56):
So yeah, before we got started, I was talking to you.
I to ask you. You said, you play about five years
in the NFL, right, and I asked you why because
you were so talented, because you had so much Do
you mind sharing that story you share with me there
on when you knew, yeah, that my career in the
NFL show is about over. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (40:14):
Man. We were playing Tempa Bay in nineteen ninety four
home and one of the I got a pitch to
the left, normal play, and me and the dB collided
head to head and my body went and scared the
blank out of me. Bro And ever since that, that
play has been in my head. I always want to
(40:37):
always tell myself, I don't want to get paralysed. Don't
want to get paralyzed, you know, because you see Daryl Steingelan,
you see guys like that, these all these hits, and
so that's always in your mind when you sometimes when
you're playing, when you see all these calipties, these I
call them car wrecks ca me being on the sideline.
Now I'm watching this stuff up close, and I will
tell myself, how in the hell did I play this
(40:57):
game hitting like this? So I had to go back
and actually watch tapes, going like, oh, I used to
do the same thing, but my body was built for it,
you know what I mean. But man, it's just like
these are car wrecks that happens every time. And so
when that happened to me, it did something to my
mental and I couldn't I couldn't straighten it out.
Speaker 3 (41:16):
And is it just a more timidness about the way
you run after something like that?
Speaker 4 (41:21):
Yeah, because it's now it's like do I because I
was used to just running, you know, I would run
people over too, you know, I put my head boom,
I'm gone. But now it's like, do I do that now?
So now when I'm in between that, you're in trouble. Now,
when I'm in between thinking do I do this? I
do that? Came over it because now I'm really about
to get hurt because I'm being indecisive.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
So how long in between that moment where you got
that hit to the time you decided to retire? When
did you know though that? Hey, I'm suse I know
it takes a minute for the mind to catch up
with the bodies trying to tell you.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
So we uh finished that year and and then signed
back with I went to the forty Niners. I always
wanted to play for them because I loved the way
their offense, how they was hit quick quick, So I
wanted to get over there, and it was that or Chicago.
I was gonna go to Chicago. Chicago wanted me to,
but I ended up going to for the Niners because
(42:14):
Ricky Waters end up going to Philly, so he left.
So I go over there and their system, man, man,
they had to run it back doing everything. I had
to learn, not just tell back, but all the receivers
because they in all those spots. So it was a
lot to learn and I learned it too. But they
already promised Derek Ville that spot because he could have
(42:38):
gone to Denver as Mike Shanahan I think went to
Denver and they wanted him over there and they just
just resigned him. So they made him the man no
matter what. So, uh, I'm gonna take the stream. I
ain't play as much, but I knew things were fading,
and I only had a one year deal. I didn't
resign and I wasn't playing. I didn't want to want to.
(43:00):
That's another thing. I didn't want to play special teams.
I wasn't a special team player. That's how I felt.
I'm a starter, and that was my mindset, and you
know it shouldn't have been like that. You know, I
should have just said embrace being a special team player
as well, but I just didn't like that because man,
they get tired too quick. You'd be playing on everything
(43:21):
and like, b Mitch, I'm like, I don't know how
he did that. Mitchell's on every special team and then
he'll come play. See Mitch is a machine. Yeah he
created Bruh. Anytime you throw a touchdown in college, you
run over to the other sideline and to start doing
push ups in front of him. Something wrong with your mentor.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Crazy? He's so crazy?
Speaker 5 (43:45):
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, yeah, man, I felt had I
embraced being a special team but I probably would have
played another five years.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
But it's it's a blessing that you were able to
leave on your own accord, because again there's people that
do not leave that field on their own.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (44:03):
I was taking that when I was what the forty
nine ers, I was actually taking studying for it to
be a personal trainer. Uh ccs would our guy here
Dan not Dann Raley but Phil Fielding. He had a company.
So I was studying every night to do that because
(44:24):
I knew my time was coming, and just I was like,
I wasn't having fun because at anytime you you you start
putting all this political stuff in front of me. I
ain't having fun. And when I got to the Raiders,
I tell you my list thing with them. So George
Carris was there GM He calls me, hey, well, once
(44:46):
you come to the Raiders, you know, training camp. Okay,
this is the first one. I'll go over there. And
I knew I didn't want to go over there. When
I got there, Oh my god, dude me, all these
fancy cars and weren't nobody serious about playing? And they
(45:08):
think and again when I went there, I felt like
I hit rock bottom because it's like when you go
to the Raiders at this point, at that point in time,
it's like rock bottom. And you could tell because it
wasn't nobody serious about playing. It was all about money
and driving cars, not serious about their game. So uh
that I didn't finish that year. I got cut in
(45:31):
training training camp. So I said, okay, I'm I'm done.
I'm gonna go ahead and do my personally. I was
running track too, do my procetrating and running track. And
so that year go by, another year, come up call
me again. I was like, nah, I ain't doing that.
So nah, I told my wife if they call, don't
answer the phone. So they called about three times and
she accidentally answered it. And I told you, and George goes, hey,
(45:54):
we want to I said, nah, I'm good. I said, no, no, God,
you know, I said, I I got a Hamstreet problem
because I did I kind of pull my hamstring. He said, well,
we know you got family and Sano sid you can
stay there for a little bit and you and I'm
like whatever. So I go out there and I'm there
for about maybe maybe a week, and I didn't I
didn't unpack my stuff, and I was like, man, I'm
(46:18):
not having fun. And Bruce Allen was the gym, so
I said. I was sitting there in my dorm. I
think I called my wife. I said, how would you
feel if I just not playing it?
Speaker 3 (46:32):
Hm?
Speaker 4 (46:32):
HM said you know, I don't care. You know, do
what you do what you feel. So I said, I'm
not having fun. So to I go. I go to Bruce.
I say, man, I love this game, but I'm not
in love with it. I need to be doing something else.
And he said, well, no, okay, okay, I tell you what.
Just take a week off. I know, you got people
(46:55):
in San Jose and you know, stay for a little bit.
I said, Noah, that's time for I'm gonna go.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 4 (47:01):
I left. And then I told myself, I said, if
I go to a game and when I leave it
because when you got the game, you're gonna feel it,
you gonna smell that grass. I want to play, I said,
but when I leave this stadium and I'm still thinking
about this, then I need to be playing. And I
(47:25):
don't know what game I went to my first game,
but I went and when I left the stadium, I
wasn't thinking about it, not on my mind. I said, Okay,
I don't need this game, tomore. I have my fun.
I did what the Lord gave me.
Speaker 3 (47:41):
You know.
Speaker 4 (47:41):
Now it's telling me to do something else. And I've
been doing my personal training since ninety six, you know,
and other things. But I had a lot of fun,
you know, and meet people like be Mitch Great, Oh
my god, it's just you know g Man and Gary
Clark Man. I love. I'm glad you're doing this because
I like tellim to telling these stories about my induction
(48:06):
and Gary Clark and Coach Gibbs and how he you know,
he was born again Christian and so may be miss
talking at mini camp and he said, yeah, I said,
I want you to watch this now. So coach Gibbs,
they say he's a born again Christian. Ain't don't like cussing,
came Cusser Rocker, he said, but watch what happened in
(48:27):
eighty four roper Pants. He said, just watch what happened
so and it just so happened. We in team Gary
runs the street, Mark throws it and he misses it.
He dropped every f bomb you could think of. And
I turned to look at I'm looking at Gibbs like this.
(48:48):
He ain't said nothing, and I'm like, didn't you just
tell me? Brian Dady he said, Ji could do it
thing he want to. He's that due. I said, oh,
and I see why because he is different, you know,
and so but g was the only guy that can cuss.
Can't nobody else.
Speaker 3 (49:07):
To this day. He lives by rules. And we love
Gary Ricky man. I love these walks down memory lanes
and then closing and you look behind us. Get this,
Oh I got you man. I made this for You'll
make sure you get it. And you know we talk
about all this. You get to reminisce when you sit
and talk, when you sit and look at these photos,
and you sit and think about those Super Bowls? What
(49:28):
do you want Ricky Irving's legacy to be?
Speaker 4 (49:30):
Man? I never thought about that, man, but I always
want to when I leave this game and not I don't.
I don't want it to be about me just playing football,
but me doing other things. Because I'm very good with people,
So that's why I wanted to train it. So I
want people to when they think of Ricky, that mean
he's a funny dude. He loves working with people, he
(49:51):
loves working with kids, and he just loved to have fun.
To me, that's and I got two beautiful daughters, beautiful wife.
My best friends been my part in a sense, I
want to say, what ninety one? That's my dog, man,
So yeah, then I'm a I'm a lover. But guy, man,
you mean to tell you that?
Speaker 3 (50:12):
I mean, I know that for being able to kick
you with you, man, I mean I think the fans
are going to be able to see a different side
of you. I don't know how many times you've gotten
a chance to tell these stories, man, but I appreciate
you so much for taking the time, and this is
the first of many. I feel like we got a
lot more than I wanted to the corner you right
off the street. Now now I know that I won't
we bother you.
Speaker 4 (50:29):
We can do it.
Speaker 3 (50:30):
Comved this family, our Next Man Up, Suer Bowl champion
and just an amazing human being. Ricky Irvins our Next
Man thank you so much for your time, bro, man.
Speaker 4 (50:39):
I appreciate it. And I ain't mean to get emotional, man,
but sometimes we talk about certain things. It can't help.
Speaker 3 (50:43):
But see that's that's the beauty of this show is
we we open that space for you. It's a safe
space because at the end of the day, yeah, you
afate this big strong man, but you're a human being. Man,
you are a human being and you are allowed to
feel whatever because you went through these things and fought
hard and you earned that. Brother, So there's no when
you would BC let them tears Flypall. I'll cry with you, brother,
Comanda Family, our Next Man Up. Ricky Irvis, thank you
(51:06):
so much, Commanded family. We hope you enjoyed this episode
of Next Man Up. Remember you can stream all of
the Next Man Up episodes right now on the Commander's
YouTube page or the audio wherever you get your podcast.
Thank you so much for supporting the Next Man Up Podcast.
You allowed us to be nominated for not one, but
two People's Choice Podcast Awards, Best Male Hosted and Best
(51:27):
Black Male Hosted Podcast. And that's all because of the
best fans in the NFL. I appreciate y'all so much
for supporting us. It's crazy to think we're already in
season three of Next Man Up.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.