1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 1: team year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer Anius Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I'm a Nius Williams. 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: Today we're talking about football, specifically coaching the game. We 6 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: all love. It's one thing to play it at a 7 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: high level before an NFL legend. Coaching the game presents 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: great opportunities and great challenges. Not everyone was made to coach, 9 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:46,279 Speaker 1: so how do legends know if it's for them? So 10 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: we pick it up. I got the Great Royal Woodson 11 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: with me. That's right, Perdue, Hall of Fame cornerback as 12 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: you guys know, but also just personally one of the guys, 13 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,080 Speaker 1: one of my contemporaries who really inspired me and I 14 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: studied your games, so thanks for being on with me. 15 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: Played with the Pitchburgh Steels, Baltimore Ravens, and the Oakland Raiders. 16 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: So he stayed in the bait hanging out on the Bay. 17 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: Mark Brunel quarterback Jacksonville Jaguars man, he would kill me 18 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: with Jimmy smith Man, I'm not even pressing Jimmy on 19 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: the line. Let me leave Jimmy alone. I tried. I 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: tried to press jim and Jimmy like, dude, that's what 21 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: you get. It's my former teammate, tour whole drafted number 22 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: six overall, correct number six, right to the st. Louis 23 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: rem right. Coming from NC State and went to a 24 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: military school with the military one year out of high school. 25 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: I needed it. Wow, So glad. I'm glad to have 26 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: you guys with us. We're really gonna hear talking about coaching. 27 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: You know, so many players struggle with that identity when 28 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: they leave. It's a love that all of us have 29 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 1: with the game. Why don't you guys give me your 30 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: thoughts in terms of why coaching rock Coaching is really 31 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: a grassroot way to reach kids. And you know, for me, 32 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: you know, I coached four years with the Raiders, and 33 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: it was like I started coaching my sons in high school. 34 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,359 Speaker 1: I coached meant Little League and I coached my high 35 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: school and so I got the itch to get back 36 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: to the grassroots side of it, to teach the basic 37 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:28,239 Speaker 1: fundamentals of the game and the principles and the discipline, 38 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: the different things that it can teach you as an athlete, 39 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: and that was one of the main reasons I got 40 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: into it. And coaching in the NFL is kind of 41 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: being like a parent, you know, raising kids, especially in 42 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: the modern world, is challenging, frustrating, vigorating, you know, you know, 43 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: and disappointing at times. And it's just like that in coaching. 44 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,959 Speaker 1: You know, you talked to the guys and uh, they're challenging, 45 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: They're sometimes they're disappointing. Sometimes they're excited about it. Sometimes, um, 46 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: you know, they they're exhilarated that you're giving them new 47 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: knowledge that they can use in life and in football. 48 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: And that's the main reason I got into it. Yeah, 49 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: what about you, Mark. When I think of coaching, the 50 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: first thought I have is I would not have made 51 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: it as far as I did, played as long as 52 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: I had without good coaching. And I'm not talking about 53 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: the NFL guys as much as I'm talking about the 54 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: coaches I had early on in my development. High school coaches, 55 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: college coaches, guys that taught me the game of football, 56 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: how to play and how to get better. And but 57 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: more so, we're such an influence on my life, not 58 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: just as a football player, but as a person forever 59 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: grateful for coaches that I was fortunate to have in 60 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: my life. And the very reason why I coach high 61 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: school today is because if I can make just a 62 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: fraction of an impact on the kids that are that 63 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: are playing for me, as the guys in my life 64 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: made on me, that's very rewarding. What about you, Tori 65 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: oh Man? For me, you know, I started coaching on 66 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: the pop oneer level. I was trying to stay away 67 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: from from coaching. I was, you were trying. Well, my 68 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: son decided he wanted to play football, so he came 69 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: to me. He was a soccer player all the way 70 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: up to the eighth grade. Came to me and said, Dad, 71 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: I think I want to try football. So I said, okay, 72 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: well let's take you to the best Pop Warner team 73 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: in the area. And we went to end going to 74 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: Capitol City Stealers, and I went to the coach and say, look, 75 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 1: my son wants to play. You know, is it any 76 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: way I can get involved? He said, Shore, you can 77 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: come on and work with the wide receivers. So that's 78 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: how it all started for me coaching, and I had 79 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: a great, great time just all of the the energy 80 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: and the juices and just the competitiveness and the kids learning, 81 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,239 Speaker 1: as Rod and Uh and Mark just mentioned to seeing 82 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: them learn really got me fired up. So now I 83 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: went from Pop Warner now into high school and still 84 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 1: coaching my son. He's now junior high school, a Heritage 85 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: High School and wait for as North Carolina. So it's 86 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: a way for me to stay around the game and 87 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 1: teach the game the right way. But it's also an 88 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: opportunity for me to connect and be with my son, 89 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: to be able to be in his life every single 90 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: day and to be able to answer any questions to 91 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: help him become a young man and eventually comeing become 92 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: a grown man. So that was very important to me. 93 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: So our relationship has not that we had a bad relationship, 94 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 1: but it's gotten. It's just it's it's very healthy. We 95 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: did have an episode last year I had to get 96 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: on his but that's good coaches. That's good coaching. But 97 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: but that but it's been fun. And then just the 98 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,480 Speaker 1: and just seeing how the kids are just are just 99 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: all for just wanting to get all of the information 100 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: that they can use to make them better players. And 101 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 1: what I've learned through coaching is kids want to feel 102 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: like they're coming to practice every day and they feel 103 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: they want to feel like they're getting better. I want 104 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: to feel like they're learning something. So that's a challenge. 105 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:00,279 Speaker 1: That's a challenge for me to make sure that I'm 106 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: clear and and and make sure that my exs and 107 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: nose and I'm talking right, and make sure I'm explaining 108 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: the game on the correct the correct way, and that 109 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: they're getting something out of football practice every single day. 110 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: But not only that outside of the game, you know, 111 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: I have them over to the house. We watched Tate, 112 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: We have dinner. My wife finds herself a lot of 113 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 1: times cooking meals for not only just the five of us, 114 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: how immediate family. Now it's five or six other ride 115 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: receivers now in the house running all around. So we 116 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: you kind of take on the kids as if they're 117 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:34,039 Speaker 1: your kids. So yes, So parenting is also involved. Mentor 118 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: and ship is also involved when you get into coach. 119 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 1: So I'm I'm really excited about being involved with coaching. 120 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: I see the impact that we as coaches are able 121 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: to make on the day to day basis, So I 122 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: think that's probably the most gratifying thing. And showing these 123 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: young men how to conduct themselves on the football field 124 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: and also conduct themselves off the field. Now, Mark, how 125 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 1: did you know it was for you? Well, when I 126 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: got done playing six years ago. Now, like all of us, 127 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: when we get done playing, there are opportunities available. And 128 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: for me, at least, I didn't know if I wanted 129 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 1: to go into business. I honestly didn't really know what 130 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: I wanted to do. I considered coaching at the college 131 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: level or the pro level. It just seemed like a 132 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: natural transition from playing to coaching. But my kids were 133 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: still in the house, and and and as as you 134 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: guys know, I mean, that can consume your life, and 135 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: and it's hard on the families. Not the families can't 136 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: make it work, but it's hard on the families when 137 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: you're when you're coaching. So for about six months, I 138 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: did the volunteer no, I did volunteer coaching for for 139 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 1: a local high school in Jacksonville, Florida, just quarterback coach, 140 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: went to most of the practice, went to most of 141 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: the games, and I just loved it. I didn't think that, uh, 142 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: I would enjoy the high school level as much, thinking that, 143 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: you know, I've got so much that I've learned and 144 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: so much that I know, how can I communicate that? 145 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: Or have these kids, you know, respond to how much 146 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: football I know? Anyway, I just fell in love with it. 147 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: Got an opportunity to coach at a school topiscopal in Jacksonville. 148 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: Going to our sixth season, I knew that even though 149 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: I knew a lot of football, I still needed to 150 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: learn a lot about coaching, especially at the high school level. 151 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: First year enjoyed it. It was good and uh and 152 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: each year it's gotten better and better and better. I'm 153 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: still learning. I'm learning about the kids. I'm learning about 154 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: the high school game. I'm still learning how to develop 155 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: these young men and how to get them to respond 156 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: to me, how to communicate with them, all of those 157 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: things that are important to coaching. And on top of that, 158 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: high school coaching is family friendly. Now. My football, my 159 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: football team, we do okay. But most of the time, 160 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 1: we we can't play dead in a Cowboy movie. We 161 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: don't have it. We don't have a we don't have 162 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 1: a chance. We struggle, we don't still have the players. 163 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: But that's okay. If we go two and eight and 164 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: three and seven and and one and nine or whatever 165 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: it is, If I can continue and hopefully be better 166 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: at developing these young guys to the point where someday 167 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,839 Speaker 1: they look back to say, you know what, man, I wish. 168 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: I'm so thankful I played for coach Brunell because he 169 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 1: helped me, he changed me, he taught me things, he 170 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: developed things, and and uh, that's the goal. And if 171 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: you're not doing it for that reason, you shouldn't be 172 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: doing it, I think, because if you're doing it for 173 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: the winds and you're doing it to to build a 174 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: program and be competitive and be that you know, win 175 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: state doing for a whole reason. So to answer your question, 176 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: and this at first, I wasn't quite sure. I knew. 177 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: I enjoyed it. But it's so rewarding for me to 178 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: be a high school coach. I really like what I'm 179 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: doing right. The question we great cornerback, to develop great skills, quarterback, 180 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: great skills, receiving great skills? What skills have you had 181 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: to develop as a coach? Mostly you learn that everybody 182 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: is different, everybody, every player is unique, every player has 183 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: his own skill set. And I came through even in 184 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: literally my coaches were always open to letting me bring 185 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: my own uniqueness to the game. And that's how I 186 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: see the game. I see the game. Each kid has 187 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: his own skill set. I'm gonna let him bring his 188 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: own uniqueness to the game inside of the framework of 189 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: the system, and you allow them to flourish well. You know, 190 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: most coaches, I can't say most, but some coaches will 191 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: say I need you to do this, and you only 192 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: can do this. You can't do anything else but what 193 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: I tell you to do. And you make robots out 194 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: of players instead of it's instead of letting them. Okay, 195 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 1: you might want to have your foot tweaked here, but 196 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: if what if he doesn't like it? You know what 197 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: if you know, like for me as a corner, I 198 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: jumped out of my stands, and I remember Dick Labo 199 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,079 Speaker 1: didn't like me jumping out of my stands, and then 200 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 1: he realized, oh, he's pretty good at jumping out of this. 201 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let him go and and I and in 202 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: my mind that's how I see my players, you know, 203 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: I see my players that I see what they do well, 204 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: and I'm like, are you comfortable doing it that way? 205 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: If you're not comfortable, we'll go over something else. But 206 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: if you're comfortable, you developed that skill, and then we'll 207 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: move on everything else. And for me, you know, I 208 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: just like I would. I would I like being the 209 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: coach who let their guys be free, that they weren't 210 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: hamstrung to their hamstrung in the system itself because you 211 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: have to play together as a group, but I let 212 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: you be you. Everybody is different, so you bring all 213 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: those guys together, and that's what makes a team. You know, 214 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: everybody is different. Everybody walks the life they grew up 215 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: differently in a different household, different rules, and you want 216 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: them to bring that life that they have to the field. 217 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: And that's really the main thing I love about coaching. 218 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: Has there been any anything that carried on your skill 219 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: set on the field that now carries over in coaching 220 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: as a player, Yeah, one of the things where I 221 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 1: touched on was letting the kids be themselves. You know, 222 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: I preached that, I preached yourself. But this is how 223 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna get to it. This is how you're gonna 224 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,959 Speaker 1: get to where you can now express yourself us as 225 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: best you can. But there's certain rules and certain techniques 226 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: and things that I teach, But I'm definitely all about 227 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: a kid being themselves. And then then another thing that 228 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: I've learned too. Is everybody learns differently, you know, being 229 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: able to adjust to that. Some kids learned my visuals, 230 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: some kids aret you know, exactly when did you really 231 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 1: grasp that in terms of different learning? It took me. 232 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: I would say it took me like a full year 233 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: when I first got in the high school coaching and 234 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: to really learn that. And I remember calling coach from 235 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: Mill asking them questions before getting into coaching, Coach Marks 236 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: my high school coaches coach West Morning, uh coach Vaughan. 237 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: I've talked to different folks prior to going into high 238 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: school coach and just to equip myself for what I 239 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: was about to get into. But just learning how learning 240 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:54,839 Speaker 1: how kids learned and being able to adjust to that 241 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: and being able to adapt to that. So I've gotten 242 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: a lot better with that. Uh. Sometimes I put kids 243 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: on the board. A lot of times I put them 244 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: on the board, I showed them video. So there's different 245 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: ways that I teach to make sure that the kids 246 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: are comprehending what it is that we're trying to get accomplished. 247 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: And then just just consistency. I talked to the kids 248 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 1: a lot about consistency, discipline, exercise, and discipline. Every single day. 249 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: I think discipline minimize and stress, which leads to success. Again, 250 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: so exercise and discipline minimize and stress which leads to success. 251 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: So that's one of the things that I talked to 252 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: the kids about, even my son. Just exercise and that discipline, 253 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: time management. Being where you're supposed to be where you're 254 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: supposed to be there. It's no different than class. If 255 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: you're bothed, have been class acock being class at eight o'clock. 256 00:13:40,880 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: If you're supposed to be in the meeting room at 257 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 1: six o'clock, to be in the met room at six 258 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: in the meeting room five, you have to be early. 259 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: If you're on time, me later. That's what time does 260 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: that clock meaning start? So marw what are depositive nets 261 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: that come from being a successful NFL player and all 262 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: of a sudden coaching. What's that label like? Do they 263 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: listen more as a result? Are the kids are going 264 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: to listen to whoever loves them, regardless of me playing 265 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: in the NFL or Pro Bowls or passing titles or 266 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: anything like that. Not that big a deal to my 267 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: high school players. Not that big a deal. It's kind 268 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: of cool, but but the big thing about coaching to 269 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: me and I mentioned it earlier. You gotta love the kids. 270 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 1: You gotta love them, and that's not easy to do 271 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: all the time. You gotta realize that you've got them 272 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: for about four years. That's if we they play the 273 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: whole four years and the opportunity to impart things in 274 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: their life. I think back up my career, Rod and 275 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: I was pretty good as a quarterback when I had 276 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: good pe around me. Like, I was pretty good when 277 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: I had Jimmy was right there. That's pretty good quarterback. 278 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: That was pretty good quarter But when I didn't have 279 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: those guys, I was just I was good. I was 280 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: just okay. And so this is a big message I 281 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 1: try to tell tell the guys. Guys, that is life. 282 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: When you surround yourself, when you got good people in 283 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: your life, you're going to be a success. You think 284 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: about these kids in thirteen to seventeen and eighteen, A 285 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: lot of them are surrounding themselves with the wrong people, 286 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: which leads down a really bad path. So what's been 287 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: fun is taking those experiences and things that I've learned 288 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: from my career and trying to transform that into messages 289 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: that these guys hopefully will believe and embrace. Another good 290 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: thing is the fact that I that I played so 291 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: long in the NFL. The parents have a pretty good 292 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: idea that I know something about football, you know what 293 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: I mean, And so I don't get a lot of 294 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: grief from that. I don't get not as much as 295 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: yeah on that. On that point, do you have parents, 296 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: particularly when you were doing high school at the loier level, 297 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: they expect you to turn their kids until absolutely, Well, 298 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: I've got I've got I've got parents. Well, I've got kids. 299 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: I got young man that come to my school thinking 300 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: that because coach Brunella is coaching them, I can get 301 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: them to college. I can't. I can't. I mean, I'll 302 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 1: do my best to get their information out and their 303 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: huddling all that stuff. But I tell the parents, listen, 304 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: don't come play for me or come to the school. 305 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: If you think that I'm going to get your son, 306 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: you know, to play at a power of five school, 307 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: That's not gonna happen. I'll do everything I can to 308 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: mentor and mold and coach and shape and all that stuff, 309 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: but that's not the case. But I do have some 310 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: parents that are upset with me because their kids aren't 311 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: playing college football. I got one mom right now, that 312 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: just does not like me. A couple of years ago, 313 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: her son, she said, why can't my son play college football? 314 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: I said, ma'am, with all due respect, he didn't even 315 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: play for us. This dude, this dude didn't feel for us. 316 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 1: Whether they think their son is the next and that's okay, 317 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:18,040 Speaker 1: that's great. Parents many times aren't realistic. You just say, listen, 318 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: but he loves the game. Colleges don't care if you 319 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: you know, they want to see you play. They want 320 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: to see you know what you could do in the field. Anyway, 321 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: parents are great. Communication is key. If you think Billy 322 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: should play and he's not come to practice, or I'll 323 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,880 Speaker 1: watch the tape with you, let's talk about let's communicate 324 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: about it, but about it. I'm better at it than 325 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: I was, and I'm still hopefully another you know, six 326 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: years from now, I'll be better at it than I 327 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: than I am now. But it's really about communication. If 328 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: your parents understand that, listen, you love their kid, You're 329 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: here for them, you know, and that the character part 330 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 1: of this game is far more important than being able 331 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: to complete a pass or make a tackle. If parents 332 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: understand that, that's why you're in it, yea, and most 333 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: of those parent problems. You know, I wanted legends to 334 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 1: hear this question is being ready to ask and right, 335 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: I'll start off with you, how do you help guys 336 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: legends that do want to coach as simulate into the 337 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: coaching environment being that successful player and now those other coaches, 338 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: is that intimidation sometimes tell me about that timidation from 339 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: other coaches, from other coaches going into that environment you 340 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: follow that how trant and truthful. But what you would 341 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: recommend to help a guy I like to say like this, 342 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: every environment has a protocol and you need to understand 343 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: it right because you won't change it, but to give 344 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: you not the top of it. So in order to 345 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: have success, you got to learn now how to adjust 346 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: into something that may bring into initially tension because of 347 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: maybe what you know when you look at coaching in general. 348 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: You know, you guys played a long time in the 349 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: National Football League, and when you play X amount of 350 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,679 Speaker 1: years or you work X amount of years and a 351 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 1: certain profession, you become knowledgeable in it. And just like 352 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: the NFL, even though we weren't literally coaches at the 353 00:19:17,840 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: end of our career, we were coaching at the end 354 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: of our careers. Now to say that to a slight 355 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: that when you become a coach, you still have to 356 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: figure out how you're gonna take all the information you 357 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: have in your body, in your brain that you have 358 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,880 Speaker 1: cluminated over the years. For me of seventeen years, how 359 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: do I put that back on paper and voice that 360 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: back to my players on a consistent basis where they 361 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: can understand it. I mean, it was once said to 362 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: me from one of my coaches that don't speak, that 363 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 1: you can be understood speak, so you don't be misunderstood, 364 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: especially to your players. Even with high school players. You'll 365 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 1: say do you understand that? And they'll go yeah, yeah, yeah, 366 00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: yeah yeah, And they have no idea what you're saying. 367 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: So what you do? You put them on the board. 368 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 1: But I think the protocol for guys to get in 369 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,719 Speaker 1: the sport and to get into coaching is tested tested 370 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:12,400 Speaker 1: in I mean I got into it because my son 371 00:20:13,359 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: was playing little league football. I coached it. Then he 372 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: went to high school. I coached there and I'm like, hey, 373 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: I really like this, you know. And I left a 374 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: really good job to coach football. I took less money 375 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: to coach football than what I was working and was 376 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: it more stress? Absolutely? Was it worth it? Absolutely? Because 377 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: for me it's about being a mentor also to the players. 378 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: I did several minority internships. I did one for the Steelers, 379 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: I did one for Denver, and I did one for Cincinnati. 380 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: So I did three to get in like, because people 381 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: want to know, are you serious about coaching? Are you 382 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 1: just here because you're explaining you think as entitled, Well, 383 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 1: you have to show that you want to be there. 384 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: You have to show that you understand it. Players respect 385 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: you soon as you walk in the door. That is 386 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: a good thing initially initially, but you have to show 387 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: that you know what you're talking about. Because they can 388 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: smell fish when they smell it, you know, and they'll 389 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: call that out. But I think Mark you hit a 390 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: good point is that when you do become a coach, 391 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: if you show that you care, that they're more than 392 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: a helmet, they do anything for you. There's a level 393 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: of trust that happens right there, and once the players 394 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: off the field goes beyond and once they feel like 395 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: once they know they can trust you to do anything, 396 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: they'll do anything you asked him to do. On that field. Yeah, 397 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: he's my coach, but there's also a friendship there that's happening. 398 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: Here's the tension. I want to ask you guys, all right, 399 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: we've been pretty successful with this. How when you're coaching, 400 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 1: you temper expectations and the kids that you're coaching, whether 401 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,160 Speaker 1: it's at the pro level or either level. I would 402 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 1: say that was the first thing when I talked to uh, 403 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 1: Mike Mart's about getting into coaching. That was the first 404 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: thing he said to me. He said to You're gonna 405 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:09,119 Speaker 1: have to be able to temper your expectations because you 406 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 1: played here and there there, and they may not ever 407 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: get here, but they want to learn and they want 408 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: to be around, they want to be associated with the 409 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: game of football. So I always I wrote that down. 410 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: I always remember that, so I was. I was mindful 411 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: of that from from the jump. But it but it 412 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: didn't stop me from coaching these kids hard and trying 413 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:32,159 Speaker 1: to get everything that I can get out of them. 414 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 1: But I couldn't tell them, hey seen him in here, 415 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: and maybe lean on them and give them a little 416 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 1: bit of body named a little head and then go 417 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: to some of those some of those little little gamers 418 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 1: that I used when I played. I had to pull 419 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: away from that. But I can tell him how to 420 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: see release outside spee release little nuances of the game 421 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: that you need to have to play the receiver position. 422 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: But I definitely had to tape with my expectations and 423 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,719 Speaker 1: I'm still learning, still continuing to learn to do that 424 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: now because it's so easy when you get into competition 425 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: practicing games that fire you comes out of that. Competitiveness 426 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,880 Speaker 1: comes out everywhere. Well, you want to get in a game, 427 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: but you gotta say, hey, they are high school, get 428 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: their freshman's and sophomores and seeing and they're seeing so 429 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: it's a it's to me. That's probably that was probably 430 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: one of the biggest challenges that I that I've had 431 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: in terms of coaching. You know, I've had a number 432 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: of former teammates that have when they get done playing, 433 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 1: you know, they try a business or they go do 434 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:29,840 Speaker 1: something and it doesn't quite work out. They just there's 435 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: a void that's not being filled and they think, you 436 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: know what, I'm gonna go into coaching. I think a 437 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: lot of guys that get done playing don't realize if 438 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:41,359 Speaker 1: you're going to coach at the college and and the 439 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,399 Speaker 1: pro level. I don't think guys realized just how much 440 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,480 Speaker 1: you have to work the time you put in. And 441 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: some guys have have asked me, hey, will you talk 442 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 1: to this coach or what you know, give me some ideas. 443 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 1: I always tell me. I said, you have to understand 444 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,199 Speaker 1: that it is a commitment. You have to work just 445 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: because you play. I don't think if you get any favors, 446 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter how Rod has to work. You know, 447 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:08,200 Speaker 1: he has to put the time in. Its its reports, 448 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 1: its evaluations, it's study. I mean, it's on the film. 449 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: He's got a grind. And I think a lot of 450 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: former players don't quite realize this commitment that you have 451 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 1: to let the scheduling. I woke up every morning, I 452 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: got there about six thirty this coat. As a coach, 453 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 1: third morning Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. During the season, I would 454 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:33,920 Speaker 1: not get home until ten thirty at night. And that's good, 455 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: and that's great, and that's great because I would be 456 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: I would once I got my stuff done, i would leave. 457 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: And on Thursdays, I've made it a mandate that I 458 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: always just home for dinner on Thursdays Fridays. I'm our 459 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: son is up when I'm gone. So you know, it 460 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: is a commitment. Uh if if if you think they're 461 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: just gonna let you come in and not do any work, 462 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: And that is solely mistaken. If they're making Rod Woodson work, 463 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 1: everybody's gonna work that because if I was a head coach, 464 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: I just bring him on game days and I'd be 465 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:10,479 Speaker 1: just fined by that. But you know what, But but 466 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: but I'm sure you were the same way as a 467 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 1: player that was that was a standard for yourself. There 468 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,199 Speaker 1: was a regiment that you had set for yourself to 469 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: allow you to become the Hall of Fame type of player. 470 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,000 Speaker 1: Questions start with you, Mark. We did the question about 471 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:27,719 Speaker 1: from parents. Is the game still safe to play? How 472 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: do you guys man as those questions, I believe the 473 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: game is can be safer. For the fact that we're 474 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 1: talking about concussions. You gotta remember nine concussions symptoms are unseen. 475 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 1: We know when a guy is laying there and he's 476 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 1: not moving, he's concussed. We know when a guy stands 477 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: up and he wobbles, he's concussed. But when a guy 478 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: is nauseous, we don't know. When a guy has bird vision, 479 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: We don't know if he has a headache. We don't 480 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: know yes to tell us. So players are more apt 481 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: to now speak truth. We're back in the day nobody 482 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,520 Speaker 1: was gonna say you're never just gonna do it. I 483 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: believe it's safe enough that I let my son play 484 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: with you. You know, my son Sun planning out of 485 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,919 Speaker 1: college and defensive now offensively and within the core of 486 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: the line. It's tough to get the head out of 487 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: the play. It's tough. It's it's bang on bang, You're 488 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 1: gonna be having some type of contact with your head. 489 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: But now when it comes to tackling, you know, the 490 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:30,119 Speaker 1: one thing we implemented in Oakland is that we did 491 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: the rugby tackle. So it's the opposite shoulder to the 492 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,080 Speaker 1: near hip. So the head is always behind the ball. 493 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: So remember old school, the head is in front. So 494 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,159 Speaker 1: if when he ducks, he hit head to head. So 495 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,439 Speaker 1: now it's the shoulder tackle. It's going to be the 496 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: near hip going to the near shoulder, my shoulder and 497 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:52,359 Speaker 1: my head is behind you. And now the contact is 498 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 1: not gonna be made helm with the helmet. It's gonna 499 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: be shoulder to bodies. They bought into it for four 500 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: straight years in Oakland. They bought to it, and we 501 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:03,159 Speaker 1: were a good tackling team in space. So and we 502 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: didn't have that many concussions, so there's different things you 503 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: could do to make it safer. But I think the 504 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: biggest thing is this is the communication and open communication 505 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:14,359 Speaker 1: from the player to coach. You know, as we close 506 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: this podcast, I was thinking about rod when tour. I 507 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: don't know if you noticed, but when I mentioned to 508 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:23,159 Speaker 1: coach Marx that I was considered retiring, he immediately offered 509 00:27:23,200 --> 00:27:26,479 Speaker 1: me the defensive back coaching job. And this is two 510 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:29,280 Speaker 1: legends that are listening to. I know, no way, just 511 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: what you said, I was prepared for that level of 512 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,879 Speaker 1: what was going to be needed because I see coaches 513 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: there there more than well. So just as you said. 514 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 1: So the other thing is legends listening that even when 515 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 1: you get opportunities, maybe you do have a relationship, somebody 516 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: was offering you an opportunity that you yourself, I think 517 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:50,719 Speaker 1: was Einstein said to my own self, be true. So 518 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 1: even for some of those legends, and don't be afraid 519 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 1: to turn something down that you're not prepared, you know, 520 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: and you end up hurting yourself and your psychic because 521 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: of that disappointment. You gotta be prepared for it. So 522 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,640 Speaker 1: even though it's clarion call I love it, Tori. It's 523 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: now at whatever level, get at it and develop it 524 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: and understand, just as a player we didn't go to 525 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 1: the pros right away, that this is a process and 526 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: be be patient with it. There's been an incredible podcast, man, 527 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 1: Thank you guys. I'm a S. Williams. Thank you guys 528 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: for listening. Love you right piece. This has been the 529 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request a topic 530 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.