1 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:23,800 Speaker 1: team year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer, Enius Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. My name's Ennius Williams. 5 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,160 Speaker 1: This podcast goes out to NFL legends, and today we're 6 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: talking about finding yourself off the field, your passion, the 7 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: thing that makes you who you are far more than 8 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: just an NFL legend. Joining us today are two great defenders, 9 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: one that talked the whole game on real fellow Hall 10 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: of Famer as well, defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings, the great 11 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: John Randall. Then we also have a guy I thought 12 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 1: was always one of the smooth guys I see them 13 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: on film. The guy look cool. I don't think I 14 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: ever saw Donnie Edward's linebacker for Kansas City Chiefs in 15 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: charges Pro Bowl linebacker. I don't know if I've ever 16 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: seen you sweat man. You look like you want to smooth. 17 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: This cool as guys that I saw play the linebacker position. Welcome, gentlemen, 18 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you. Let's have some fun. So tell 19 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: me how important is it to find that thing that 20 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: excites you that keeps you moving forward. Come on with it, Donnie. 21 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: It's passionate. You gotta find something in life that you're 22 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: passionate for. I mean, doesn't matter what it is. I mean, 23 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: obviously we're very passionate about the game that we love 24 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: and we played for so long, but there needs to 25 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: be something outside of that as well that you love 26 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: that you're passionate for. I've been very fortunate to have 27 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: passionate a number of things outside of football. That's that's 28 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: been really beneficial to my life. I'm very passionate for history, 29 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: World War two, military history, traveling. I love seeing the 30 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: world and that kind of stuff. And why World War Two. 31 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: You know, my grandfather, Maximilio Rouso, he was like, he's 32 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: apache Indian and he was a pro harbor survivor. He 33 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: was in the army and survived the sneak attack by 34 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: the Japanese December seven one, and he was very proud 35 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: of his service. First generation American is very proud of 36 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: his service and growing up without a father, he was 37 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: kind of like my father figure in my childhood. I 38 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: used to hang around him and all of his friends, 39 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: you know, down at the VFW and the Kawana's and 40 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 1: all this kind of stuff. It always resonated me. He 41 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: was very proud of his service and always like had 42 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: the uniforms and was teaching me about it when I 43 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: was a young kid. And before he passed away in 44 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: two thousand and five, he said, don't let them forget 45 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: about what we did. And I, you know, read a 46 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: lot of World War Two history. I watched Law of 47 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: TV and then I started doing living history like reenactment. 48 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: That kind of blossom into meeting with World War Two 49 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: veterans because at our events, we used to bring World 50 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: War Two veterans to the events and there was a 51 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: chance for us to connect with the guys that did 52 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: this history and it was great. You know. One thing 53 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: led to another and I was talking about, you know, 54 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to go to Normandy, and one of 55 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: the veterans that was a Normandy veterans said, I'd love 56 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: to go to Normandy. I'm like, why don't you go. 57 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: He's like, I'm tool, I don't have the money, I 58 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: can't do it. I'm like I was thinking, and this 59 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: is like, I don't know, maybe my tenth year in 60 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,119 Speaker 1: the league, so I'm still playing football at this time, 61 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 1: and I'm like, well, I'll take you. You know, I 62 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 1: can't take you during June because I got mini camp, 63 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: but i'll take you any other veterans like I want 64 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: to go too. So before you know it, like I 65 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: was like, hey, you're taking those two, I want to 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: go to the first year back in two thousand five, 67 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: end up taking six World War Two veterans back to 68 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: to Normandy and also to Holland as well, and which 69 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: was like remarkable because ever since two thousand five, every 70 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:50,760 Speaker 1: year I've been taking World War Two veterans not only 71 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: to Normandy and to Germany it's a Holland, but to Iwa, Jima, Okinawa, Sai, 72 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: Pantini and Guam and all over where we fought during 73 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: World War Two. And it's a it's a great legacy 74 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: and tuschment to my grandfather that I do this, and 75 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: you know, and don't forget about these these World War 76 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: Two veterans, you know, in their twilight years at of life, 77 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: to be there to be with them and given us 78 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: an opportunity for them to go back one last time 79 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: to pay their respects to their brothers that never had 80 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: a chance to live a full life. And it's important 81 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: to them and it's it's been wonderful. And I know 82 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: I share this with John a few times about some 83 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: of the events that I've done, and it's been incredible. 84 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: You start doing this while playing the game. How do 85 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: you think it impacted you and how you approach the game. 86 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: I think it helped me more with life, you know, 87 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 1: because spending a lot of time with these men and 88 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: and I mean these guys are all in their nineties 89 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: and for someone who's at the time it was in 90 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: my thirties, and trying to understand where they are in 91 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: their life and what they've seen, the wisdom, the experience 92 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: that they had in their life, and the stories that 93 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: they say, and just talking to them and like what's important. 94 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: What's important to me right now at this age that 95 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: I don't know that you know now at ninety looking back? Yeah, yeah, 96 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: because like think about your nineties old you can look 97 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: back to someone like look, kids, you know you should 98 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: do X, Y and Z. And I just think the 99 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: things that they helped me, I guess seeing the world, 100 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: seeing seeing life and understanding it, you know, I mean. 101 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: And the one thing that I took away from all 102 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: this is like, it's not about what you ascertaining your life. 103 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: It's about what you do for other people and and 104 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: sharing and and serving and giving back. Especially for me 105 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: a kid from San Diego, from challenging upbringing and not 106 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: really having much nine kids in our family and and 107 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 1: not having any food and things like that. I mean, 108 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: but people came and they gave and they gave me 109 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: an opportunity. You know, guys like Martin Bayliss who came 110 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: to my high school and and spoke to us about 111 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: you know how you know, if we do X, Y 112 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: and Z, we can you know, just just really positive message. 113 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: People taking a time out of the day and they 114 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: don't understand the impact that they had on this young kid. 115 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: You know, things like that like that's really helped me. 116 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: And on top of other people providing opportunity money or 117 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: gifts during Christmas time so we can have a Christmas 118 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: and things like that. I mean, people don't have to 119 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: do that, but that changed my life. I'm an example 120 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: of what you know, service and giving back could help someone. 121 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: And then now that I'm in a position of my 122 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: life to you know, to get back and to serve, 123 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: and I feel very grateful and honor to to to 124 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: get back and to share my you know my time 125 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: and my effort with with our military, with our World 126 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: War two veterans now, and I want to transition to 127 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 1: John and for those legends that are listening to this podcast, 128 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: we talked about what how did you find what excites you? 129 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: It's the same thing. I'm the same way. I'm always 130 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: want to learn and just meet new people because you 131 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: just never know what will come from it. It just 132 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you meet. Like I was always 133 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: believe that life isn't about the destination, It's about the journey. 134 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: So my journey all the different people I have met 135 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: gotten to know, and it's just all of a sudden, 136 00:06:56,839 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: I'll meet somebody and then just just finis out down 137 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 1: in Dallas one day, playing from golf talking to this 138 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: guy and next thing you know, he goes, I'm like, 139 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: so what do you do? He goes, I'm the vice 140 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: president of Dr Pepper Cool. Next thing you know, he 141 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: tells me we exchanged numbers and he meets a Dallas 142 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: cowboy I think it was Jones. So he talks and 143 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 1: he goes, yeah, he says it say he knows you yeah, 144 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: blah blah blah. So from that conversation we started talking 145 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: about the guys from the Ladies Potato Chips. So from 146 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: the Ladies Potato Chips, the conversation goes to a guy 147 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: who works at Tyler's golf Balls. And that guy from 148 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: Tyler's golf Ball lives in Albany, New York. So I 149 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: get invited to Albany, New York, where I meet people 150 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: from Ronald McDonald house and Albany, New York. From that conversation, 151 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: just from the Dr Pepper guy, just from talking to 152 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: just from talking to meet someone you and I think 153 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: they're saying because my wife always told me, Okay, we're 154 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: gonna go here, no talking. Yes, that sounds like my wife. Yeah, 155 00:07:58,000 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: because I think we're all kind of the same. We 156 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: love but we love life. And like I mean, there's 157 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: always some type of connection with someone you just never 158 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: know you open your mouth. It's like the same thing 159 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: with life. Man, if you just don't like open yourself 160 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: up to learning new things, you're just gonna be sitting 161 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: here and not really growing. I mean, does that's for 162 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: life is constantly growing. I mean, you know, on't you're 163 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 1: here for a short time, and I want to increase 164 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: that capacity to learn. That's so true because you know 165 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: when you go in the locker room. Every year the 166 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: locker room changes. Somebody comes in there, a new guy 167 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: and what do you gotta do? Hey, how you doing? 168 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: What are you from? And you never know what this 169 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: guy is from? You never you never know that he 170 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: may know somebody that you play with, or you know, 171 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: just vice first, and you never know. That's what was 172 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 1: so cool about to me. The locker room was like 173 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: a soap oper It was like Young and Restless. I'm 174 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: coming in Hold John, like a soap opera. It's playing 175 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: what I mean in the locker room, it's fifty three 176 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: guys in there, and you can go, all of a sudden, 177 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: go what you do last night? He go? Nothing? What 178 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 1: you do? Nothing? What you do? Here's what I did? 179 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: This guy all of a sudden starts conversation. You're like, 180 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: where let you go? And all of a sudden it goes. 181 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: That conversation could could continue for the next two to 182 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 1: three weeks. When it comes down to meeting people. What's 183 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: happening now in our our country right now right a 184 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: lot of tension and you have people, you have maybe 185 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: African Americans and thinking that, oh up, John, you need 186 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: to do that because you play ball, right, but we 187 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: also know that legends listening right now who don't do it, 188 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: who don't leverage their relationships, that don't do just what 189 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: you guys are talking about doing. So the reason why 190 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: I wanted to stop for a moment to to have 191 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,839 Speaker 1: you have both of you guys share as too as 192 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: an African American. Let's take let's let's go this angle 193 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: for a second. Because I mentioned this in a prior podcast. 194 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: My dad makes the statement and says, son is not 195 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: what people don't know that hurt them is what they 196 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: do know. That's not true. And when you enter into 197 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: these environments and there's a Tennessee to people thinking, well 198 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: all many of a different inessity or they're Caucasians, they're 199 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: not really, I don't care, You're just a player. But 200 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: you're saying something totally different in these relationships. You know, 201 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 1: one of the great things about football. I guess you 202 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: can say basketball, baseball, but not much as football. Fifty 203 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: three people in that locker room, and those people are 204 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: different colors. And you know, I've talked to some uh 205 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: from you, Danny from who had this conversation. Now I've 206 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: learned from talk to military guys and they said the 207 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,560 Speaker 1: same thing. It doesn't matter what color you are. It's 208 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 1: the guy who's wind up next to you, or it 209 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,840 Speaker 1: is the guy that's you know, that's next to you, 210 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 1: and you you become your your friends, and it doesn't 211 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: matter what color you are. It don't matter. It doesn't 212 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,319 Speaker 1: matter at all. I wish a lot of people in 213 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: the world played football because they can understand that it 214 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: doesn't matter what color you are. You just open the 215 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: meeting people, or a lot of like are open to 216 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: meeting people. You know. I still I can see a 217 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: guy I hadn't seen in ten years, and like As 218 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: and I played next each other and we won't see 219 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: each other for a year or two, but we're set 220 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: there in that conversation can strike back up like that. 221 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: And that's the part of Donnie that I don't think 222 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: we get the narrative because sometimes with our game we 223 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 1: hear about the inherent challenges that come with the game 224 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: from a physical standpoint. I don't think we set the 225 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: narrative of our own story of what are the benefits 226 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: of playing this great game? What has been like that 227 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: you not that you're you're out of football. In this 228 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: camaraderie where we were in locker rooms with differentness. It 229 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: is Jonson, people from all over. We had these conversations 230 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: and we were able to have a common goal together 231 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: even though we saw life many times from a different 232 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: perspective because how we grew up. How have you part 233 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: lay that now as a legend. Yeah, well, it's definitely life. 234 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,320 Speaker 1: I mean you think about someone like myself that's made 235 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: up of three different ethnicities, I mean, who am I 236 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: and I mean like I'm I'm I'm inter racial three 237 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 1: times and trying to understand like who I am and 238 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: trying to connect with you know, on a football team, 239 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: you think about that because a lot of times it's 240 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: you know, we have the African Americans on one side, 241 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: I get the whites on one side, and then you 242 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: have a maybe a couple of some moments in the 243 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: middle or something. That's how it's always normally been on 244 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: the teams that I've been. And then there's like someone 245 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: like me, you know, and everyone was like, what are you? 246 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, were you aware of this? Oh? They'll tell 247 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: me straight up. It's interesting. I think if you're open 248 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: to it to try to like understand and see where 249 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: other people come from, if you have that time to, 250 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,679 Speaker 1: you know, and that's a great thing about Like you know, 251 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: when I was playing like always like made the landbackers, 252 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 1: all the linebackers. We get together, you know, every Thursday 253 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: night we're getting together some we're going to dinner, we're 254 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: doing something. So we get to know each other, you know, 255 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: and we're like became family like bonds, you know what 256 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: I mean. Like I was talking to Derek Johnson yesterday, 257 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: DJ from Kansas City, thinking back, like that was like 258 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: a good time, you know, exactly that bond, it's that brotherhood. 259 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: And that's what I think that I really loved about 260 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: it because we took the time off the football field 261 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 1: to spend time to get to know each other. And 262 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, like you were talking about 263 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: the way you were raised, like wow, that's crazy, Like, well, 264 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: you know I was raised this way, you're raised that way. 265 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: You came from this one, And all of a sudden, 266 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: like we have the understanding you can see it through 267 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: their eyes. We have that empty where we can kind 268 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: of like see it, you know, and then we have 269 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: that compassion for each other versus like not really talking 270 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: to each other in the locker room. And then like 271 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 1: Victor Ronnie comes to me, like, who are you? What 272 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: are you? What? I might like, you're black, Mexican, you're white? 273 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: What are you? You're something? You Samoan, I'm like, just me, man, 274 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: I'm just me. You know. So we just it was 275 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 1: just different. But you know, we never really got that 276 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,199 Speaker 1: opportunity to sit down and talk. You know. It was 277 00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: a little contentious a little bit, but you know, and 278 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: it's just how it is sometimes. Unfortunately, then the game 279 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 1: because part of this conversation gets spur a conversation just 280 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: within our society. Because when we did tell each other 281 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: our backgrounds, it didn't separate us, correct, right then, it 282 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: didn't say okay, I'm moving my locker. Yeah. It literally 283 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: like you knew your teammate and then in the locker 284 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: room it was always shots fired, right. See, But you 285 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: have to be open to it, right, so they have 286 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: that openness, right, you have to have that mentality where 287 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: openness were I want to meet them and try to 288 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: like find out who they are what they are. I mean, 289 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: that's the way that I think you and I think 290 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: we all kind of turned that way. That's why we 291 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: kind of like we're in lock froom that way. But 292 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: there's some guys unfortunately come from a very uh small area, 293 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: small group like life where it's kind of homogeneous. I 294 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: guess it doesn't really like have that multicultural deal where 295 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: they're interacting with other, you know, different types of people 296 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,160 Speaker 1: around the world, and they're a little probably closed off 297 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 1: a little bit. And I can see like a little 298 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: bit of problems with that if you don't have that 299 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: openness to go out there and try to meet someone. 300 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: I mean, but I never really had very many issues 301 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: like that in the locker room. You know, now, John, 302 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: the transition into all of us, if you play this game, 303 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: the one per centers in the NFL that came out 304 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: of high school, you have fire. We had to have 305 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 1: a fire. How did you find your fire away from 306 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: the game when you're transition? For me, uh, it was 307 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: one of my things. I love working out, I like 308 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: trying to be healthy was one of the things. But 309 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: beat me on the little challenge, the challenge what what 310 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: kind of challenge of the steps? I try to catch 311 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: you man? I was like, what are you doing? Like 312 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: what steps? We go ahead? We do these steps something 313 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: that challenge like steps every day? So for me, I 314 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: like I get up in the morning like a Tuesday, 315 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: fancy twoes and Thursdays in the summertime. I would get 316 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: up and I would go to workout, and I probably 317 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: burned about maybe god like eight thousand steps because I 318 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: was walking the treadmill offense and I walked. I I 319 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: try to get five miles on treadmill. Then after that 320 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: I make my shake, and after my shake, I go 321 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 1: walk eighteen holes on the golf course and that's probably 322 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: about ten thousand steps right there. I just like doing that. 323 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: That was one of my things, is working out standards. 324 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: It's not so sometimes when legends started thinking about Okay, 325 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: find your passion, that's just a basic yea, it's just 326 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: h yeah. But also, my wife, who's my best friend 327 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 1: you are talking about earlier. My wife's my best friend, 328 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,320 Speaker 1: and so she was always telling me, you know you 329 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: you she's basically my wife is the the driver. I'm 330 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: the end. I mean, I'm the car. So she was 331 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: always telling me that you gotta find something that motivates you. 332 00:16:54,440 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 1: So for me, Minnesota is my community and got around here. 333 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 1: I meet just everyday people. So when you're meeting everyday people, 334 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 1: you kind of go out of your way of finding 335 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: people that made need a little bit of push. A 336 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: friend of mine, Fancy, he was working at at a 337 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: cigarette shop. Kid was kind of like, you know what, 338 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: this is it for me? He kind of was just 339 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: like we probably have thought you saw him, probably thought 340 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 1: he was at the edge of his life. And so 341 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: I started talking to him one day and I was 342 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: doing a fantasy football and all of a sudden, I 343 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: found out this guy who went this scraggly hair plasy 344 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: like just closes, he just slept in the night before 345 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: was a guy that didn't really care about life, sleep 346 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: in his bed, didn't put a blanket down or anything. 347 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: So I found out he's got a new football and 348 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: started talking to him, and we end up talking about 349 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: him because he liked movies. Were not talking about a 350 00:17:55,680 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 1: movie called good Will Hunting, and I told him, I'm 351 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: gonna coming to cigarette shop and you're not gonna be 352 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: here coming around. Football player ex football player Mike Morris 353 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: the Center was doing a radio show, so he asked 354 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: me to do the radio show. I brought my buddy 355 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: down and so my buddy had a weird nickname, nickname 356 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: meet Sauce. So I'm bringing Sauce down and I told 357 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: him I'll get me ready to let Sauce get on. 358 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: Sauce gets on now. Sauce is on this radio show 359 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: now number on radio show in Minnesota. Sauce is the 360 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: guy that was my buddy who was working at the 361 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: cigarette shop with Sauce, Sauce, Meat Sauce, and now he 362 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 1: has the number one radio show here in Minnesota. And 363 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: you spoke to him that it wasn't going to be 364 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: just like for me, it's like finding people like in 365 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: the locker room who need a little bit of motivation something. 366 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,160 Speaker 1: You said, I'm gonna come to it because you mentioned earlier, 367 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: how did your wife become your best friend? Oh? That 368 00:18:55,160 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: was easy because she's one I would talk to. We 369 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: just have that relationship just I can't really explain it, 370 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: but she's when I talked to about everything. And as 371 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: we're recording his podcast, Donnie has his beautiful wife see 372 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: right here and tell us Donnie in terms of John 373 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: has just says his wife being his best friend. I'm 374 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: almost sure you said the same words earlier. Yeah, and 375 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: how did how did she become your best Yeah? I did? Actually, 376 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: I mean it's pretty interesting for me. In my life 377 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: is kind of crazy, So I never really loved anyone 378 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: in my life. My mom never told me that she 379 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: loved me. Knowing in my life ever told me that 380 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: they loved me. So I didn't even know what love was. 381 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: It's kind of like a basic thing to have when 382 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: you're a child, so I never knew exactly what it was. 383 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,439 Speaker 1: And you know, as I was growing up and going 384 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: through high school and college, I mean, you know, I 385 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: always run away from, you know, relationships out of fear 386 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: maybe of being vulnerable. I guess I just never allowed 387 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: myself to get there. And when I met my wife, 388 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 1: I mean, it was like instant connection. It was like 389 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: she was like the the void that I needed in 390 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: my life that I was missing my whole entire time. Yeah, 391 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: it's like because like I wanted to love, but I 392 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: didn't want to give my love to someone who wasn't 393 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: appreciativic and like damage it and then I will never 394 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: go back there ever again. So I'm very very fortunate 395 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: that early on, like I mean, it was just like 396 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: love at first sight, and then like she was committed 397 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: to me as I was committed to her, which is 398 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: very important, you know what I mean, because like in 399 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: any relationship, you need to have like two people pulling 400 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: the same way to bring it together or someone who's 401 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: a compensated or if not, it's going to die. And 402 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: we've always worked at it. And you know, Catherine has 403 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: been just incredible in so many different ways. I mean 404 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 1: pushing me, like you know, pushed me to be a 405 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 1: better man, to be a better person, challenging me, Yeah 406 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: what do you what do you hear? That's my wife 407 00:20:56,560 --> 00:21:01,680 Speaker 1: the same way, challenging, challengeing, like making sure six six 408 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: weeks makes six months, let school get to go to the 409 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: the doctor, let's get a check up, this, make sure 410 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: you help. It makes you you're good, you know, those 411 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: little things that that just like a coach, you know 412 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: and watching watching film, well because it's true because like 413 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: a lot of times someone else says it, I definitely know, 414 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: but when it comes from someone that's close, Like if 415 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: I'm using that, you know, if I'm cursing a lot 416 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: for some reason, I'm around something and I'm like every 417 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: other words the F word, She's like, you know you've 418 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: been saying the F word a lot. Later, I'm like, no, 419 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: I have if you're talking about oh yeah, but but 420 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 1: think about it, Like no one else around me in 421 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: my sphere would you know, will say anything, like you know, 422 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,360 Speaker 1: she's looking out for me. And I'm not even aware 423 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: that I'm like saying this I am and I'm like, 424 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,440 Speaker 1: oh my god, I'm I'm educated. I should be better 425 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,800 Speaker 1: than this, you know. And that's just one example there. 426 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: But it's just great, man. Like you know, I'm very 427 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: very fortunate. I mean I love learning new things. I 428 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 1: love like challenging myself. I mean I read, I watched 429 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: I try to like learn as much I can. I mean, 430 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 1: I went back to school, got my master's in education. 431 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: I'm always trying to like, like you know, I don't 432 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: know grow, I guess it's just like constantly challenged myself. 433 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: And and you know, seeing the world has really opened 434 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: up my eyes. I've been to sixty three countries now, 435 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: so I've been I've been to sixty three countries and 436 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: we just came back from a month long trip in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, 437 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: Hong Kong, which has been great because like it opens 438 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: up your eyes, like you know, if you travel and 439 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: you see the world, I mean just when you think 440 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 1: what you know, you don't know, you know, you see 441 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: how other people live and see what they have to 442 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,679 Speaker 1: go through and then like you come back here, it's like, damn, 443 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: we have nothing to complain about, like so good. Yeah, 444 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: but people don't know it would go outside of your microcosm, 445 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: over your world. You have to see outside and see 446 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: like oh my gosh, like and I gotta tell you, 447 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 1: like traveling, you know, it's really open my eyes and 448 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: gave me so much more appreciation nember one to be 449 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 1: an American, to live in this country and for someone 450 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: who I didn't serve. I didn't fight for this country 451 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 1: and I didn't fight for it. I'm just lucky to 452 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: be born into this country. That's why I'm just so like, 453 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: like I just want to like you know, honor, uh, 454 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: you know our veterans that are veterans that that fought 455 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 1: for this country. And I mean because like this country is. 456 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: It's not perfect, but it's far better than any other 457 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 1: country in the world, and we're so grateful, so lucky 458 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:22,479 Speaker 1: to be here. And you don't know that until you 459 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: leave this country and you see what it's like on 460 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 1: the other side. One of the things I see that 461 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:29,679 Speaker 1: you guys seem to have a good grasp but in 462 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 1: that's identity knowing who you are. Did you always know 463 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: who you were after your transition. It's one thing in 464 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: the game, and that's how the game helps. It's a 465 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: lot of players, a lot of legends there. I didnity 466 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: this tied to the game. How have you guys been 467 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:54,160 Speaker 1: able to understand who you are now away from the game. Well, 468 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: of all, it's kind of like knowing who I was. 469 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: I mean, especially being a you know, of mixed race. 470 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: Either you gotta know who you are and what you're about, 471 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: or you're just gonna be taking advantage by the group 472 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:07,639 Speaker 1: that you're in, you know, I mean, whatever your group is, 473 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:09,639 Speaker 1: because if you're just like a sheep, just gonna follow. 474 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,719 Speaker 1: So I've always I've always just been me, you know, 475 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: and and I think that's helped me in terms of 476 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: knowing who I am and what my identity is. Obviously 477 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,400 Speaker 1: when I played football, played sports, that became my identity, 478 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: but I never lost sight of who I am or 479 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: what I'm about. You know, after the game, if I 480 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: just stay true to to myself and to what I believe, 481 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,239 Speaker 1: then everything is okay. But you've got to have that 482 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: confirmation of of who you are and that understanding that, like, 483 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 1: you know, what I'm secure on what I'm you know 484 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,360 Speaker 1: who I am obviously when you leave the game. I mean, 485 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: we've always been a football player. We all identified ourselves 486 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: as football players. And then someone asked me Rob when 487 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: I finished, like, well, who are you now? I'm a 488 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: football player. No, that's how you used to be who 489 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: you know, and that's that's kind of scary. At the time, 490 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: I was like and I was like John, I wanted 491 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 1: to get the John this because part of that also 492 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:06,879 Speaker 1: a self awareness because you're in a conversation on someone 493 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: is saying what you are and become self aware. When 494 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: did you become self aware and when did you find 495 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: your identity outside of the game. Well, coming out for me, 496 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: growing up, my dad, I wasn't very close, not at all. 497 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: I mean my dad was very abusive on my mom. 498 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: And see my dad never told us they loved me. 499 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: So my confidence in football, I guess maybe I was 500 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:38,959 Speaker 1: always trying to find it. So when I retired, I 501 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 1: was I retired, not didn't. I wanted to get away 502 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: from football. Never really saw myself as a that's a 503 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,679 Speaker 1: guy who thought about the Hall of Fame. I wanted 504 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: to be more of a I wanted to have what 505 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: I didn't have when I was a kid, was being 506 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: close with my kids, being close to my kids, being 507 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: close to my wife, being a family guy. That's why 508 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:04,959 Speaker 1: I saw myself when I was playing. I collected a 509 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: bunch of stuff and never even put it up, just 510 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:11,040 Speaker 1: had it in the basement, tuckway in boxes, never even 511 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: thought about it because I wanted to be so different 512 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: from what I was on the football field. That's why 513 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: even this day, I don't I can't watch myself play football. 514 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,920 Speaker 1: It's just kind of like, even hear my voice, I'm like, oh, 515 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:28,159 Speaker 1: because that's not who I want to be. But I 516 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: knew from football there could be so many things that 517 00:26:31,080 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: I could I could do, but you know my confidence 518 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:38,640 Speaker 1: in football, man, I mean every game I was out there, 519 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,439 Speaker 1: I was a different person because that's not me. To me, 520 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 1: I could be I can sit and relax and listen 521 00:26:48,240 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: to music, like some nice classical music. And just what 522 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: do you mean when you said that's not you? Because 523 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,080 Speaker 1: I'm not a person who can be. I ain't me 524 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 1: and just that's on the football field. I had. It 525 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: took me. So are you saying that the John Ramdew 526 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: that we saw on the field was acting? Yeah? Yeah, 527 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: I was definitely acting. It's hard for me to trying 528 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 1: to understand. You see me, you see me as a 529 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: smiley guy. Hey, what's going on. It's a beautiful day. 530 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,919 Speaker 1: The glasses always half full, never half empty. But on 531 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: the football field, I had to like get into I watched. Yeah, 532 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,120 Speaker 1: I've listen people talk about this guy. When he gets 533 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 1: in the character, he really has the you know, it 534 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: takes him a while again to it. For me, it 535 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 1: took that whole week, but get was in football. Oh man, 536 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: I can. I'm a guy like watching fishing shows, relaxing 537 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: my wife and tell you I'm sitting there watching Will 538 00:27:55,200 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 1: of Fortune, Jeopardy answering the question doing were puzzles. That's 539 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 1: interesting because no one ever like watching the football field, 540 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:06,879 Speaker 1: will even think that there's a side of John Randall 541 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 1: that's like this. It's perception and reality, and we all 542 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: perceive him as just like crazy all he's got these nuts. 543 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: But then all of a sudden, like you meet him 544 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,160 Speaker 1: and it's like that's the same guy that I just saw, 545 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 1: you know on the field. Wait a minute, No, no, 546 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: that's a different guy, says. We close this thing out. Man, 547 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:26,560 Speaker 1: I can't thank you guys enough because believe it or 548 00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: not these podcasts. The Legends community that you guys are 549 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: coordinators and directors. It saves lives, right you noticed, John done, 550 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: This saves lives. So I was Legend brothers and our 551 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: current players to remind them because just what you said, 552 00:28:42,760 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: the game of football teaches us number one, worked together 553 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,000 Speaker 1: and when there's a common goal, it really don't care. 554 00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: And that's where we want to push out that we're 555 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 1: capable of leading in this country because it's needed now 556 00:28:55,120 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: here more than ever, absolutely ever. So thank you Bunny, 557 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: thank you John. Look forward to doing this again. Thank 558 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: you for a cameo appearance. Cat greatly appreciate it. That's true, right, yeah, 559 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 1: for sure. This has been the NFL Legends podcast. To 560 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: provide feedback or request a topic for discussion, email us 561 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: at NFL Legends at NFL dot com.