James Conner Running Back Pittsburgh Rookie
Who is your football mentor or inspiration? That is a tough one. I don't know who really inspired me to play football. I have always loved the game. I watched Emmitt Smith and heard stories about Walter Payton. Those guys made me want to play running back. But I just kind of fell in love with the game myself.
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What motivates you? *Just my recent past, my recent history. And my area. Being from Erie, Pa., we are a smaller town, we aren't too well known. I just like to do it for the city. I get so much love and support from my hometown, and Pittsburgh. I just want to do good for the people. * What is your approach to football? **Beast. Especially now. It's a grown man's game. I was talking to our strength coach and there are some creatures out there so you have to go out there and be dominant, unstoppable and ready to play.
Why do you play football?There is no other thing like it. It is a job, but at the end of the day it is a game. I play because you don't get the feeling you get from playing football, scoring touchdowns, doing it together, anywhere else.
When did you start to dream about playing in the NFL?When I was in fifth grade. I was 10 years old when I started playing football. And I started thinking about it. I knew it would take steps to get there, high school and college.
What is your proudest football moment or memory? I have had so many. When we beat Clemson last season as a team. My return to the field last year against Villanova. My first varsity high school game. But I am hoping it's a Super Bowl soon. I am not saying I had a special moment until we win a Super Bowl. When you hear Steelers, what do you think?Tradition. There are so many greats that have come before us and we have to honor their legacy. The Rooney family, what they have established and put together is unbelievable. When you think of the Steelers, you think of men of steel, Steel City, hard-nosed football players who do things the right way.
