By Leslie Gibson McCarthy
A few months before the start of this NFL season, Steven Jackson was given the job of number- one running back for the St. Louis Rams. That wouldn’t be all that newsworthy—if the back he was replacing hadn’t been a future Hall of Famer and NFL legend named Marshall Faulk.
Jackson is more of a power running back than a finesse player like Faulk. Yet many at Rams Park believe that Jackson, whose trademark dreadlocks flow from his helmet when he breaks into a run, is well on his way to becoming a bona fide NFL star. St. Louis Magazine caught up with him at the start of the season.
Do you feel any pressure, replacing an NFL legend? No, I don’t feel any pressure at all. The pressure was getting into the NFL. Now that I’m here, I feel all I have to do is do what I do best, and that’s be a natural athlete— so replacing Mar- shall Faulk is no pressure for me.
What is the most valuable piece of advice Faulk has given you? Last year, when I was a rookie, he advised me to play the game the way I know how to play it and to just trust and believe in my abilities and instincts.
What’s the biggest difference between being a rookie and being in your second season? Maybe knowing what’s going on. I’ve been through a year of the NFL, I’ve been through training camp and meetings, and I know how long the season’s going to be. I know how to prepare myself to get through the year instead of just going into it blindly. So how did you prepare for this season differently than you did last summer? Really, it was just my mindset. As a rookie, you’ve never been through the grueling schedule that we have to go through in the NFL. You have to play 16 regular-season games and four preseason games, and if you go to the playoffs you have another four to get to the Super Bowl. For a guy coming out of college, that’s two seasons in one. The NFL gives a pounding to the body. You have to learn how to take care of yourself and pace yourself through the season. Your home is in Las Vegas. What are the big differences be- tween Las Vegas and St. Louis? This city isn’t as bright and alive as Las Vegas is. Las Vegas is more of a tourist spot, but we don’t have any pro teams to call our own. In Vegas, you can do things 24 hours a day; St. Louis is more family-oriented. I don’t have a family, so I’m still adjusting.
What’s a typical Sunday morning for you when there’s a home game at the Dome? I lie in bed until the last minute possible so I can get up and arrive at the stadium. I’m a homebody. I haven’t found any particular spots that I enjoy going to ... at least not yet.
Who does your dreadlocks in St. Louis? That was one of the first things I asked about when I came ... I have a young lady located in the Loop named Katie who does my hair. A couple of the guys recommended her.
What St. Louis attractions have you had a chance to visit? I’ve been to the Arch; I took the Anheuser-Busch tour. I’ve done a couple of St. Louis things.
What’s good about working in St. Louis? The weather’s not too bad. You get all the seasons. The summer’s not too gruesome. I’ve played in Vegas, and it’s extremely hot there, so the weather’s fine. I enjoy the winter here. I’ve never been around snow before, so Christmas has a different meaning to me.
What do you do to kick back and relax before a game? Keep the legs fresh and try to stay off them as much as possible.
What is one thing about you that people would be surprised to know? Maybe that I’m a quiet, self-motivated kind of guy. The biggest thing that brings me joy is seeing other people be happy because of my talents and my capabilities.
Any advice for a boy who wants to be an NFL player? First, to make sure he gets an education—not only to learn about football but to learn about life, because there are no guarantees. You always want to have yourself a plan A and a plan B. It’s all in what you want to do, because anything is possible.
A lot of kids in St. Louis are wearing Marshall Faulk jerseys. How long before they start asking for Steven Jackson jerseys? I’m surprised they haven’t asked for one yet.
