Q&A with Former NFL Star Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon played 17 seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. Gannon flourished with the Raiders as he was a four-time Pro Bowler in the six seasons he was with the Silver and Black. He also led the Raiders to a Super Bowl XXXVII appearance. Oakland was defeated 48-21 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
BM: What is your Super Bowl prediction and why?
RG: You know, it’s so hard to predict. Obviously you would say the Patriots because of their experience, because of the football team that they have, the way that they’re able to handle success and the way they’re able to handle adversity and also situational football. But the Eagles right now, they’ve got a lot of momentum. Nick Foles right now, I think is really surprising a lot of people this postseason. When you look at the struggles that he had, week 16 against the Raiders and week 17 against the Cowboys, I thought he’d be one-and-done in the postseason. But they’ve been on the roller coaster and they’ve rode this momentum right now. I think it’ll be a close game, it always comes down to mistakes and turnovers. If you’re asking me to put a gun to my head to (say who) is going to win the game, I think it’s going to be the Patriots.
BM: Were the Eagles your team when you were growing up in Philly?
RG: Yeah, I loved them. They weren’t very competitive until 1980 when Ron Jaworski and Dick Vermeil were there, but that was a real fun year. I don’t have a horse in the race, but I would like the Eagles go out and play well and have that experience.
BM: What was your favorite card or set that you collected?
RG: I grew up in Philly, so we collected baseball cards and then football cards, probably more baseball cards and of course Phillies cards were really good to get and we’d flip for them, which that ruined the cards, but no one was thinking of that at the time. There was all kind of scams when you would show guys your good cards, but then flip them your bad cards. I still have, I wouldn’t call it a great collection, but I still have some football cards and baseball cards from when I was younger.
I would go to the five-and-dime and buy some cards and we would trade with buddies and with my older brothers. I’m sure it’s a big deal now, but back then when I was growing up, it was huge.
BM: When you got your own first card – 1990 Topps Traded – what was that like?
RG: It was really cool. You dream about that as a kid growing up that maybe someday you would be on your own card.
BM: What is your view on the Hobby and getting future generations involved?
RG: I’m a big collector. I collect antique advertising memorabilia, I collect old cars. I’ve always been a collector of things. I’ve got some old cards myself and I’ve got some signatures of some guys like Joe Montana and Joe Namath, guys that I’ve really gotten to know, especially Joe Namath. He was a huge childhood hero of mine growing up. I’ve gotten him to sign a helmet for me one time, that was the coolest thing in the world. I got a signed helmet, personalized, that’s pretty cool, because he was my childhood idol. I think it’s fun. I think the Hobby’s in good shape as long as kids continue to watch football and baseball and those type of things, they’re going to collect cards.
BM: Does Super Bowl week remind you when you were getting ready for your own Super Bowl you went to?
RG: Oh yeah, it’s a special week. The (game) we had it was one week, now it is a two-week turnaround, which is pretty standard. It’s amazing, it goes so fast. I just tell players to enjoy it, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
BM: What was your experience like, it obviously wasn’t the result you were looking for, but do you have fond memories of the game?
RG: If you don’t win, it’s not a great experience. There’s no other way around it. You work so hard all season long and it comes down to 60 minutes of football and if it doesn’t go the way you want… But still I always look back on it and there’s a lot to be proud of.
Bill Callahan sabotaged the 2002 Raiders Super Bowl. No other way around it. He must have had a lot riding on Tampa Bay to win.