Deshea Townsend is still floating on cloud nine since he and the Pittsburgh Steelers captured another Super Bowl victory this past February. The 12-year NFL veteran has learned invaluable lessons from the game of football, which he utilizes in every aspect of his life. Townsend encourages young people through his Pay It Forward Foundation. In a recent interview with rolling out, Townsend discussed his philanthropy, the championship experience and the essence of fatherhood.
–kim smith
What is the primary goal of the Pay It Forward Foundation?
It’s an amazing foundation. We have an ACT/ SAT program; we tutor athletes to help them get the grades to go to college. We are also working on a young men’s etiquette program to teach them how to tie a tie.
What values has football instilled in you that apply to life?
I think football has everything to do with life. It teaches you how to work hard. It teaches you how to work with others. You have to be accountable and you can’t quit if you want to be successful. If you apply those same types of things to your life as you do with sports, it’s going to take you a long way.
Coach Mike Tomlin appears to have a close-knit relationship with his players. Describe the player-coach relationship with Tomlin.
He demanded respect when he first got there. When he came to Pittsburgh, he laid down the rules. He is very consistent. We respect our coach and we will go out and do whatever he says. If he says run down the wall … we’ll try and do it [laughs].”
You have three children. What is the essence of fatherhood to you?
It’s making sure that your kids have a better way of life than you did. Sacrificing it all to see them be prosperous. I want to see my son be way better than I was.
