Post-Career Quotes

People talk about retiring. I never said that r-word. People though I went away after the Olympic Games. I took time off to do something I've always wanted to be - a mother.

And then 45 years later, as I finished my career in the great city of Cleveland, that was another great way to end my career, going to the World Series.

When you think about 19 years, it has been a heckuva ride. Physically, I want to be able to participate in activities with my kids, so it has taken a toll. It is time to move on and think about maybe coaching or doing some broadcasting.

Maybe UFC and Bellator should take care of the fighters when their careers are done, as the NFL takes care of their players. Because they're making so much money off us.

Towards the end of my career, I was thinking about going into the media world. It's crucial: with three to four years left in the game, you begin to plan for the end.

Sport is the only profession I know of that when you retire you have to go to work.

I never looked at hockey as work. Now that I'd finished playing, I had to go to work.

You've got to respect your body and know the time to transition to what's next. A lot of athletes cannot transition. They don't have nothing to do after.

I loved drama class at school. I never took it seriously, as I was playing football. But maybe when I retire, I'll have a dabble.

When I'm done with football, I want to be done with football. I don't want to have, Oh, did I leave too early?

If you're playing baseball, why are you playing baseball? Is it to have success on the field and be a Hall-of-Famer or whatever it is? Sure, that's everyone's goal. But then what? For me, it's about the legacy you leave off the field.

I think it's very important that you don't start thinking about your life after football when you are 33 or 34. There are many more amazing things in this world, and it's important to think about these things before you retire.

When I first left the Eagles, I said, 'That's it. I'm going to play golf.' After 10 days, it was like... there has to be more to life! I can still swing a golf club, and don't forget, Les Paul played until he literally passed away.

I love talking about football, and obviously I love playing football, but you may not be able to play football forever, but you can talk about it for a long time.

After I retire, I have my own vision, which is not connected to the state of Israel. It's about me, living near the sea, and maybe writing something about the past.

My legacy isn't about what I did playing football, but how I use the opportunities that came from playing football.

Some players tell me that since retiring they've had the urge to go somewhere every three days. To satisfy that urge, they may even jump in the car and drive around the block.

I know it's hard when guys leave the game. They're sitting there analyzing, and they're getting itchy.

My focus is on training and championships. I will look at business after retirement... maybe 20 years later.

I think that I've still not been successful at playing the role of the retired actor, and I'd like to work on that.

I think every footballer, after 20 years playing football, the first thing that comes to your mind is to relax.

More time than not, athletes, specifically fighters, have a 15 or 20-year career, and unfortunately, we end up right where we started when it's over. All we have is maybe a round of applause when we walk in a room - Hey, there's the champ! That's great; I want that, but I've got to have something tangible to show for it, too.

I am not thinking about life after football, but I know it will be another life, another world.

He died right after he retired, and seeing that made me feel more conscious of a man needing a motive to live. If I ever got out of coaching, I would have to get a job somewhere, or I'm afraid I'd wilt on the vine, too.

I want to do as little as possible when I finish playing ball - just spend a lot more time with my family.