Terrell Owens
The Star Athlete, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist opens up about his childhood, professional career, and about the person who inspired him the most.
By Dina Morrone
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Alexander City, Alabama. It’s a very small-town south of Birmingham, north of Montgomery.
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The economy of the town was mainly the textile industry. There was one big textile manufacturing company founded in Alexander City in 1902 named Russell Manufacturing Co., and pretty much everyone – I would say 90% of the citizens – worked there. My grandmother, uncle, and next-door neighbors, all worked there. During the 1960s, their athletic apparel and uniform division was the largest marketer and manufacturer in the country. They made jerseys for the NFL, major league baseball, pro basketball, high school jerseys for schools all over the country, T-shirts, sweats, and pretty much all sports attire.
What were you like as a young boy?
I was a typical kid doing many things you’re probably not supposed to be doing and getting into a bit of trouble too. You know the usual scenario – you feel pressured by other kids and older boys, and sometimes you do things that are a little mischievous.
Who has been the most inspirational person in your life?
My mom had four boys at a young age, and my dad was not present, so I was raised by both my grandmother and my mom. I would have to say that my grandma has been my inspiration. Sometimes it was tough love. But looking back on it now, I appreciate the tough love she showed me. I’m grateful for how I was raised because if I didn’t have that in my life at that time, and all that she instilled in me, the discipline, the disciplinarian that she was, and her teachings, then I don’t think I would be the person I am today. I look at how productive I am and have been and how I conducted myself despite the perception of who I am, based on what I did when I played football. I think people judge me on my character based on misinformation and the media’s wrong portrayal of me as a person. But, as I said, I am proud of how my grandmother raised me. She is my inspiration.
You have had an outstanding football career. If you could do it all over again, re your football career, what would you do differently and why?
That’s a good question, and I’ve often thought about that. I think the way I’ve conducted myself, the way I went about things, and even now, I see that people are starting to assess this current era of athletes versus when I played, and a lot of people are now saying that I was way ahead of my time. I was outspoken. I was different. But I didn’t do anything illegal.
Because I am a black man, a black athlete, and outspoken, I stood up for myself and didn’t allow people to dictate and try to pigeonhole me into doing things or forcing me to conform to certain rules. So, I don’t think I would do anything different in that regard. If there were anything I would do differently, I would take a more proactive approach to how I played football to become a better receiver and player.
The training, nutrition, and the things athletes are doing now, the cutting-edge ways to optimize their performance, we didn’t have those available back then. I did get into all that towards the middle to the end of my career. If I really applied myself that way and took the off-season to train and do on-the-field stuff to enhance my skill set as a receiver, I would have been a better receiver. Those are things I didn’t prioritize.
Did you always dream of a career as a football player, playing in the National Football League?
No, I didn’t. I was a kid who loved the sport and played several sports in high school, but football found me. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a professional football player in the NFL. My dream was to play for the University of Alabama. There are two prominent Universities in Alabama, Auburn and the University of Alabama. Because I was so sheltered by my grandmother who didn’t let us do a lot, I didn’t even know Auburn was only 45 minutes from me until years later. And so, when I got recruited to go to UT Chattanooga and received a scholarship, I really didn’t know where I was going. I thought I was going to UT Knoxville. That’s how clueless I was to the football world and anything about football as it related to my being recruited. I didn’t have many offers coming out of high school because I didn’t feel I was a four or five-star athlete. And clearly, that was the case because I was smack dab near two of the main universities in Alabama, and neither recruited me.
Did you watch football games on television?
I watched college games back when Bo Jackson was playing at Auburn, and running backs like Bobby Humphrey, Siran Stacy, and Gene Stallings, were playing for Alabama. So, for me, it was simple. I just hoped I could one day make it to play for Alabama. That would have been equivalent to a kid dreaming of playing in the NFL.
Besides your athleticism, what pushed you to achieve great success in the sports?
Well, as I mentioned, coming out of high school, I didn’t think I had the ability to play at the collegiate level. And yet to know what I know now and to look back on what I have accomplished, to have played at Chattanooga for four years and then drafted in the third round ’89 pick, and then played 15 years professionally and ultimately landing in the Hall of Fame, honestly, I don’t have any words for how that makes me feel. All I know is that I am incredibly grateful for all of it.
Several companies, from real estate to trucking companies, now bring me in to speak to them about how an athlete’s mindset can apply to their workers or their job. I tell them about my three Ds: desire, dedication, and discipline. I don’t think I would have made it as far as I did, especially not having dreams or aspirations of playing in the NFL without the three Ds. The three Ds are what helped me to make it!
What do you do to stay grounded and focused?
My grandma, she always took us to church on Sunday. She talked to us about having faith in everything we do, believing in God, knowing where our blessings come from, and knowing that we’re not just waking up because an alarm clock goes off or somebody is waking us up every day. I’m grateful for her words and teachings because they have always stuck with me throughout my career.
Faith is belief in something that doesn’t seem possible. That could be related not just to athletics. It can help your personal, professional, and everyday life because everybody will have ups and downs.
There are going to be ebbs and flows of life. You will have trials and tribulations if you live long enough as you go through life. Your resolve is going to be tested—the test of life. As I said, there are some parallels between the game of football and how I lived my life. Those are some of the things that I’ve always kept with me.
One of my grandmother’s favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:13, “That I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My grandmother passed away in 2012. In 1996, she was diagnosed with dementia, and it progressed into stages of Alzheimer’s. My grandmother never knew what level of athlete I became early on. The year I got drafted was the year she got diagnosed with dementia. She really didn’t understand what professional football was or anything about it or how much money was involved.
What was your first big purchase after signing to play pro football?
The first thing I did was pay off our house. Anything that was debt-filled, I made sure to take care of all of that.
Besides the financial aspect, I did something that really meant a lot to me and still does today. I sent my grandmother a picture of me taken when I signed with the San Francisco 49ers. I had written a note on the picture. She was so proud of me and of that picture. She carried it everywhere she went. The day she passed, that photo was in her assisted living room. What I will always take with me is how she molded me into the person that I am proud to be despite the negative perception that has been out there about me from people who don’t know me due to the medias mischaracterizing me.
You are very active and involved with many Foundations and Charities. Please speak to us about this.
I’ve been involved with many Charities and Foundations over the years. However, I would like to highlight my involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association. I got involved because of my grandmother, who suffered from it. I didn’t know much about this disease, but once I got involved, I learned a lot. I began doing more research and started talking to different people about different drugs and medications to help slow the progress. I even spoke before Congress in 2000 to help bring awareness and try to increase funding for the disease.
I’ve done several PSAs, and I’m on several Memory Boards and Memory Walk Boards for a number of Alzheimer’s Associations in different cities. I vowed to do it and continue to do it for my grandmother.
In 2021, you were honored with the Most Valuable Philanthropist Award. What inspired you to move towards this path of giving?
Luke 12:48 says, “To whom much is given, much will be required.” We must realize our essential role in the world, especially as athletes, because we’re more than just athletes. We have a responsibility whether we want to have it or not. Sometimes we’re thrust into situations where we have to react. I don’t think there’s a handbook for being a humanitarian or philanthropic.
When you have the means, and you see people that are less fortunate than you, and you happen to be one of those people that were less fortunate at one time in your life, then it should be a no-brainer to be able to reach out and lend a hand to someone in need. That’s how I’ve always been, regardless of how people have chosen to see me.
I know how the media can sometimes thrust people into philanthropic situations to make them feel or make it seem like they’re doing the greatest things for humanity when it’s really not the case. For me, that’s a publicity stunt. I’ve never been that way and I don’t do anything for publicity.
People who really know me will tell you I’m a genuine person, a caring person, and anytime I can help someone in need, I will say to my friends, ‘If you ever need me, especially if I consider you a true friend, I’m going to help you even privately when I shouldn’t because I know God will bless me no matter what.’ I know my intentions are pure, and I’m doing it for the simple reason that that person needs help more than I need help.
Where do you feel most at home?
I don’t know if I’ve actually found a place where I feel most at home. Even at 48, I think I’m still trying to find myself. Home is where your heart is, who your true friends are, and with whom you surround yourself.
At some point, I would love to establish a relationship with someone and start to build a family. I’ve always yearned for that because I didn’t have that growing up. I’ve seen friends, and teammates, that lived the bachelor life, then got engaged, married, and now have beautiful families. Those are my aspirations! I want to find someone, establish a deep friendship, and have that friendship grow and transition into a lasting relationship.
Tell us about being a father.
Growing up without a father in the household, I missed out on a lot. I do think that factored heavily into how I lived my life as an adult and how I went about my life in personal relationships because I didn’t see that father figure role model growing up, so I didn’t know what to do and what not to do.
I now have kids, and being a father has been a test. Navigating through it all has allowed me to grow. But I know I probably haven’t been the best father I could have been thus far because I don’t live in the same household as my kids. Let’s say there was a lot of maturity and growth that I needed to have and be a part of, I love my kids very much. I have given them everything I could, not only from a financial standpoint but from the standpoint of trying to be active and present in their lives when permitted. And that’s what should be highlighted – when permitted!
Playing football in different cities made it difficult to be there for them or have that quality time I wanted. So, when I talk to them, I try to express that it’s more about quality than quantity. If I can spend quality time half the time, that trumps the amount of time I didn’t have with them.
Do you have a go-to place for peace and tranquility?
I’m at peace when I’m by myself. That’s how I define my moments of solitude,
being at peace. I’m used to being by myself and going through things independently.
Where do you get your inner strength?
Growing up, I had to be mentally tough. I was raised to grind it out. I witnessed two women, my grandmother, and my mother, doing it alone and taking care of everything! Having seen and experienced that is where I get a lot of my inner strength.
When I look back, I realize I must have been born with something inside me that refused to settle for average. I don’t know what it is, but I’m grateful I have it. Credit goes out to my grandmother for how she raised me—and also, going to church, and understanding that there’s a bigger picture, a higher being than just myself, and truly understanding that. Your foundation of who you are does start in the home. The individuals that raise you and teach you that’s a representation of how you’re going to be and how you’re going to be able to live your life as you grow older.
What part does Mental Health play in becoming a star athlete?
There is something to be said about athletes that become great athletes. But, unfortunately, that same mental fortitude that makes you become a great athlete is the same mental fortitude that prevents many people from becoming great.
That’s when I think mental health comes into play. Still, it’s a fine line between talking or discussing mental health awareness because you look at some of the greatest athletes that have gone through ups and downs. When you think about the great ones and hear them talk about those mental hurdles and those tough things, that’s what made them great.
Is there something you’ve never done before that you are looking forward to doing?
I want to go ziplining over a big ravine. That’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Also, I want to go to South Africa on a safari and see some animals up close. I’d also like to visit some of the most beautiful places in the world. I haven’t been on a vacation in nearly 10-plus years, but I’m going to the Maldives in a couple of weeks. It’s been on my bucket list, along with many other places like the Amalfi Coast, Bali, Fiji, Greece, Morocco, and Thailand.
Growing up, we didn’t have the luxury of going on vacations during the summer. When the school year began, I’d hear my peers in class or recess talking about vacations they took over the summer – Hawaii, Mexico, and many beautiful places. The only place we went to was Six Flags. That was considered a vacation.
What projects are you working on now?
One of the things people don’t know about me is that I’m very creative. Of course, some people may have noticed that I’m creative by watching some of my touchdown celebrations on the field!
In the last couple of years, I partnered with a friend, Carolin Taylor, and created my candle line called Loft81 Home – loft81home.com. My candles fragrances are created around my three pillars of success which are my three Ds: desire, dedication, and discipline.
What moves you?
Being around true authentic people. That’s what moves me.
We’ve all experienced tragedy and natural disasters, especially over the last three years of dealing with COVID. And, of course, social injustice, racial discrimination, and what happened to George Floyd. That was an eye-opener for many whose eyes may have been shut.
It took something like George Floyd’s murder to open America’s eyes and force many to see what has been, and is currently, happening under their noses.
I want to surround myself with genuine and like-minded people because, as we learn daily from things happening around us, there are some wicked people in this world.
For America to be the land of the free and one of the wealthiest countries, it’s astonishing to see how much tragedy we have been having on our soil. We’re killing our own people. If you look at some other countries, Japan, and other places, they have little to no death due to gun violence or things of that nature. Why is that? We are one the most powerful countries in the world, yet we’re dealing with senseless tragedies every day and that makes me sad.
Would you care to impart some inspiring words to young men who are struggling emotionally or physically and are trying to find themselves?
I would like to say to those boys that I was once like you. The important thing is never to give up or settle for average. We all have one life to live. It depends on how you choose to live your life, but you need to trust that we all have a purpose here on earth.
We covered a lot, but if there’s anything else that you’d like to share, please do.
My personality might confuse some people. The fact is that I like to be alone. But those who know me know I can also be outgoing and social. Sometimes I’m quiet. Sometimes I’m loud. Sometimes I have nothing to say, and sometimes I’m very outspoken. So, I read the room and react to the energy around me and adjust.
Also, I’m a huge basketball fan. Growing up, I was a Chicago Bulls fan and a fan of Michael Jordan, like many kids, in the late ’80s and early ’90s were. But I’m also a fan of a number of players and not just specific teams. I’m a fan of a lot of great athletes in the NBA and know some of those guys personally. I was fortunate to have been around Kobe Bryant, to have talked to him and to have seen how he evolved as an athlete.
I used both Kobe and Michael as inspiration for their relentless pursuit of greatness. I didn’t ever win championships, but when you talk about the pursuit of greatness, that’s what I was pursuing. It was unbeknownst to anybody when I was growing up because none of my high schools, coaches, or fellow players would have bet their life that I would one day go on and become a Hall of Famer playing football in the National Football League. It was just something about me that I worked in quietness. I worked behind the scenes, and I became great, unbeknownst to a lot of people.
Special Thanks to:
Terrell Owens
Stylist: Kyvon McFashion
Photography by:
JSquared Photography @j2pix
Location:
Richard Garnier Wellness center
and Wendy Wheaton
& Tommy Red P.
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