By Jim Gehman | Engagement Insider
A Pro Bowl guard who played 16 years in the NFL, 14 with Buffalo, you helped the Bills reach an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowls. They celebrated your career by putting you on their Wall of Fame. With that said, is it tough to pinpoint a fondest memory?
“There are a number of games that I can recount that are just favorite games, but I just enjoyed playing so much. Some of the funniest times were in the locker room with just the different personalities.
“People ask if I played when Jim Kelly was playing because he’s such a big name. Or with Thurman Thomas. Or with Fred Smerlas, one of my great buddies, who’s one of the all-time greats that ever played the game. He’ll hopefully get a chance to go into the Hall of Fame.
“I feel that I can walk a little taller because I’ve been associated with them.”
Sixteen years in the league, and you’re now in your 16th year as a pilot – first officer for American Airlines. When do you become interested in flying?
“My dad used to get Popular Mechanics magazine and they would have home-built (airplanes) in there and I thought, ‘Boy, that must be the neatest thing in the world, to be able to fly.’ We’d go out to the airport sometimes to watch the planes land. Or he’d take us to watch the Thunderbirds air show and different airplanes. We’d get to tour through them. I was always interested in flying as a kid. We didn’t have the means to let me take flying lessons.
“Once I started playing ball, Joe Ferguson, our quarterback, had a Cessna 172 and I realized, you know what? I have the means now to start doing that.
“So in January of ’86, my wife bought me an introductory lesson and I just kept doing it from then. Every offseason I would add ratings and keep flying. So when I wound up playing [after two seasons with Atlanta] in ’96, I had a lot of time and had all my ratings and commercial license.
“(Former teammate) Justin Cross had flown commuter planes and was hired by TWA. He ended up getting me hired at TWA, but I never took the job. I did get into pilot school with TWA, but ended up getting hired by Midway. And then before I went to class with Midway, I got hired with American and have been flying for American ever since.
“I’m based out of New York. I fly mostly to continental Europe on the 7-5 [Boeing 757] and 7-6 [Boeing 767]. I fly both those aircrafts into Manchester, Paris, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Barcelona and Madrid.”
Besides seeing the world, what’s the best thing about your job?
“I enjoy flying. Of course, takeoffs and landings are the most exciting. And you have great conversations, sort of like sometimes being in the locker room and carrying on a conversation with someone before the game. I’m always amazed with the guys I get to fly with. Some of them have been generals or admirals or astronauts. Some have been Navy SEALS. They come from all walks of life and have done different things. So it’s fascinating.
“And I like the time off that it gives me, too. You can only fly so many hours a week and so I’ve always been able to work my schedule where I’ve been able to see (my three) boys play football. I don’t think I missed any of their high school or college games. I still have one that’s going to school in Richmond. He has two more years left and hopefully I’ll be able to catch all of his games. So, the flexibility it has given me. And it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. And to be able to do something that you love doing is always a blessing.”
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The NFLPE "Where Are They Now?" series honors and celebrates our NFL Legends in their post-football success. Check back every two weeks for a new Q&A and learn more about our players in life after football.