Troy University Athletics
Steve McLendon Thankful to be Back in the Super Bowl
2/5/2021 11:04:00 AM | Football
* Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TROY, Ala. – The NFL is home to 32 teams and 1,696 players on active rosters. Of those, 106 players will step foot on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Sunday for the greatest spectacle in all of sports, Super Bowl ILV. For one of those players, former Troy great Steve McLendon, it will be his second shot on the biggest stage in sports.
"This is one of the greatest blessings because you know it is something that you have worked so hard for for so long," McLendon said in an interview earlier this week. "It has been a challenging journey, but I have just allowed my faith to stay strong and understand that all my work, all of the training, all the blood, all the sweat, all the tears and all the dedication was going to pay off."
McLendon's path to Super Bowl ILV did not take shape until late October when he was traded from the winless New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who were coming off a win at Green Bay.
"When Vita (Vea) went down (with an injury), Steve was the first guy we thought about to bring in to fill the gap for us," Bucs defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said earlier this week. "Since he's been here, he's been outstanding. He has stepped in and been everything we thought he would be – an excellent veteran presence, works hard in practice and is good with the younger players. He has been a welcome addition."
In his first game with his new team, the Ozark, Alabama native recorded five tackles plus a tackle for loss and took home a game ball for his efforts. He finished the season with four more multi-tackle games, including three in the NFL Championship game and a pair of hits on Drew Brees in the NFC Divisional Round.
"Steve stepped in immediately and had an amazing role for us," All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. "It was great that Steve has been in this type of defense before and he came in and was just one of the guys and did a great job."
The trade to the Bucs was not just a new team for McLendon, it was a reunion with several faces from his past. Head coach Bruce Arians was the Steelers' offensive coordinator during three of McLendon's seasons with the club, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was his head coach in New York for three seasons and Rodgers was his position coach with the Jets for three years.
"It is amazing to be back with these guys," McLendon said. "I am super thankful to the whole organization for believing in me to bring me down here and to give me opportunities to play the game that I love. What makes it so special is that it's a family. Coming around these guys and seeing how they operate like brothers is a bond that cannot be broken – it is a brotherhood and that is big."
An all-region selection out of Carroll High School and an honorable mention All-Sun Belt pick his senior year at Troy, McLendon has worked for every opportunity in his career, nothing was given or assumed.
"I live by a Focus-Driven-Life code," he said. "I have it up in my gym, and I write it every single day. It is something that has helped me in my journey and it helps you put things in perspective. I always tell people that I'm not that guy that was hungry for it and I'm never hungry for anything. I'm driven and focused for everything because I only have one life to live.
"I've always followed Troy because that is the place that gave me my start and gave me my opportunity to be where I'm at today," McLendon said. "I want to let every guy at Troy know that no matter where you come from, no matter where you go or however it goes, if you desire to be in this league and be in this business, pay the price of sacrifice to live in paradise."
Sunday is a second chance for McLendon. In his first season on an active roster, McLendon and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Arians as the offensive coordinator, lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV.
"It will be very emotional," he said. "I told everyone, if we win, I'm going to cry because I'm very emotional about this. This is something that I know that I've worked a long time for and the opportunity is here. Win or lose, it's going to be emotional because I know the amount of work that I've put in to get here. But at the end of the day, I'm thankful for the opportunity. I want to remain humble with this and stay thankful."
TROY, Ala. – The NFL is home to 32 teams and 1,696 players on active rosters. Of those, 106 players will step foot on the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Sunday for the greatest spectacle in all of sports, Super Bowl ILV. For one of those players, former Troy great Steve McLendon, it will be his second shot on the biggest stage in sports.
"This is one of the greatest blessings because you know it is something that you have worked so hard for for so long," McLendon said in an interview earlier this week. "It has been a challenging journey, but I have just allowed my faith to stay strong and understand that all my work, all of the training, all the blood, all the sweat, all the tears and all the dedication was going to pay off."
McLendon's path to Super Bowl ILV did not take shape until late October when he was traded from the winless New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who were coming off a win at Green Bay.
"When Vita (Vea) went down (with an injury), Steve was the first guy we thought about to bring in to fill the gap for us," Bucs defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers said earlier this week. "Since he's been here, he's been outstanding. He has stepped in and been everything we thought he would be – an excellent veteran presence, works hard in practice and is good with the younger players. He has been a welcome addition."
In his first game with his new team, the Ozark, Alabama native recorded five tackles plus a tackle for loss and took home a game ball for his efforts. He finished the season with four more multi-tackle games, including three in the NFL Championship game and a pair of hits on Drew Brees in the NFC Divisional Round."Steve stepped in immediately and had an amazing role for us," All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. "It was great that Steve has been in this type of defense before and he came in and was just one of the guys and did a great job."
The trade to the Bucs was not just a new team for McLendon, it was a reunion with several faces from his past. Head coach Bruce Arians was the Steelers' offensive coordinator during three of McLendon's seasons with the club, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles was his head coach in New York for three seasons and Rodgers was his position coach with the Jets for three years.
"It is amazing to be back with these guys," McLendon said. "I am super thankful to the whole organization for believing in me to bring me down here and to give me opportunities to play the game that I love. What makes it so special is that it's a family. Coming around these guys and seeing how they operate like brothers is a bond that cannot be broken – it is a brotherhood and that is big."
An all-region selection out of Carroll High School and an honorable mention All-Sun Belt pick his senior year at Troy, McLendon has worked for every opportunity in his career, nothing was given or assumed.
"I live by a Focus-Driven-Life code," he said. "I have it up in my gym, and I write it every single day. It is something that has helped me in my journey and it helps you put things in perspective. I always tell people that I'm not that guy that was hungry for it and I'm never hungry for anything. I'm driven and focused for everything because I only have one life to live.
"I've always followed Troy because that is the place that gave me my start and gave me my opportunity to be where I'm at today," McLendon said. "I want to let every guy at Troy know that no matter where you come from, no matter where you go or however it goes, if you desire to be in this league and be in this business, pay the price of sacrifice to live in paradise."
Sunday is a second chance for McLendon. In his first season on an active roster, McLendon and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Arians as the offensive coordinator, lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV.
"It will be very emotional," he said. "I told everyone, if we win, I'm going to cry because I'm very emotional about this. This is something that I know that I've worked a long time for and the opportunity is here. Win or lose, it's going to be emotional because I know the amount of work that I've put in to get here. But at the end of the day, I'm thankful for the opportunity. I want to remain humble with this and stay thankful."
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