The Class of Football by Adam Schefter

Author:Adam Schefter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-08-27T05:00:00+00:00

Dan Hampton

Chicago Bears Defensive Lineman

Class of 2002

Despite enduring ten knee surgeries during his career—five on each knee—Hampton still finished twelve seasons in Chicago with eighty-two sacks and four Pro Bowls.

Playing the game of football will teach you so many things. How lucky was I that as I learned to compete in this game, that the good Lord had me go to Chicago, where I got to play with one of the greatest competitors of all time, number 34, Walter Payton. I’ve got to tell you something: I got to play nine years with Walter Payton. Man, it wasn’t because Walter was the biggest or strongest or fastest that he was the NFL’s all-time leader in yardage. It’s because he had the biggest heart….

In every player’s life, you get a certain coach that really touches your soul. Buddy Ryan was from Oklahoma, I was from Oklahoma, and right off, we hit it off.

As a first-round pick, I really felt like the Chicago Bears expected an awful lot of me. I started playing pretty good at the end of my rookie year, and I got a little bigheaded. I thought I was doing a pretty good job and we go into Pittsburgh my second year, when they had this juggernaut. And we go in there, and I swear, not only do I not make a play but I’m not even on the film. It’s like I walk into a spaceship or something. You don’t even find me on tape.

The next morning we come into the meeting after getting beat about 40–0. Buddy is standing up in front of the meeting and he’s got tears in his eyes. And he says, “You know, Big Rook, I thought we could count on you. With you playing the way you’re capable of, you give us a chance to be special. Now if I can get some other guys to show up and they have a great game, man, we’ve got a chance to really have a great defense. But if I can’t count on you to be the player that we expect, man, we’re dead. We’ll get gutted week in and week out.”

I went home and I didn’t sleep for three days. And I realized then that what he used to say is true. Football is not a game where you make a living; it’s not about making money. To us, the guys that really care about it, it’s about winning. It’s a game of finding the difference in people, looking in their hearts and seeing who’s willing to compete and to make a difference. And who wants to be a man.

I remember my very first awards banquet. I was the first one in high school to make All-American and I went to the awards banquet and I sat down right in front, thinking I’m going to get some awards. And boy, I couldn’t wait when the head coach, Bill Reed, said, “Our offensive lineman of the year is…” and I thought to stand up, and he says, “…Lee Monroe.

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