San Diego Chargers: An Interview with Hall of Fame Tight End Kellen Winslow Sr.

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Yesterday, I had the opportunity to interview San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr.

Al Saunders, one of the assistant coaches for the Chargers during Winslow's career, rightfully described Winslow as being a wide receiver in the body of a lineman. 

In the 1980s, safeties and linebackers were not nearly athletic enough to keep up with Winslow and cornerbacks were far too small to deal with his huge frame.

As a result, Winslow set the record for most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end with 1,290 yards in 1980. In the same year, Winslow led the NFL in receptions with 89.

He followed his phenomenal 1980 season up by leading the NFL in receptions again in 1981 with 88. 

Although Winslow had a number of fantastic seasons, it is Winslow's fantastic performance against the Miami Dolphins in the 1981 playoffs that he is most remembered for.

Winslow finished the game with an NFL playoff-record 13 receptions for 166 yards. However, it's Winslow's blocked field goal at the end of regulation to force the game into overtime that may have been his biggest play of the game.

What made Winslow's performance even more amazing is that throughout the game, he suffered from dehydration, severe cramps, a pinched nerve in his shoulder and a deep cut on his lower lip.

Unfortunately, Winslow suffered from knee injuries throughout his career. Winslow's knee injuries forced him to retire in 1987 after just nine seasons. 

Winslow finished his career with 541 receptions, 6,741 yards, 45 touchdowns and five Pro Bowl selections.

Winslow's post-football career has been just as interesting as his football career. As a result, we discussed a wide variety of subjects. Here is what we covered.

Kellen Winslow's Current Job

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Question: Currently, you are the athletic director for Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. What do you enjoy most about being a college athletic director?

Answer: The interaction with the students is the best part of the job. You're dealing with administrators, you're dealing with coaches, but sitting down and watching your student-athletes compete and seeing how well they do in the classroom and graduating is very special.

How Did Kellen Winslow Get the Central State University Job?

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Question: How did you end up getting the job at Central State University?

Answer: I made the mistake of answering my phone on the golf course. Golfers don't do that. I have two good friends of mine, John Wooten and Ernie Green, who contacted me and were teammates with the Cleveland Browns.

Ernie and his wife Della are board members for various organizations at Central State University. They knew that CSU was looking for an athletic director and recommended that I apply. Based on their recommendation, I applied and got the job.

Most Memorable Moment Besides the Miami Dolphins Game

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Question: I know you must hear about your amazing playoff game against the Miami Dolphins all the time. Aside from that game, what are the most memorable moments of your career?

Answer: Time with my teammates, the things that we did. Also, there was one game that we played and it was a regular season. We were down to our third-string quarterback and I don't think that I caught a pass that game.

In the meeting room the next day, we looked at the film and the coach made the statement that we have several All-Pro players in this room and they are known for catching the ball, but I want you to see Kellen Winslow block.

To be recognized for something that you weren't recognized for in the media, but for your coaches and your teammates to point that out was a big day for me.

The Air Coryell Offense

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Question: Don Coryell said, "If we're asking Kellen to block a defensive end and not catch passes, I'm not a very good coach." How instrumental were guys like Don Coryell, Dan Fouts, Wes Chandler, John Jefferson and Charlie Joiner in helping you go down in history as one of the best tight ends of all time?

Answer: Add Joe Gibbs, Ernie Zampese and Dave Levy to that list and on and on. I tell people this all the time: You're only as good as the people around you. If not for me being on that team at that time, I more than likely would have not made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Being on that team allowed me to do the things that we were able to accomplish from the tight end position.

If not for the genius of Don Coryell and Joe Gibbs, who said we need to get this kid the ball, then I would not be talking to you right now.

There are some other guys that might have been just as, if not more, successful than I was in this offense, but I was the guy in the time in history who was drafted by San Diego and it worked out.

What Is Wrong with the Chargers?

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Question: The Chargers have been a huge disappointment this season. What do you think is wrong with the Chargers?

Answer: I really have not followed the Chargers since Kellen came into the league. I know who they're playing and I have their schedule on my refrigerator next to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers schedule. I really can't say that I've studied the team and that I've tried to even understand what the issues are.

I would imagine that some of it is injury-related. Not having everybody together all the time or playing at their peak. The other side of it probably has a lot to do with turnovers. Whenever I look at the box score, I look at the score of the game and I look at the turnover ratio. 

Kellen Winslow's Most Enjoyable Experience Since Retiring from the NFL

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Question: What has been the most enjoyable experience in your life since retiring from the NFL?

Answer: There was a time when Kellen Jr. played for the Cleveland Browns, and he had just come off of missing a season because of a motorcycle accident. I was in the stands for opening day of the following season.

They were introducing the offense and of course the fans in Cleveland are rabid about their team, especially with all the high hopes on opening day of the season. It was Joe Thomas' first year in Cleveland and they announce left tackle Joe Thomas and the rest of the offensive line.

Then, they say, "From The U," and the crowd just went crazy [for Kellen]. People said he wouldn't come back to play and he's come back to play for a number of years.

I remember that moment so vividly when he came out of the tunnel; I got goose pimples. I was sitting with his fiancee and current wife, Janelle. I just had to get up and walk out; it was just so overwhelming. 

How Does Kellen Winslow Feel About His Son Playing the Same Position as Him?

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Question: How much joy does it give you as a parent to see your son excelling at the position that you helped revolutionize?

Answer: Not necessarily revolutionize. And it's more so any parent that wants their child to be happy and doing what they love doing. It wouldn't be any different if I was a doctor and he went into the medical field, or if I was a lawyer and he went into the legal field, or if I was a professor and he decided to teach.

We all want our kids to be fulfilled and happy with what they're doing. That's what gives me the most pleasure. He loves playing this game. 

Kellen Winslow's Opinion of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Question: Since you follow your son's career closely, what do you think about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Answer: They're too talented of a team to be 4-8. That's the most concise way I can summarize that. They're too talented to be 4-8.

It starts with defense; defense sets the tone for championships. We like to watch offense, but the defense sets the tone. The offense helps the defense by having sustained drives and scoring versus going three-and-out.

The Top Tight Ends in the NFL

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Question: Who do you consider the top tight ends in the NFL today?

Answer: There are so many of them. You can pick 12 and you still have an argument about leaving someone out.

When you talk about the team concept, you have to go down to New Orleans and look at Jimmy Graham and the team he's playing on. He has the quarterback, Drew Brees, and the head coach/offensive coordinator, Sean Payton. That's a good combination for success and productivity.

Year in and year out, there's Tony Gonzalez—the number of years he's played and the numbers he's still putting up. Of course, you have to look at the quarterback and you look at the offense and what's taking place there in Atlanta. You're only as good as the people around you. 

Kellen Winslow's Favorite Players To Watch

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Question: Who are your favorite players to watch on Sundays?

Answer: All the tight ends in the league. You love what you see happening down in New Orleans. Of course, in Dallas, there's Jason Witten. He's been so good and so consistent over the years.

By the way, there's several kids in the NFL by the name of Kellen and I like watching all of them. Every time I see someone named Kellen, I go, "Oh not mine, that's someone else's." It's just fun to see that name. 

 

Michael Walkusky is a featured columnist on Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter