From Aaron Rodgers’ ‘beef’ to fond memories with the Detroit Lions, Super Bowl-winning defensive tackle and Sky Sports NFL analyst Ndamukong Suh answers questions from the fans about his incredible career…
1) When was the first time you believed you could make it to the NFL?
Interesting question. I would have to say my sophomore year of college, my second year playing. There were two guys ahead of me in my defensive line room, a guy named Adam Carriker and Jay Moore, one pegged to be a first-round draft pick and the other a mid-round draft picked. I could do everything that they could do. So I said ‘why not?’ Why couldn’t I be just as good if not better than them? And fortunately enough, my confidence in seeing that progression of them helped me project to be the number two overall draft pick in 2010.
2) Toughest offensive lineman you faced in the NFL?
None. There’s no toughest o-lineman that I’ve ever played against, that I couldn’t beat. But I have a lot of respect for the guys. The following names, I would say Marshal Yanda, who played for the Baltimore Ravens for many years. And I would say, the other toughest offensive lineman that I’ve ever gone against was Leonard Davis. He was a big man, big human-being. I think he was like 6’8″, probably like 350lbs. Something of that nature. But no offensive lineman ever scared me. It always has to be a double team or triple team.
3) What was your favourite thing about living in each of the cities you played in?
Let’s start with Detroit. First and foremost, great fans, great people, love being in that city and meeting all the great people from the Dan Gilberts of the world to the Gary Shiffmans, tons of quality relationships.
I just love riding up and down Woodward. It’s just a pretty dope city. Then I moved on to Miami. Miami in those days was a lot of fun being a bachelor and I had some good team-mates, a fun city to be in during my 20s.
Then LA, loved being in LA, just from the standpoint of having one of my closest mentors live there. So I spent a ton of time with him. And my wife and I moved in together, which was a lot of fun.
Then we moved together to Tampa Bay, which was a great city as well. Very West Coast, mid-west vibe from that standpoint, which I enjoyed, a lot of beaches. It was great to be a part of and we had our kids there, which was a lot of fun. And obviously won a great championship there as well.
Then my last city, Philly. You are just talking about ultimate fans. And when you’re winning there, the excitement and the vibes of that city. Surprisingly amazing food as well. Big foodie town and I’m a big foodie person, so I love Philly for that combination.
4) What was it like to play with Aaron Donald?
Aaron Donald was an elite player. We had a great season together, unfortunately came up short winning a Super Bowl. But a very talented human being. A lot of credit for his dominant play that he’s had throughout the years. But if you notice one thing, he had his best year with me!
5) Who was your favourite quarterback to sack?
There was plenty of them. But I would say my top two favourite quarterbacks to sack, Aaron Rodgers and then I’d say the other one was probably Matt Ryan. I looked forward to those Atlanta games, going against Matt Ryan. And my boy Vita Vea knows why.
6) Best memory from being a Buccaneer?
I would say obviously our championship year, a lot of trials and tribulations and ultimately winning that championship, bringing my kids into this world as champions, which was an amazing feat in itself. But ultimately, I mean, in the history books, first team EVER to win at home. Never been done before.
7) Why did you choose the University of Nebraska? You must have had other major schools trying to recruit you?
I did have many, many choices to go to other universities. But I chose Nebraska because of a great combination of one, historic football and being able to change that organisation, that university, to get back to its winning ways and days. And then also, most importantly, I knew I could graduate with my engineering degree from that university and play quality football. So, the best of both worlds.
8) How do you remain so calm and composed when playing such a physical game?
It is one of those gruelling sports. I worked with a sports psychologist, which I think every elite athlete should do. And if you don’t, then find your own ways and routine to be able to be mentally stable and focused at all times. I think that ultimately comes down to a solid routine, which is what I created, because not every single year, and especially in my later years, I didn’t need to work with a sports psychologist, but it was those ingrained tools that I used to be an elite athlete and stay calm and collected and also play on the edge.
9) Do you think another defensive player will ever win the Heisman?
My honest opinion is probably not. The Heisman is an offensive award, which is why they should just basically call it the best offensive player of the year, in my opinion. But, hey, to each their own. I think there’s been elite defensive players that have come throughout the years that had opportunities and chances. But you have to remember, the voters are a lot of offensive guys, primarily quarterbacks. So, who knows? We’ll see. Maybe the future holds something special for us.
10) Is there any past NFL player that you modelled your game after?
Reggie White. I wish I got to see him live in person, but I watched a lot of his film and took a lot of just his tactics and focus of how he was able to move across the line, play at an elite level and use different moves.
I would also probably say another top guy that I enjoyed watching was Julius Peppers. He was a dominant football player when I first came in the league and I loved watching his craft and the way he played at a high level, and very versatile. I think that’s something that I love being able to do is play any particular position, even stand up, and be a dominant force.
I’d say those two top guys right there and then, if I wanted to throw a third guy in there, Warren Sapp was one of those guys that did it at a high level, and really changed the three-technique position in that Tampa two defense.
11) What was with the beef with Aaron Rodgers?
I wouldn’t say I have any beef. He was just an opponent at the end of the day. And I’m assuming he has beef with me and doesn’t like me because I hit him so hard. And we ended up beating up on them, especially late in his career and late in my career. So, you got to ask him that question on me!
12) Aside from winning a Super Bowl, what is your favourite moment of your NFL career?
I think the best team that I ever played with and the closest team that I ever played with was Detroit Lions in the 2014 season. That defense as a whole was dominant. We set records, from the standpoint of best rush defense and we should have been the number one overall defense, but, for whatever reason, they gave it to Seattle I think, because they had a couple better passing yards than us.
But talk about setting an elite record, keeping people in 100 yards, rushing for the most part, pretty much every single game. And I think we had the most defensive line sacks, but it was a close-knit group, it was a special group. And we still got a group chat to this day.
13) How did your time in Detroit affect your perspective with regards to performing community service for those in need?
It affected me a lot. I got to be really ingrained to that community and still feel a close relationship with everybody there in Detroit and in the schools. And I still feel like I’m a fabric of that community.
At the end of the day, just being able to see such a blue collar, hardworking city and being immersed in it, it definitely changed my opinion and my focus of how I like to support people and be involved in the community and not just be all talk or all about money. They actually want to touch and feel you and be a part of them. So I take a lot of respect in my time, my energy that I spent with the community in Detroit. And I owe them a lot, for teaching me that.
14) Who is the best defensive coach you have had in your career?
It’s an interesting question. I will do you one better. I think the best defensive line coach that I ever had was Jim Washburn. And then the second best that was taught by Jim Washburn was Kris Kocurek, who is currently a defensive line coach for the 49ers. Jim Washburn is retired and enjoying himself in Tennessee, as he should. But, yeah, I think those were my two top coaches, and I’d put them 1A and 1B.
15) Given your long and successful career, what do you believe was the most significant factor in your longevity and consistent level of play?
I love this question. Having played a long and successful career and still able to play to this day if I wanted to, we’ll see. But I think the consistency and the longevity, that success comes from continuous hard work and dedication and determination and not being afraid of being different. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give kudos to my performance director and my physical therapist. I would obviously be remiss as well to not mention my wife and the way she takes care of myself, my kids and my surrounding family. She’s the ultimate backbone of my success. And I’ve said it many, many times before, I have not been a champion until my wife came into my life.
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