1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Way back in my rookie year. You guys probably too 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: young for this guy. But Craig Ironhead, Hey yeah, God 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: bless his soul. And he was playing for in Atlanta 4 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: and they were running the run and shoot and Herm 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Edwards was my was my dB coach and we're playing 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: these guys and Herm Edwards says, he used to call 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 1: me Lynchburg. 8 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: He goes, now, now. 9 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: Lynchburg, here's what's going to happen. They run what we 10 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: call the Atlanta Draw and the seas are going to part. 11 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: You're going to see it, and you're going to go 12 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: in there, and I know you Lynchburg. You're going to 13 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: try to take him. I and don't do it with 14 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: this this guy, because you will come out faster than 15 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: you went in. And he said, I'm urging you to 16 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: go low on him. You know, I'm urging you to tackle. 17 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: I know that is not your style, but I'm well, 18 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: what do you do when someone tells you that, Well, 19 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to show her and bad idea. Ironhead earned 20 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: that nickname for and it had that nickname for a reason. 21 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: I felt everything in my body with that hit, and 22 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: Herm was exactly right. I came in and it was 23 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: like I got rejected and I said, man, that's a 24 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: bad man right there. I never felt anything like that 25 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: in my career. 26 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 3: Ironhead Hayward, what's up, everybody, I'm peanut to himing And 27 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 3: this is the NFL Player's Second Acts podcast and with 28 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 3: me as always as my trust he co host Roman, 29 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: I got the guns out. 30 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 4: Harper, they are back in the business. Yeah, you know, 31 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 4: well you wannd up. I know it's really our next 32 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 4: guest one. He's a dB, he said, you know, we're 33 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 4: gonna have a great one. Number two. It was a 34 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 4: person that I looked up to and he's a much 35 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 4: bigger safety than me, so I had to make sure 36 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 4: he knows I still can hit these weights. 37 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, no, I'm not. I'm not. I actually love what 38 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: he's doing, but we'll get into it. I love what 39 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: he's doing, all right. Fifteen year vet. Yes. 40 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 3: Hall of Fame safety. Yes, Super Bowl champion. He is 41 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: the president of Football Operation and the general manager of 42 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,279 Speaker 3: the San Francisco forty nine ers. Ladies and gentlemen, please 43 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 3: welcome to the pod. 44 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: John Lytt. Yes, what can go wrong? 45 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 5: Fellas? We got three dbs here. Huh, Well, we're not 46 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 5: gonna give up any d levels now shots, no deep shots, 47 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 5: not across the middle. There we go for peanut punches. 48 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 4: Absolutely, absolutely, So I know we can't be too long, 49 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 4: but I gotta know, like, how often are you talking, 50 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 4: like asked about being considered maybe the hardest hitting safety 51 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 4: in NFL history, Like. 52 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 2: I was a hard hitter. 53 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, and everybody aims to be John Lynch. 54 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: Well, I appreciate that. 55 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: You know, the problem these days is the game's changed 56 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: a lot. I can't do and even the players these 57 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: days will watch those highlights and they'll look at me 58 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: like I committed a crime or so, and you know, 59 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: I look at them and say, guys, you don't understand. 60 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: That's how we played, and that's that that wasn't cheap, 61 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: that's how you played the game. I remember, I was 62 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: a quarterback at Stanford for my first three years. It 63 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: wasn't until right before my season at Stanford my junior year, 64 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: I made the switch and got benched about halfway through 65 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: that year. Played nickel and dime, and Bill Walsh really 66 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: saved my career. He talked me in I was playing 67 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: professional baseball. He talked me into coming back from my 68 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: senior year and so with Bill Walsh there. It wasn't 69 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: that odd to look over and see Joe Montana and 70 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: Ronnie Lott sitting on Joe's Mercedes watching us practice. And 71 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: Ronnie took a liking to the way I played. But 72 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: then he taught me. He came out and he said, 73 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: young man, you've got a gift, and you've got a 74 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: gift for hitting people. 75 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: But here's the deal. 76 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: Even in the NFL, like ninety eight percent of the 77 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 1: guys hit to the receiver, to the runner, he said, 78 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: the great ones hit through them. 79 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 2: And so I want you to start. 80 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: Visualizing you're hitting not one of them, but four of them, 81 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: and you're trying to get all the way through to 82 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: that last guy. And that really changed my career. He 83 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: also told me, look, we don't want to hurt anyone, 84 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: but we do want. 85 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 2: To make it hurt. 86 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: Because when you make it hurt on someone, you lay 87 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: down the law and you let people know that for 88 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: the next month, nobody will even try it in there. 89 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: And so that's how we talked, and that was just 90 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: kind of how the game was played. So it is 91 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: it takes the guys a little while, like, man, you 92 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: used to do that. 93 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 2: That's how we played. 94 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 3: Now have you ever given that advice to some of 95 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 3: your safeties, are linebackers or anybody else? 96 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: Absolutely? You know. 97 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: When I was broadcasting, I remember one time dan Quinn 98 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: I was doing a Falcons game and Keanu Neil was 99 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: an up and coming safety. 100 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: Again he had a gift for. 101 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: Hitting people as well, and he said, Hey, man, this 102 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: guy really admires you know your game. He's a guy 103 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: who respects the history of the game, and I think 104 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: Keanu is going to be really good. Can you talk? 105 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: So I had that Ronnie Lott talk. He went and 106 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: got a big fine. The next day. Dad said, what 107 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: did you tell him? Well, I told him what Ronnie 108 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: told me years ago. 109 00:04:58,200 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 4: So I want to talk about some of that most 110 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 4: people do not know. I don't think I realize it, 111 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 4: and that is you ended your career playing with the Patriots. Yeah, 112 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 4: like last game was in a Patriots uniform number one. 113 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 4: What was that like? In it was in a go ahead, 114 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 4: just break it down. I won't give too much way, 115 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 4: but we did our research. 116 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: I didn't know this. You also had eight games in 117 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: your last eight tackles in your last game. 118 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: The last game was a preseason game against the Giants. 119 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: You know preseason number four and what had happened year sixteen. 120 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 2: I went. 121 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 1: After year fifteen, I was in Denver, had four great 122 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: years in Denver. Mike Shanahan was terrific and you know, 123 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: gave me a spot when Tampa had moved on. 124 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: I had my neck injury. 125 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: Mike, you know, kind of came after me in free 126 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: agency and it was humbling to know that a great 127 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 1: coach like Mike Shanahan said, I always have wanted to 128 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: coach you have and myred the way you played and 129 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: kind of restarted my career after eleven great years in Tampa. 130 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: You know, when you have a neck injury, you don't 131 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: know will I ever play? Is anyone going to be interested? 132 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: And fortunately there were three or four teams interested and 133 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: I ended up in Denver. But year sixteen, after fifteen, 134 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: Mike had this deal where he got the whole team 135 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: together and we all went bowling as kind of an 136 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 1: end of the year deal. And right there Mike, I 137 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: thought I was going to retire after year fifteen. Mike's 138 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: a good salesman and he talked to me, You've just 139 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: been to the Pro Bowl and you earned it. I 140 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: want you to come back for year sixteen. So I 141 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: come back and I get back and it's not what 142 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: we talked about. Mike and I were close, and you 143 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: could tell it was going to be a rebuilding year, 144 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: and I wasn't interested in having a rebuilding year. So 145 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: I went home and I thought I was going to 146 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: be retired. And then Bill Belichick started calling every day 147 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: and saying, Hey, I've always wanted. 148 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: To coach you. 149 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: I've got this idea of playing yet the linebacker position, 150 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: and we're going to make Nickel our base and you're 151 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: going to be the linebacker. So I said, Bill, I'm done. 152 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 1: I told Mike Shanahan that I appreciate your interest. I'm humbled, 153 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: but I learned something about Bill Bellich that he's pretty relentless. 154 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: He called me for two weeks straight and finally got 155 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: me to get on the plane and go visit him. 156 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: After visiting him, you know, I kind of felt the 157 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: Patriot way and I was always interested in what made 158 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: them so good, and he talked me into playing, and 159 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: so I went. And I would say it was a 160 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: short career Roman because I was there, and you know, 161 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 1: much like when people talk to you about like you know, 162 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: I remember asking people, how do you know, like when 163 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: you find your wife, Well, you'll just know something will 164 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: be special, and. 165 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 2: Sure enough you do. 166 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: I used to ask the older players who I really respected, 167 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: how do you know when you're done? And they'll said, 168 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: it's like finding your wife, You'll know when that time comes. 169 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: The day I stepped foot on the on the field 170 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: in New England, I just felt something at my heart 171 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: wasn't there. 172 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: And I've always been a guy who was so all in. Yeah. 173 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: I always prided myself on being an energy giver to 174 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: a building, and you know a lot of it. I 175 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: was away from my family. I had we had four 176 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: young kids, and you're going through that move that a 177 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: lot of players have to do. 178 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: I move my family and you hadn't done it a 179 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: lot now. 180 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I don't want to do this alone. I'm 181 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 1: not going someplace for six months on my own and 182 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: missing out. So I ended up being there for about 183 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: four weeks. But a cool story, I knew I was 184 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: going to go home. I had a lot of talks 185 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: with Bill and we got we got really close and 186 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: I went into Bill and Bill Bill let me go 187 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: home at one point because he said, maybe you're just homesick. 188 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: Go see your go see your family, and I'm going 189 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: to hold a roster spot. I think, if I'm not mistaken, 190 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,439 Speaker 1: Bill kept a roster spot. They had fifty two men 191 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: on the roster for the first two weeks of the 192 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: season because he thought I might come around. But I 193 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: told Bill, I said, Bill, this is likely going to 194 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: be my last game. But I got one question for you. 195 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: Could I play this last game? And could I play it. 196 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 2: At my position? And he said what's that? 197 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: I said, safety, and he goes, you know, I've wanted 198 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,839 Speaker 1: to tell you since you've been here, you're a Hall 199 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: of Fame Hall of Fame safety, but you're a horse linebacker. 200 00:08:58,800 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 2: I butchered that. 201 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: I said, I totally agree because that the move didn't 202 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: work out, and it was more but interesting experience. I 203 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: see that, you know, every now and then you get 204 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: fans coming up to you just sign cards, and it's 205 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: very rare that someone's got the Patriot card. 206 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 2: So you have a page. 207 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, there's a Patriot card out there. I don't 208 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: see him very often, but I do see him. I've 209 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: got a couple of Patriots Jersey. 210 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: You know. I'm Irish Catholic that plays big in New England. 211 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: And I remember the day. A day I decided that 212 00:09:27,679 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: I was going to go home. I went in the 213 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: team's store and I said, just as a collector's item, 214 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: let me grab a couple of these. And the guy 215 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: in the store said, oh, mister Kraft's going to be pissed. 216 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: He just ordered thousands of these. And I said, well, 217 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: they're going to go on sale. And the guy was like, 218 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 1: why where are you going? 219 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 2: I said, nowhere. 220 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 3: You're in New England. They just finished that season to 221 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 3: go eighteen and one. They had just lost the Super 222 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 3: Bowl to the Giants. Vince Wolffork, Ronnie Harrison, Teddy Bruski, 223 00:09:55,960 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 3: Richard Seymour, Mike Rabral, Jerrod Mayo say out, what was 224 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: it like being in a locker room with all those greats? 225 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 2: It was awesome. 226 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: It was awesome, you know, I really I got a look, 227 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: I got a lens of view of what made that 228 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: team special. And you know, I would say I played 229 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: at places for Tony Dungee, from Mike Shanahan, for John Gruden. 230 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: It wasn't like the most upbeat, positive place in the world. 231 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: It was, you know, I think the players got really 232 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:29,839 Speaker 1: close in New England because it. 233 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 2: Was tough and it was. It was not always the 234 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: most fun. It was miserable. 235 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: You know, winning is fun, though, and I think those 236 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: guys knew that. It's so funny. I think Rabel in 237 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 1: this super Bowl because Rabel was the one guy in 238 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: that locker room. 239 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:43,440 Speaker 2: Junior was not there. 240 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: Junior was a good friend where both San Diego guys 241 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: we worked out in the off seasons. Junior actually when 242 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: I came home from New England and ended up back 243 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: in San Diego, Junior said, buddy, you got it all 244 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: all screwed up. And I said, what do you mean? 245 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: He goes, you went to training camp, then retired. I 246 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: stayed home from training camp, then I go play the 247 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: last month of the season. 248 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 2: That's how I go. And but Rabel was the one 249 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:06,719 Speaker 2: guy that. 250 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: Would stand up to Bill and a team meaning Bill, no, 251 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: you're wrong, you know, and everybody on the team would 252 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: tell him braves because everyone there was that fear. But 253 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: being in that room, I mean, gosh, could you imagine. 254 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: I was so intrigued and I was fighting in my spirit, 255 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: and I really wanted to make it work because I thought, man, 256 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: me playing next to Rodney Harrison, that. 257 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 2: Would be really cool. Rodney as a guy I admired. 258 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: He's a guy that I think because he played a 259 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: certain way and Rodney did some stuff on the field 260 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 1: in piles and stuff that I think he never got 261 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 1: his due in terms of Pro Bowls and all that. 262 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: I think the guy's got one Pro Bowl. He was 263 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,280 Speaker 1: one of the best safeties in the league when I 264 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: was playing. I always felt it when I. 265 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 2: Studied when he was at San Diego too. Oh my god. 266 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: He was a fantastic player, and I think he was 267 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 1: so mean and he didn't care what people thought of him. 268 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: I think that kind of diminished. I think he should 269 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: be in the Hall of Fame. But Roder he was there. 270 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: There was some fantastic Teddy Brew, Bruce Ki and fantastic coaches. 271 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 2: It was a really cool experience. All right. 272 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 4: So I already talked about your hitting style, and so 273 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 4: you gave me this great Ronnie speech, which I wish 274 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 4: he would give this speech to a lot of people. 275 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 4: He's excellent because he's so intense. What was the hardest 276 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 4: hit you think you've ever been delivered, that you've ever delivered? 277 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 2: I think, Uh, there's one on on Mark Chimura. 278 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 4: Uh. 279 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: It made it like an Adidas commercial one time, highly 280 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: illegal in today's data. But that that one, that one 281 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: was was was pretty violent. There's another one on something 282 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: with tight ends. Dallas Clark, Yeah, exactly, Dallas Clark against 283 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: UH When I was in Denver against the Indianapolis Colts 284 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 1: and I broke my thumb on the play we played. 285 00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: We played Indie the next week in the playoffs. We 286 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: have had to win to get in, and we knew 287 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 1: if we won, we played Indy. So I hit Dallas 288 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: pretty hard and everybody felt like it was intended to 289 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: send a message for the next week. 290 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 2: Ended up breaking my thumb. 291 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: I played the next week, but I played seventy five 292 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: thousand dollars with seventy five thousand less in my in 293 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: my bank account because the league got me on that one, 294 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:24,559 Speaker 1: and I probably deserved it. 295 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 4: Okay, all right, So who hit you the hardest? 296 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 2: Oh, that's easy, that's easy. 297 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: So way back in my rookie year, you guys probably 298 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: too young for this guy. But Craig Ironhead, Hey, yeah, 299 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: God bless his soul. And he was playing for in 300 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: Atlanta and they were running the run and shoot and 301 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: herm Edwards was my was my dB coach, and we're 302 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: playing these guys and Herm, Edwards says, eased to call 303 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: me Lynchburg. 304 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 2: He goes, now, now, Lynchburg, here's what's going to happen. 305 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: They run what we call the Atlanta Draw, and the 306 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: seas are going to part, and the run to shoot 307 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: four wide receivers out here. 308 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: He's going to take his little crow hop. 309 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: You're going to see it, and you're going to go 310 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: in there, and I know you, Lynchburg, You're going to 311 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: try to take him high. And don't do it with 312 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: this this guy, because you will come out faster than 313 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: you went in. And he said, I'm urging you to 314 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: go low on him. You know, I'm urging you to tackle. 315 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: I know that is not your style, but I'm well, 316 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 1: what do you do when someone tells you that, Well, 317 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: I'm going to show herm. 318 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 2: And bad idea. 319 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: Ironhead earned that nickname for and it had that nickname 320 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: for a reason. I felt everything in my body with 321 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: that hit, and Herm was exactly right. 322 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 2: I came in and it. 323 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: Was like I got rejected and I said, man, that's 324 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: a bad man right there. I never felt anything like 325 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: that in my career. Ironhead Hayward and man, I wanted 326 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: to I wanted another attempt and the guy's I mean 327 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,239 Speaker 1: like it was so bad that everybody on the everybody's 328 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: face was shocked. And he standing over me all right, 329 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: and I got up. I couldn't let him see me, 330 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: but everything in my body was hurting. Ironhead Haywards certainly 331 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: hit me harder than anybody. 332 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 4: That was such a quick answer to like, oh that's easy, 333 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 4: you know exactly. 334 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: You don't forget that, you don't. It's yours. The hardest 335 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 2: I've ever been hit, you know. 336 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 4: I ran into Ernest Graham one time and my whole 337 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 4: right side went pretty numb. 338 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 2: But I didn't let him know though, you know, I 339 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 2: just like got up. He was like, no, bro, we're good. 340 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 4: He went down to well because he went down to 341 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 4: so nobody knew and I used I just used my. 342 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 2: Left hand to get up numb. 343 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 4: You know, you just act like I'm tough. I'll be 344 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 4: okay in like three plays A cool. 345 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 2: How about you? 346 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 3: Oh, I'd probably say Todd Johnson, my own teammate. He'd 347 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 3: be right in the back of the head, knocked out 348 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 3: played the Jets. Leon Washington, the running back I think 349 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 3: from Florida. He was on top of me and he was. 350 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 2: Like, hey, Hey he's out, he's out, Get up, get up. 351 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 3: And I wasn't like out out, but my eyes were 352 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 3: kind of like I had like that zombie look. And 353 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 3: I heard I hear everyone yelling like, hey, get up, 354 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 3: get up, but I just had no control over my body. 355 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 3: I couldn't move. I was just like, oh my god, 356 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 3: that hurt. 357 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: What happened. I'm stuck. I'm stuck. 358 00:16:11,680 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 3: And then slowly your brain's like you can move your 359 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 3: hands and limbs, and I was like. 360 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: I don't like that feeling. What was that? 361 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, it hurt me can cuss and I went back 362 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 3: in the game. 363 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's that's football, back in the day, all right, 364 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: back in the day. 365 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 4: All right, John I want to ask you about the 366 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 4: year nineteen ninety two. Okay, this is something I didn't 367 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 4: know about you. All right, it's a good year. You 368 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 4: were drafted in the second round by the Florida Marlins 369 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 4: in the Major League Baseball Draft, and that was the 370 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 4: second pick that they had ever had in their organization's history. 371 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 4: I did figure out who was the first one, but 372 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 4: I don't expect you to know that. 373 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 5: I know, Okay, yeahs Johnson, Charles Johnston catcher. 374 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 2: That's good. 375 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 4: And I did not know, like what was that like 376 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 4: for you to be because I know Bill Wash convinced 377 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 4: you to come back and to keep playing because you 378 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 4: were like, no, I'm just going I'm going to baseball route. 379 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 4: Then you get drafted and he actually convinced you to 380 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 4: come back after that. But I want to talk about 381 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 4: the baseball part of it first. 382 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 383 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: So I went to Stanford as a football baseball player 384 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: and Stanford had a great track record of doing it. 385 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: The head coach for the baseball team, Mark Mark West, 386 00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:25,640 Speaker 1: just passed last week. 387 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 2: Unbelievable man. 388 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: One of those coaches that is impactful beyond what you 389 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: ever understood. Like when I was coaching my kids in 390 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,440 Speaker 1: their sports, I used to say, like he used to say, 391 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: get there then rest. He wanted you if you were 392 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: playing right field, he wanted you sprinting out to right field, 393 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: old school and sprinting in. You didn't start jogging before 394 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 1: you got to the dugout at Stanford Baseball. And that's 395 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: exactly how I coached my kids, whether it be my 396 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: boys or my girls in baseball. So impactful, but a 397 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: really cool guy who had played football baseball himself, and 398 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: Stanford was used to it. Elway had done it, Toby 399 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: Gerhart did it later, A lot of guys had done 400 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: it at Stanford, so they had a track record. 401 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 2: And I went and did that. 402 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:10,399 Speaker 1: And you know, I was a highly recruited football player, 403 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,920 Speaker 1: but baseball is kind of measurable, Like if you can 404 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: throw hard, you're going to get drafted pretty high. And 405 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,919 Speaker 1: that's what I did. I had a live arm. I 406 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: could throw ninety five back then, which was which was 407 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 1: pretty you know, now a lot of people do it there. 408 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: If you were touching ninety five, I was, you know, 409 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: you were doing something. So I threw ninety five. And 410 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: you know, I played in the outfield most of the time, 411 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: but I was a closer. I only threw twenty innings. 412 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: And the Marlins come and grabbed me after my junior 413 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 1: year in the second round, and. 414 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 2: My heart, I knew I love football. 415 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: But at some point you're like, well, I got to 416 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: go where I'm wanted, and the Marlins really wanted me, 417 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: and they felt like I could really have a major 418 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: league future, and so that's where I was going. And 419 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: you know, it was after my first year playing baseball. 420 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: At some point, Bill Walsh gets the job. Denny Green, 421 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: who was our coach at Stanford takes the Minnesota Vikings. 422 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: Bill Walsh is named the head coach at Stanford Football, 423 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: and he picks up the phone and calls me. I 424 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: thought my guys were messing with me. You know, Bill Walsh. 425 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 2: Kind of a big deal. 426 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: And I told you guys, I got benched my junior year. 427 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: But I did play a lot and I made a 428 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: lot of plays. And Coach Walsh call and then he said, hey, John, 429 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 1: you know I've taken this job. I've spent the last 430 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: two weeks watching all our players evalue inting our team, 431 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: and I think you were our best defensive player. And 432 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: I was like, coach, I got benched. Willie Shaw was 433 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: my coach. I said, Willy benched me. And he goes, 434 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: I've talked to Willy, and Willy knew you were his 435 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 1: best player, but he had to shake it up. You 436 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: were trying to win games, and he felt like he 437 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: used you in a role that was really effective while 438 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: you were learning how to play the position. But Bill said, like, 439 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,199 Speaker 1: I know you're coming home after spring training. Could I 440 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: catch you for a meeting? And I think I think 441 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,360 Speaker 1: I can show you some things, So sure enough, you're 442 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 1: not going to turn down a meeting with Bill Walsh, 443 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 1: and I went and met with Bill Walsh, and I 444 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: talked about this in my Hall of Fame speech. You 445 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: realize what makes certain people special. Bill took the time. 446 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:16,959 Speaker 1: He wasn't just going to tell me. He was going 447 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 1: to show me. And you know that year, my junior year, 448 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: made some plays. And so he shows me sacking a 449 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: quarterback and then he shows me Ronnie Lott doing the 450 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: same thing. And he had gone scoured the tape, shows 451 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: me getting an interception and then Ronnie lot doing the 452 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: same thing. He shows me making a hit, and he goes, John, 453 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: I'm here to tell you. And I don't know if 454 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,239 Speaker 1: he was being a salesman or if he really believed it. 455 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: He said, John, I'm telling you, and I know you 456 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,719 Speaker 1: got benched and all that you can be a Pro 457 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: Bowl safety in the NFL, and what do you think? 458 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 1: And he had me like that, And he had me 459 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: because he showed me. Had he just told me, even 460 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 1: though it was Bill Walsh, I wouldn't have believed him. 461 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: You know, I told the Marlins I hadn't signed my 462 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: contract yet. I told the Marlins, you know what I'm going. 463 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: They were not happy. They thought they were drafting me 464 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 1: in the second round because I was going to play 465 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: for them. But I followed my heart and it was 466 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: a great lesson if you follow your heart. And I'll 467 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: forever be grateful to coach Bill Walsh for that because 468 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: I went and my senior year really took off. I 469 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: outstanding year and the rest is history. 470 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 2: I mean. 471 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,199 Speaker 4: So in June fifteenth, nineteen ninety two, you started your 472 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 4: first game for the Eerie Sailors. 473 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 2: All right, I saw it on TV. Yeah, it's out there. Yeah. 474 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 4: I mean it was crazy because I'm like John Lynch 475 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 4: at pitcher, I'm like. 476 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 2: Wow, I really want that heat still pissed because that 477 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 2: was a strike. He called seven straight balls. I could 478 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: not throw a strike and every one of them. It 479 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 2: was crazy. 480 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: I'd throw a pitch, they'd come out, grab my hat, 481 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: my jersey. The Hall of Fame was there, yeah, because 482 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: even though we were in Erie Pennsylvania, it was the 483 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: first pitch in the organization's history, right, and so the 484 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: hall was there and it was big pomp and circumstance. 485 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 2: It was really fun. But the seven straight balls was 486 00:21:58,880 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 2: not funky. 487 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 4: Say that that was not there, so you know, and 488 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 4: then that later on that year. You know, you had 489 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,919 Speaker 4: a great game the Notre Dame your your your senior 490 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 4: game where I think you also made a highlight where 491 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 4: you hit Jerome Betters too, So the writing was on 492 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 4: the wall or who John Lynch was going to be? 493 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think in all my years of playing football 494 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,199 Speaker 1: that that might have been my best game. And the 495 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: weird thing is the Good Lord blessed me with a 496 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: hard head, and I'd never like you guys know, concussions 497 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: were different. Concussions you were like out And I only 498 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: had one of those in my entire football career and 499 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: it was at Notre Dame that day, guy named Todd Norman. 500 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: He pulled down on a sweep and I'll never forget 501 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: he didn't hit me that hard, but he just grazed 502 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: me here. And next thing you know, I wake up 503 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:44,680 Speaker 1: and our team doc is you know one of those 504 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 1: where him I had never had that, never had it 505 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: in the NFL. They take me in the locker room, 506 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: they hide my helmet, and all of a sudden, I'm 507 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 1: starting to come back and the doc starts giving me 508 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: but he doesn't allow me to come back. My dad, 509 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: old schooled guy, good great dad loved me. You know 510 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,360 Speaker 1: he played had a cup of coffee in the NFL. 511 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: But my dad was behind our bench at NBA era 512 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: in uh in South Bend, and my dad says, get 513 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: your ass back in the game, get your helmet, and 514 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: get your ass back to the game. And the doctors going, 515 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: who is that's my dad? Just you know, And sure 516 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 1: enough I listened to my dad. I was taught to 517 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,919 Speaker 1: like grab my helmet. I ran on the field and 518 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,199 Speaker 1: the doc almost ran on the field. I went on 519 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 1: to play one of the greatest games I've ever played, 520 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: and uh, you know there is a play in there 521 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,159 Speaker 1: where I got the bus and the ball came loose. 522 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, uh, it was. It was a real sun game. 523 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 2: They were a hell of a team and we got him. 524 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: And the funny thing is Bill Walsh he did not 525 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: care for Lou Holtz and uh, and I think it 526 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 1: all stemmed from Bill had broadcast for NBC and when 527 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: they go do production meetings, Lou was the king of 528 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: Notre Dame and he would make Bill Walsh wait. 529 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: In the lobby. 530 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: And finally, you know, like I'd ask these guys, what 531 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: what is it with Bill? And and uh and Lou 532 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: and and he goes Bill Waltsh doesn't like waiting. This 533 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,560 Speaker 1: was Keena Turner who told me Bill Waltsh doesn't like waiting, 534 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: and LOUI used to make him wait for like an 535 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 1: hour and Bill remembered that and he wanted to bury 536 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 1: Notre Dame man. 537 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 2: We did, all right. 538 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 3: My last question for you is you finished or excuse me? 539 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 2: Yeah? 540 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 3: You just finished your nine season as a GM. You 541 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 3: were promoted to President Football Ops a couple of years ago. 542 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 3: You got four NFC championships, two Super Bowl appearances. Twenty 543 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 3: nineteen you have won, You won Executive of the Year. 544 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 3: How would John Lynch great himself as a GM? 545 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: Well, I think that's still incomplete. And I'll tell you 546 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: the hard thing fellas you know, and it was part 547 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: of the draw what brought me to the Niners. It 548 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: is such a tremendous When I was playing, everybody knew 549 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: that's the place they do it first class. They knew 550 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: it right, and you know, I was in college and 551 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: younger then. 552 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 2: But in the eighties they won four of those things. 553 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 1: And so the coolest thing is all those guys still 554 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 1: live there. But you talk about a tough standard. These 555 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: guys expect championships and so We've done a lot of 556 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: great things, and I'm blessed to work with the tremendous 557 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: head coach and Kyle Shanahan. We came in together. We've 558 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: had each other's back since day one. He's unbelievable. He's 559 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: a tremendous coach. And we've been been fortunate to have 560 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: great players around us. And this is a players league. 561 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: We both understand that. So we've been very fortunate. But 562 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: I won't grade myself because we haven't won one of those, 563 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: and that is the standard at that place, and we 564 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: got to win one soon because I don't want to 565 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: do this forever. 566 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 2: I'm having fun though it is. 567 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: You know, I broadcast it and I loved it, and 568 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 1: I really did the NFL Fox was great to me, 569 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 1: but I kind of missed a scoreboard. I missed. I 570 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:49,160 Speaker 1: missed competing and at the end of the day seeing 571 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: all right, you won, you lost. And it's busy. It's 572 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 1: a lot the job. But I love competing and I 573 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: love watching the Fred Warners, the George Kittles, the mccaffe, 574 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,119 Speaker 1: the Trent Williams, the Kyle ust Checks. We've been blessed 575 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 1: to be around some tremendous players, I'm leaving a lot out, 576 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: but those guys make it really fun to come to 577 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: work and continue to pursue our dreams. 578 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:16,400 Speaker 2: You know. Thank you, John. You got to get out 579 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 2: of here. 580 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 4: But man, you just said this thirty seconds. In thirty seconds, 581 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,399 Speaker 4: you need to answer this because I'm doing what you 582 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 4: were doing right working on the TV side of it. 583 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 4: I did it, and I like what I'm doing because 584 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 4: I didn't want the wins and losses to affect me 585 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 4: as much as it used to. At what point did 586 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 4: you get that urge back for you? Because you said 587 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 4: I got back into it because I've misstagned. 588 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 1: So I'll tell you the I kind of got pulled 589 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: into it. And I played my last years other than 590 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 1: that New England experience, really in Denver, and we had 591 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: decided to live our family in Denver, always with a 592 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: home base in San Diego. So I was around John 593 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,399 Speaker 1: Elway a lot. We had a Stanford connection. He was 594 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: about ten yars ahead of me. We had played for 595 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:03,879 Speaker 1: the same high school coach and John was like a 596 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: big brother to me, always really good to me. And 597 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: when I was living in Denver, we were playing some 598 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:12,480 Speaker 1: golf and whatnot, and John jumped into the to the 599 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: president of football, and John said, John Eos used to 600 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 1: call me Johnny Lynch, Johnny Lynch. Uh, you know, I'm 601 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: new into this and I don't know all these people. 602 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,639 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give them a chance to show show me 603 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 1: who they are, the scouts and everything. 604 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: But I need some people. 605 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: And I know you've never done this, but I respect 606 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,919 Speaker 1: your eye on football. I need some people who I 607 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 1: trust to help me. And Uh, I was like, you're 608 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: gonna pay me. He said, no, I'm not gonna pay you, 609 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: but it's going to help you in your broadcast career. 610 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: And so John used to have me like in his 611 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 1: in his first draft. Uh, you know, why don't you 612 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,360 Speaker 1: watch the safeties and give me grades on them? And 613 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,440 Speaker 1: you know, my my parents taught me, if you're gonna 614 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: do something, you do it to the best of your abilities. 615 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 1: And so I had no idea what I was doing 616 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:56,959 Speaker 1: on reports, but I took a lot of pride. And 617 00:27:57,080 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 1: John was shocked when I gave him. My first years 618 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:03,240 Speaker 1: were of evaluations. He said, Johnny, these are really good. 619 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 1: You know, you ought to consider doing something like this. 620 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: So that's the first time it got into my thoughts. 621 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: Every year he'd give me a little more. So I 622 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 1: think the third year I helped him, he brought me 623 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 1: in and I sat in their draft metings endeavor, and 624 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 1: that's when I started getting hooked. But I said, I 625 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: won't do this unless it's a unique opportunity. I thought 626 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: maybe with the San Diego Chargers the Bucks where I played, 627 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:31,959 Speaker 1: And then kind of a weird circle of events, I 628 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: had broadcast Kyle Shanahan a lot the year they were 629 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: played the Patriots and the super Bowl, and I thought 630 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: he was the best offensive coordinator in football. That year 631 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 1: they were the number one offense. So I said something 632 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 1: on the air one day and the divisional playoff against 633 00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:48,760 Speaker 1: the Seahawks. I said, if you're an owner out there, 634 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: I hear about Kyle that he's hard to get along with. 635 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 2: He can be too demanding that you know. But if 636 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 2: I'm an owner, I'm hiring. 637 00:28:57,640 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: This guy as my head coach. And Jed Yorke heard 638 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 1: that texted me and he said, I'm trying to And 639 00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:05,720 Speaker 1: so I had a pretty good idea talking about trying 640 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: to hire Kyle. 641 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 2: I had a pretty good idea that he'd end up there. 642 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: And there was like this two week period where I 643 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: was going to bed and I didn't know something was 644 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: on my mind. 645 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 2: My wife said, I know you, something's on your mind. 646 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 2: What is it? 647 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,040 Speaker 1: And I didn't even know myself. And one day I 648 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: woke up and Kyle was, for the first time I 649 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 1: saw it rumored to be going to San Francisco. 650 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 2: And I called. 651 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: Kyle and I said, hey, man, congrats. It's been tremendous, 652 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: you know, working with you. You've given me great access and time. 653 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: I've learned a lot of football. I hope you have, 654 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: and if anything, I've been stimulated, and out of the blue, 655 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 1: I didn't even plan to say this. I said, hey, 656 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 1: I understand you may get that niner's job, and he goes, 657 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: I think I might, and I think it's the one 658 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: I'm going to take. And I said, hey, man, if 659 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: you're looking for a GM, no before that, he said, 660 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 1: I am, but I'm really struggling to find a GM. 661 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: My dad told me it's critical to have someone you 662 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: really really trust, and. 663 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:04,640 Speaker 2: Out of my mouth game how about me? 664 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: And Kyle said, why would you do that? You know, 665 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: he said it in other words, but why the would 666 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:12,160 Speaker 1: you do that? 667 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 2: You've got a great life. 668 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: Like do you understand all that goes into that and 669 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: I said, man, I didn't even plan on telling you that. 670 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 2: It calls me back. 671 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: Two days later he goes, I can't sleep now, would 672 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: you really consider doing it? I think you'd be outstanding 673 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 1: And we started having conversations and then he told me 674 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 1: to fly up and see this guy named Jed. I 675 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: didn't know I was going to take it, and that's 676 00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 1: the story. So it kind of came out of nowhere. 677 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: It found me more than me finding it, and it's 678 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: it's a lot of fun. Broadcasting was great, so I 679 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: you know, and I think, you know, you do bring 680 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 1: a lot of value guys like you because you're helping 681 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 1: educate people about our game. 682 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 2: But I did there. Something was calling me. 683 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: And like I talked about earlier with the football in college, 684 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: I've always tried to follow my heart, and my heart 685 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: led me back to this ten years later. 686 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 2: I'm happy I did it. No appreciate that. Thank thank you, 687 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 2: Thank you, guys.