A lot of things that I did, especially with the contracts, it was unjust and I wasn’t getting paid. I think when I spoke up, it started changing a lot of pay structures for running backs. We got paid because we were a big part of the offense.
The deal in Indiana was I needed some help, some offensive linemen. At that point, they were not going to spend the money to get them, and I could not do everything myself.
Going over 2,000 yards was big. As a matter of fact, I got recruited by SC coming out of high school. I met O.J. before the Rose Bowl. I told him I was going to break his record. And I did do it.
I’d say my best football moment was playing the Cowboys in the playoffs when I had 248. I enjoyed that because I didn’t like the Cowboys. I’m from Texas, I went to school in Dallas, and you get a chance to stick it to them, set a record, at home.
They had a great defense (1). We matched up well against that defense. Only problem was, we needed a quarterback.
We could run the football because we had two big tight ends who could block the ends and we could handle their outside backers. But if you can’t throw the football, after a while they were bringing Fencik down, they were bringing the defensive backs right behind the linebackers, and it just wasn’t going to happen.
They had a linebacker, Otis Wilson. He was a guy I could not stand when I played against them, but man, was he a good player. We’d get to arguing and fighting and cursing each other.
And when I see Otis now, he’s just the nicest guy.
I have a picture I just got from the NFL of me and Walter greeting each other on the field. It was my rookie year, and I walked up to him and said, “I’m Eric Dickerson,” and he said, “I know who you are.” I was thrilled.
You know what? I’m really proud of my career. I would say that I could’ve broken all the records. Anything was possible.
I’d never been to the Hall of Fame until I was inducted.
My mother’s name is Helen Johnson. I was raised by my great-great aunt. I was adopted within our family. My mother had me when she was, I think, 15, 16. They tried to get her to have an abortion and she refused. So, my “mama” adopted me, which was really her great aunt, which was really my great-great aunt, who was named Viola Dickerson. I was told that my mother was my sister. She lived right next door to us.
It was no big deal. I love my biological mother. My adopted mother is my great-great aunt and that’s why I carry the name Eric Dickerson.
I knew I really wasn’t qualified for it (2), but you know, how do you turn it down? You don’t turn it down. I’m glad I did it. I enjoyed doing it. I had my rough moments at it. Would I do it again? Nah.
I think a sideline reporter is a girl’s job because you can’t talk football. That’s just my opinion.
I’ll tell you one thing about me: I’m very private. I always have been private. People think I’m callous, arrogant. I didn’t like the media attention. I didn’t like to be interviewed because I just wanted to play and be done with it.
I’m just not the outgoing bubble of energy. But if I know you, it’s different. Practical jokes. Have fun. I’m not looking for any new friends. I got my friends.
I think I’m proudest of making my parents proud.
(1) – The 1985 Bears, who beat Dickerson’s Rams in the NFC championship game.
(2) – Sideline reporter on “Monday Night Football.”
