1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Before we begin, a reminder to please rate and review 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: our show. It helps new listeners discover us and grow 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: the program. On this episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly, Stephen 4 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: and Trayvon Diggs have made their mother, Stephanie, very proud. Yes, 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: because they're each among the best at their positions in 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: the NFL, and because they had to make it to 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: the top without the guiding hand of their father, Aron, 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: who passed away when they were just boys. I'm senior 9 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: producer Dan Bloom, and I have senior writer Alex Pruett 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: with me today. He wrote our cover story about the 11 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: Diggs brothers for sis Strength issue, and their journey, although 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: paved with pain, forged an unshakable brotherly love that now 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: extends through generations. How's that for a Philly reference? Gonzalez 14 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: from Sports Illustrated and I Heart Radio. This is Sports 15 00:00:53,280 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: Illustrated Weekly. My name is Alex pruittt, senior writer at 16 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated. Today we're talking about cover story I did 17 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: for our Strength issue about a pair of brothers in 18 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: the NFL, Stefan and Trayvon Digs. Stefan is a All 19 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: Pro receiver for the Bills, and Trayvon is an All 20 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: Pro defensive back for the Cowboys. Stefan is this shipmying, shaking, 21 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: joking receiver. Well, that's how you become the best receiver 22 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: of the National Football League like he was last year. 23 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: Trayvon is kind of the smooth operator. He has this 24 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: natural receiving backgrounds, natural feel for tracking passes. So there 25 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: are times when he like gets an interception and you 26 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: think he's the receiver perfect, it's Trayvon ditch tell the sideline, 27 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: Nobody's gonna catch him. House call, Travo ditch pick six. 28 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: Stephen said, all manner of time since Randy Moss and 29 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: Chris Carter stats in Minnesota and then most famous for 30 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: the Minneapolis Miracles games, winn ass for Trayvon, Iinecky going 31 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: to keep the field and interception number eleven for Trayvon Dick. 32 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: I don't know if anyone could have predicted, even Stefan 33 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: the leap, that he was going to make a bagged 34 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: eleven interceptions more than any NFL player in forty years. 35 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: Trayvon Dick, staring right back into Heinrich's soul, knew exactly 36 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: what he was gonna do. In perfect position, hit the 37 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: Jets and comes up with number eleven on the season. 38 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: What a phenomenal year this young man has had. Not 39 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: necessarily unique to have a couple of brothers, or even 40 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: elite brothers in the NFL. I would see it with 41 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: the Watts, with the bossas we've seen him with the Mannings. 42 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: But never has it been so condensed to this like 43 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: single matchup, the single isolated matchup of receiver versus defensive back, 44 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: opposite positions of a matchup that I think, in some ways, 45 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: speaking as an only child from my vast experience, mirrors 46 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: the sibling rivalry itself. Right, you're out on an island. 47 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: It's kind of mono mono. So you've intrigued me with 48 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: your talk of only childhood as I am also an 49 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: only child. Did your being an only child have anything 50 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: to do with your interest in doing the story and 51 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: its conception? No? If anything, it made me think maybe 52 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: I shouldn't do this story. Maybe I should find someone 53 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: who actually knows what it feels like. Now, why did 54 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: you think that this story would fit in well with 55 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: the strength issue? Beyond their obvious strengths as football players. 56 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: Beneath that layer, I think there's and once you peel 57 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: it back, there's a lot more themes of strength that 58 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: crop up the theme of of iron sharp and iron 59 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: going up against each other in workouts and Madden and 60 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: pick up basketball and um, all these things they've done 61 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: throughout their childhood that kind of formed the foundation for 62 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: what they've built today. And then even deeper than that 63 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: is I think the strength of love, how their relationship 64 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: has evolved as they've expanded past just the tough love, 65 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: the kind of doggy dog mentality. These like really intense 66 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 1: battles where they're like running routes against each other at 67 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: their grandfather's memorial service. So back us up a step. 68 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: Who is the Diggs family? Where are they from? What 69 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: are they all about? Trayvon is the youngest of five 70 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 1: going on down the list around Jr. Porsche, Stephen, Marshawn, 71 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: and Trayvon. Stephan and Trayvon are the only two of 72 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: those five whose parents are Aaron Senior and Stephanie Diggs. 73 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,720 Speaker 1: They grew up in various areas are various places around 74 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: the DC Beltway region, but largely Montgomery County. That's where 75 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: Trayvon went to high school of Public Wouten and then 76 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: later Private Avalon. Stefan went to very famous football powerhouse 77 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: school council. Best as I could tell, their origins and sports. 78 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 1: Passion for sports started with Aaron, especially football. It was 79 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: a big Cowboys fan, but it was definitely something for 80 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: all the boys to do. I mean, Stephanie recounted Saturdays 81 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: where they would show up to the Pop Warner Field 82 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: at nine am and not leave till like four or 83 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: something because Stefan, Marshawn, and Trayvon would all have games 84 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: in succession. And you know, Iran I think certainly had 85 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: a vision. There's I think a famous family story about 86 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: one Halloween Stefan was maybe five or something, Neron looks 87 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: at him as like, that kid's going to the NFL. 88 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: You would tell Stefan, you know you're going to get 89 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: bins full of college letters when you're older. And again 90 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: Stefan's like in grade school. But he would put in 91 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: the work with them. He would stop at a park 92 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: on the way home from school and run bleachers or 93 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: ducone drills. They weren't really like running routes against each 94 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: other until they were much older, but it was just 95 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 1: like a lot of conditioning, a lot of hard work. 96 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: Ethic kind of instilled this belief that if you work 97 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: hard enough, you can achieve your goals. So now we 98 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: have to talk about the tragic event that happens to 99 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: this family, Iran's passing. How does that take place? And 100 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: how old were the boys when this happened? Yes, Iran Sr. 101 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: Died of congestive heart failure. He had been at out 102 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: of the hospital for for half a decade and passed 103 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: in January. Stephen was fourteen, Trayvon was nine. Yeah, so 104 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: I am having this conversation with you at age thirty eight, 105 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: and Iran Senior died at age thirty nine, and he 106 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: had kids, and I have a kid and I have 107 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: another on the way, and so damn this particular detail 108 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: really hit me hard, and I really feel in that 109 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: moment for this family. Can you just talk about what 110 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: it was like to lose Iran? Yeah? Do you want 111 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: to talk about how you feel? First though? How I 112 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: feel how you fell reading that? Oh my god? Well, 113 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: I love my son so much, and I also want 114 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,960 Speaker 1: to pour every ounce of knowledge and effort and energy 115 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: that I can muster into his life and into his 116 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: soon to be brother's life. Our next child is going 117 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: to be a boy as well. So yeah, so I 118 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: see so much in like what's coming in my own 119 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: life in your story, And it is both extremely sad 120 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: to think that they lost this pillar human flawed perhaps 121 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: as we all are, imperfect in their way of loving, 122 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: but obviously such an important pillar in these really impressive 123 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: people's lives. So to think about myself as a Iran, 124 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: it's like, wow, how sad would it be to lose 125 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: my position within this beautiful family structure? And yet how 126 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: powerful it is to be able to transmit lessons that 127 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: stay with you even well beyond your own death. Well said, 128 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: I don't have kids myself, so it's again like that's 129 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: another moment where although I did, I lost my dad 130 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: two years ago, so I was, oh, wow, I was 131 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: able to connect to them a little bit. I'm sorry 132 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:15,679 Speaker 1: to hear that. Yeah, I remember. We were talking about 133 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: just like little things that we do that we picked 134 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: up from our parents that you don't even recognize. And 135 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 1: Stefan like had just spit out the car and he 136 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: would with car window and he was like, oh yeah, 137 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: like spitting out the car. My dad used to do 138 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: that all the time. Where were we um describing a 139 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: RAN's passing and how it affected the family and how 140 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: they responded Stefan. He emphasized what you said, which was 141 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: the idea of lessons during his life. Iran sr. Was 142 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: the type to really teach you stuff. But at that 143 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: time it was a very rocky road because that was 144 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: around the time we lost our father or whatever, and like, 145 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: you know, you're kind of trying to find your way, 146 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,079 Speaker 1: find yourself. It's hard to be a man when you 147 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: still the kid, I'm saying, when you're trying to be 148 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: a man and trying to find with you know, damn 149 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: their feedsure stuff. I'm trying to like start of fitting 150 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: for yourself because my mom God best her, she was 151 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: superwoman and dude everything she could. But you know, you 152 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: try to start figuring it out for yourself and for 153 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: your younger servants. Stephanie has worked various jobs for Amtrak 154 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: for decades now. When the boys were younger, she would 155 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: work on basically East Coast Corridor trains along night and 156 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: you have Corridor. Occasionally Stefan would tag along their stories 157 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 1: about him pretending to run routes in the aisles and 158 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: like joking past strangers. You know, they had extremely strong 159 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: parental influences, and not just Stephanie but Porsche in the house. 160 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: But as Porscha goes away to college and Stephanie's again 161 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 1: working these overnight, long overnight shifts on amtrack, um, the 162 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: boys are often at home together having to figure it out, 163 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: and um, you know, early on they said this manifest 164 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: in Stefan taking some liberties with what people would tell them, 165 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: which was that he was the quote unquote man of 166 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: the house. Now, so you know, one day, Stephanie comes 167 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: home from work and finds Travon on the couch hanging 168 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:07,599 Speaker 1: out and he was like, what stuff, I told me 169 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: he didn't have to go to school today. But again, 170 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: you know, just it's working progress, right, and stuff On 171 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: himself is only just a teenager having to grow up 172 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 1: way too fast here, So tough conversations but also empathy 173 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 1: led to them being in a much better place and 174 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: this kind of protective relationship. Forming he did good in school. 175 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:33,839 Speaker 1: You know, he had a hall of it. I say, 176 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 1: tea score he blew it out. It wasn't I to 177 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: a C T S. Yeah, he blew it out the 178 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: water like that was something that everybody was taking concerned about. 179 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: And I was like, and I tell you super smart, 180 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 1: Like I ain't concerned at all. He blew it out 181 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 1: the water. We both dealt with like some serious battles 182 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: as far as like the death of our father. Being young. 183 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: I was young, but he was younger than me, so 184 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how we had to deal with it. 185 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: And you know how we fought through it kind of 186 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: like together, like going out how to be without a 187 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: dad and kind of keep pushing forward. Strength comes from 188 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: many different areas, you know, it used to come from pain. 189 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: You kind of got to thrive off of that. Stefan 190 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: Diggs was a huge star at Good Council of High School, which, 191 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 1: as you noted, is a football powerhouse in its own right. 192 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: And Trayvon described those games when he first started. I 193 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,719 Speaker 1: just know the brother really really good at football in 194 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: high school. I used to saying, so watch him. I 195 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: used to go to all his games. You know, his 196 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: games to be packed the council so pack like a 197 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: college game. But it was just like, I hate my brother, 198 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: really really good at football. He's doing something right. I 199 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: think that was a really eye opening period for Trayvon. 200 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: That's Trayvon put it. Seeing the bins of recruiting letters 201 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: that Aaron predicted Stefan would get. Seeing these you know, 202 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: towers of bins in the family dining room. He remembers 203 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: fans lining up for Stefan's autograph after games, and like Tupper, 204 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: wears of fresh baked cookies that they brought for him. 205 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: Maybe there's something to this, Maybe this is like a 206 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:12,480 Speaker 1: legit path. So as is revealed in your story, Stefon 207 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: Diggs now views his decision to attend the University of 208 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 1: Maryland perhaps as a misstep. Were you that that's gonna 209 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 1: be the biggest thing to come out of this? Probably right? 210 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: Were you struck by his frankness and discussing this particular topic, 211 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,440 Speaker 1: and how do you analyze his statement? What do you 212 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: think he's right? At this point, I'm not really struck 213 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: by Stefan's frankness. Talk to him enough, he says what's 214 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: on his mind. It was an explicit question I asked. 215 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: I think the way I phrase it was would you 216 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: have gone to Maryland if you were an only child? 217 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: And his answer was something like no. And he went 218 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: on to expeld briefly that that was just from a 219 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: development perspective, He didn't feel as prepared for the next level, 220 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,280 Speaker 1: howle as he thought he would have been if he 221 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: had gone somewhere else. Why was Stephen's time at Maryland 222 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: so tumultuous. Yeah, they got down to their fifth quarterback 223 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: that year because three of the first four toward their 224 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: A c l s and the fourth I think had 225 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: a season ending Liz Frank or something like that. Their 226 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:21,439 Speaker 1: fifth quarterback was a true freshman linebacker who was supposed 227 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: to red shirt that year, but they were just so 228 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: short on bodies that he played his high school position 229 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: a quarterback for the last like two thirds of the season, 230 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: and then from their stuff on broke his leg, he 231 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 1: lascerated his kidney, and then again just kind of a 232 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: period of transition Maryland of just kind of mediocre results 233 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: and him not showcase being showcased maybe perhaps the way 234 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: he wanted to, And I think all of which kind 235 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: of conspired to take his draft stock. That said, you 236 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 1: can't really put this in a vacuum, right because it's 237 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: not just about his football career. It was about the 238 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: people back home. He felt such an obligation to be 239 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: close spy, to be able to go watch Trayvon's games 240 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: in person, to be able to have Trayvon be with him, 241 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: to continue that relationship in a way. But also giving 242 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: Trayvon the up close look that he needed too one 243 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: day to do it on his own. Before we sat 244 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: down to lunch, we had some time before the meal came, 245 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: and Stefan was like, let's just go. Let's just drive 246 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: over to Maryland and see who's there, and you swing 247 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: by the football office. Like he's famous enough he can 248 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: just do that and like park on the curb, but 249 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: no one gives him a ticket. But on the way 250 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: there they got to talking about how you know, they 251 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: started reminiscing about, Oh, yeah, that's where we would go 252 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: get Italian nice, and that's where we would you know, 253 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: that's where we had a party, and that's where the 254 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: floor almost caved in, and Trayvon was basically like, yeah, 255 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: I like lived here. Trayvon said again he got to 256 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: experience a lot of college, a lot of that life, 257 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: not just with Stefan, but with all of Stefan's teammates who, 258 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: because he was Stefan's brother, were looking after him or 259 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: making sure that he wasn't getting in trouble. I used 260 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: to be at every day every weekend in college and college. 261 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: I'm at high school and now ninth grade, I'm going 262 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: to your empty and I say, like, I feel like 263 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: that probably kept me out of the troupe, being up 264 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: there with him, you know, being right there with him 265 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: and he looking after me. You know, he got his 266 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: teammates right there look at making strong straight. So you know, 267 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: it's just everything worked out as supposed to. And I 268 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: got to see a lot of stuff that a lot 269 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: of people, you know, my age, didn't get to see, 270 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,680 Speaker 1: you know, and I never may know like bad decisions 271 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: on bad choices, you know, I'm just watching, just just 272 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: watching and learning. Like they say, like it takes a 273 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: village to raise a kid, and like so many people 274 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: played a part like and kind of like keeping him 275 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: like straight, Like I never had no concerned about him 276 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: ever being okay, especially at the crib because like trying 277 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: to be that like father figure that I didn't really 278 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: have to do it by myself, like I had like 279 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: basically a village of people making sure little bro was good. Trayvon, 280 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: in terms of college selection, again immediately learned from his 281 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: brother's quote unquote mistake and goes to Alabama, doesn't try 282 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: full and as as soon as he gets the offer 283 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: from Alabama, he's like done deal. Regardless of how it 284 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: ended up going for him, which was also tumultuous in 285 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: his own right. He saw that opportunity, he seized it. Yeah, 286 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: not necessarily only learning from the mistakes, but just wanting 287 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: to do better regardless, wanting to carve your own path 288 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: in a way too. And you know, I think that's 289 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: why some of what you mentioned. His position changed to 290 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: defensive back after playing it a safety returner receiver as 291 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: a true freshman. Nick Saban calls him in his office 292 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: and says, you're moving a cornerback, and Trayvon calls Stephan 293 00:16:37,320 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: in tears because he's so upset. I called him crime. 294 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: He wanted me to play DVM say, oh, no, we 295 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: ain't doing that now. I said, I get to work, right, 296 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: Let's go. That's that's what it is like. Like He's like, man, 297 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: I'm not sorry to hear all that. Crun, Let's get 298 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: to work. Ultimately, it was also a blessing in disguise 299 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: for Trayvon to switch positions, to play a different position, 300 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: to not necessarily be linked to his brother all the 301 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: way through college either, to be able to kind of 302 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: spread his wings and find his own path. The most 303 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: touching moment of this interview for me was when you 304 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:19,199 Speaker 1: asked Stefon Digs about the concept of tough love, and 305 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: then he basically pivoted and said, yeah, tough love is great, 306 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 1: But when they were younger, tough love was was what 307 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: they knew, and tough love was what Stefan tried to 308 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: pass along to Traybon after their dad passed as well, 309 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: all these scenes of him working Trayvon super hard, taking him, 310 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: dragging him out of bed to go run routes and 311 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 1: run sprints and stuff. But that tough love, Like if 312 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: I could tell anybody life tough love, like I supported, 313 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: like I'm a hundred percent behind it, but I also 314 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: feel like a certain level of love like not necessarily 315 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 1: coddling because I'm not a fan of coddlm and he 316 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: knows like I ain't here to I should fall on 317 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: the ground to patch your back, like I'm gonna tell 318 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: you get up what I'm saying. But at the same time, 319 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: like it's okay to testimony you love them, it's okay 320 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: to teest somebody that like what I'm saying, Like if 321 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: you heard I got you like what I'm saying. We 322 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,159 Speaker 1: always just always naturally had each other back because we 323 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: probably family because that's my brother. But it's okay to 324 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,879 Speaker 1: testimony that you're proud of them, Like I'm saying, some 325 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: people need to hear that because you'll be on this 326 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: crash course of always chasing what's next. I need to 327 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: do more. I need to do more, like I had 328 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: to learn that, I'm saying, because you'd be so hard 329 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 1: on the person that you don't know what they can endure, 330 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: what they can do with an they can't break at 331 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: any given point. So at one point I wanted him 332 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: to know that I was proud of him. I love 333 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: him and I appreciate them, and that goes a long way, 334 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: especially considering like everything that we've been through individually, not 335 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: just together, but individually. Boy, Like, I'm proud of you. Boy, 336 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 1: you can't a long way. I used to wash and 337 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:56,200 Speaker 1: wipe your assay. I'm just I'm saying, I love you. 338 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: Am I right in reading that Stefan just signed a 339 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: contract extension? He did? Yeah, And isn't Trayvon up for 340 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: a big today? Like not to be crass about it, 341 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: but you know they've been monetarily successful as well. Oh 342 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: absolutely absolutely. Um the term of generational wealth, of taking 343 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: care of Stephanie of taking care of their kids comes 344 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: up a lot, and Stefans said, kind of tongue in cheek, well, 345 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,120 Speaker 1: thanks goodness, there's two of us to do it. But yeah, 346 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: you know, this past offseason, a lot of movement, a 347 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: lot of money given out to receivers, and Buffalo locked 348 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 1: him up with an extension that guarantees him seventy million 349 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: over the next uh six seasons. And yeah, Trayvon's bag 350 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: will follow soon enough. I'm sure. It used to be 351 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: a big topic of conversation among the family about if 352 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,240 Speaker 1: they were ever going to play together. I asked Stephon 353 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 1: that and he he kind of pooh pooted and said, well, maybe, 354 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: but not after my extension. And I don't think Trayvon 355 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: is ever gonna leave Dallas. But then I asked Trayvon 356 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: that on a call a couple of days later, and 357 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: he was like, well, I don't know. Never said never, 358 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,439 Speaker 1: So there's always the proball I suppose. Yeah. Well that 359 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: was was the start in its own way. When they 360 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,479 Speaker 1: matched up against each other. Leave it to Kirk Cousins 361 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: to ruin the moment. Has checked in on offense, Stefan 362 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: is in on defense. These two went out of the 363 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,879 Speaker 1: skills competition, and now they'll go at it here on 364 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: the Pro Bowl. Now it's on Kirk to to recognize 365 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: it and say, Okay, I gotta throw the ball over there. 366 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna predict a play their battles top of your 367 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:34,360 Speaker 1: scream because goes to Kamara. I love Stefan, locked him 368 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: down right there, throw it to him, curtain. So how 369 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: does their mom, How does Stephanie feel about their success? 370 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: One can guess she's pretty happy. Absolutely, she's certainly I 371 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:49,959 Speaker 1: think looking forward to the day that they match up 372 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 1: against each other, and I believe they're scheduled to face 373 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,760 Speaker 1: next year and three. So I asked Stephanie what our 374 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: hopes are for when Stefan and Trayvon play for inevitably 375 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: play for the first time, and she said she's getting 376 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 1: two jerseys. She's gonna set them together. And then she said, 377 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,479 Speaker 1: I'm hoping tray shuts down Stefana. Stefan thinks it's never 378 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: gonna happen. He's got that big brother syndrome. But I mean, 379 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: on a more serious note, it must be profoundly satisfying 380 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 1: for her to look at her family now after taking 381 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: such a hard blow at such a young age. Yeah, 382 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 1: and I think she's able to look forward and feel 383 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: something similar to when it comes to her grandkids. Um 384 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: Stefan's daughter Nova and Trayvon's son Aiden are pretty much 385 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 1: total opposites, but also exactly like their uncles. Nova's is 386 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: very reserved and shy, like Trayvon is as anyone who's 387 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,440 Speaker 1: seen hard knocks nos Aiden is not afraid to march 388 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 1: up to anyone and tell him exactly what's on his mind. Hi, 389 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: how you doing? What's your name? Aiden? Your patro? I 390 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:05,400 Speaker 1: mean not your death Plasco. So good to see you. 391 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: You can't keep giving me and Patrick confused. Stephanie's played 392 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: an incredibly impactful role in shaping both these brothers as fathers, 393 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: but also as a grandmother and being in their lives. 394 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: And not too long ago there was just these incredibly wholesome, 395 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 1: cute videos of Stephanie working out with Aidan and Nova 396 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 1: at the gym that Stefan and Trayvon work out at 397 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: in the DC area. That's where where we shot some 398 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:33,199 Speaker 1: footage for our shoot as well. Yeah you go, you 399 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: did job? Would you say? Here you go? Good job? Grandmother, 400 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: granddaughter and grandson all like slamming medicine balls on the 401 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: ground and like waddling with dumbells around the track, and 402 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 1: it's just it's so cute wholesome to see, not just 403 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: again like generational accumulation of wealth, but generational accumulation of 404 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: love as well. Alex Pruitt, thank you for such a 405 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: beautiful story and I appreciate your work. Thanks for being here, 406 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: appreciate you, Thanks for having me. Alex PRUITTT is a 407 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: senior writer for Sports Illustrated. You can find a link 408 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 1: to his article about the Diggs brothers in our show notes. 409 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and as a reminder, please rate and 410 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: review our show wherever you listen to it. It helps 411 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: people find us. Sports Illustrated Weekly is a production of 412 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated and I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from 413 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: my Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, 414 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,960 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your favorite shows. And for more 415 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: of Sports Illustrated, the best stories and podcasts, visit SI 416 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: dot com. This episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly was produced 417 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,919 Speaker 1: by Jessica Yarmaski, Jordan Rizzieri, and Isaac Lee, who is 418 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: also our sound engineer. Our senior producer is Dan Bloom. 419 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: That's me our executive producers are Scott Brody and John Gonzalez, 420 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: who we hope is having a wonderful vacation. Our theme 421 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 1: song is by Nolan Schneider and if you've stuck around 422 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: for this long, we to you with this. I thought 423 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: the most touching moment of the whole day was when 424 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: Stefan wiped the booker off of tray Bon's nose, also 425 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: touching literally, Yes, I digress, Let's not go there. U