{"id":35866,"date":"2017-12-29T16:45:54","date_gmt":"2017-12-29T21:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=35866"},"modified":"2021-03-20T11:11:38","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T15:11:38","slug":"catching-up-former-saints-linebacker-jo-lonn-dunbar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/12\/29\/catching-up-former-saints-linebacker-jo-lonn-dunbar\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching Up With Former New Orleans Saints Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an important player in the New Orleans Saints 2009 Super Bowl title run, Jo-Lonn Dunbar<\/a><\/strong> cherishes his journey. A combination of hard work, natural God-given talent and a little bit of fate led him to immortality on February 7, 2010 as a member New Orleans’ sole championship. Despite a hamstring injury during the week 13 contest against the Washington Redskins, Dunbar’s contributions helped the New Orleans Saints reach the unthinkable plateau.<\/p>\n

Catching Up With Former New Orleans Saints Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar<\/a><\/h2>\n

I had the opportunity to speak with Jo-Lonn Dunbar about the path through his football life, some off-the-field topics and his future. Here is how the interview went.<\/p>\n

At what age did you realize you were a better player than your peers?<\/h3>\n

“That had to be in the ninth grade. I was playing junior varsity football one week, and the next week I was playing varsity football, starting and actual playing. So I think at that time I figured I must be a little better than the kids my age.”<\/p>\n

Playing high school football in the Syracuse area, did you have aspiration to play for Syracuse University?<\/h3>\n

“Actually, that\u2019s who I wanted to play for. I wanted to go right from Corcoran [High School] to Syracuse University. Me and Coach Pasaualoni didn\u2019t see eye to eye. He wanted me to play fullback I was not trying to play fullback. I would play running back or play linebacker but not fullback. He didn\u2019t budge. I didn\u2019t budge. That\u2019s how we had that mutual split I guess.”<\/p>\n

What led you to ultimately choose to play on the defensive side of the ball?<\/h3>\n

“That wasn\u2019t necessarily my choice either. I was at B.C. (Boston College) playing running back my first year there and I was red-shirting and I kept getting a nudge from the defensive coordinator and the head coach ‘What about playing defense. What about playing defense.’ And before you know it I realized I’m not gonna play on the offensive side of the ball anytime soon. So I tried it out and I’ve been pretty good ever since.”<\/p>\n

Considering your success at Boston College, were you surprised you weren’t drafted?<\/h3>\n

“Heck yeah! That was one of the most surprising things that\u2019s happened to me in my life. I thought I was gonna get drafted since I played pretty well at B.C. I had All-ACC honors two or three years in a row. I figured I would be drafted. I don\u2019t know where, but I would be drafted. Draft day was certainly a tough day for me, one of the toughest days of my life. As you look back at it, it\u2019s just a moment in your life and doesn\u2019t define you as a player. And it doesn\u2019t define your success or failure. It was just a moment. It was just a day.”<\/p>\n

Can you describe the situation when the Saints called you?<\/h3>\n

“I was with my mom and a couple of my buddies. Later on that night I got a few phone calls. It was New Orleans, Arizona, and I think maybe Indy. So I got a few phone calls. We were going back and forth. My agent and I basically decided between New Orleans and Arizona. I got a good deal from New Orleans. I figured I could probably get down there and play. I think that was the year after Arizona went to the Super Bowl. They were a pretty good defense and had some players, so I kinda took the path of least resistance on that one. It proved to be the right decision. I don\u2019t think they made the playoffs after that. And things went well after that in New Orleans. I think in the end, I won that decision.”<\/p>\n

Where did the inspiration for the ‘Crazy Dance’ come from?<\/h3>\n

“I’m pretty close with my little cousins Ronnie And Jerrod and they would always come up with little things for me to do if I made a play.\u00a0 They actually came up with that. I’m not sure which one did. We\u2019re like brothers and that\u2019s the first thing that came to my mind. Its been kind of an inside joke for the family ever since. If you watch that play in slow motion (Dunbar’s famous block versus the Vikings during a Reggie Bush<\/a><\/strong> punt return touchdown), that guy was parallel to the ground.”<\/p>\n

Describe the polarity of the thrill of winning a Super Bowl and the frustration of not being able to play in that Super Bowl due to injury.<\/h3>\n

“You’re always happy because you’re part of it. As a competitor, you want to be playing. That\u2019s just the way the cookie crumbles. As a teammate, knowing what you put into it to help the team get there, you have to take that into account and enjoy the moment. That\u2019s something that Will Smith<\/a><\/strong>, Charles Grant<\/a><\/strong>, Jonathan Goodwin<\/a><\/strong> and even Joe Vitt<\/strong> kept in the forefront of my mind at that point in time because I was really not happy about not playing.\u00a0 But I pulled my hamstring in that Washington game, close to the end of the season. I wasn\u2019t gonna be able to play until the second or third round of the playoffs, and who knows if you’re gonna make it that far. We needed a roster spot and so it was kind of a situational thing. Sean [Payton]<\/strong>\u00a0explained that to me. I can\u2019t complain.”<\/p>\n

What stands out to you most from the Super Bowl run in 2009?<\/h3>\n

“There\u2019s a lot. The battles against Atlanta, that play that [Robert] Meachem<\/strong> made in Washington, the play that [Jonathan] Vilma<\/strong> made in Washington and the end \u2013 the interception to seal it. There\u2019s a lot of big plays that come into account. That NFC Championship game was probably the most physical game I\u2019ve ever seen in my life. Here\u2019s a lot of things that came into play during that season that were memorable. I\u2019m guessing its memorable because you’re on that kind of run, but its also memorable because of that team. Those guys are class acts. There are guys that I\u2019m still friends with to this day, and we all talk and laugh and still see each other once in a while.”<\/p>\n

Which Saints players are you closest with?<\/h3>\n

“Before Will\u2019s passing, I was certainly close to Will [Smith]<\/strong>. Will and I grew up 20 minutes away from each other, and I\u2019ve known him since I was 14 years old. Without a doubt, him and his wife. I still speak to his wife once in a while and their children. Outside of that, it would be Jonathan Vilma<\/a> and Sedrick Ellis<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

How would you compare the 2009 and 2011 Saints?<\/h3>\n

“One was luckier than the other. I think everything comes down to timing and a little bit of luck. In \u201909, we were really lucky in terms of catching breaks. 2009, we got a lot of interceptions, a lot of turnovers. I think that\u2019s the difference. 2011, we were just a nasty defense. I think we were a top-10 defense, just a nasty defense. ”<\/p>\n

Are you officially retired?<\/h3>\n

“I\u2019m not, but I\u2019m not gonna play ball anymore. My playing days are over.”<\/p>\n

Throughout your life, who\u00a0 has been most influential in helping you reach the level of success you have reached?<\/h3>\n

“There\u2019s a few. My mother is super competitive and has been very supportive my whole life. My grandmother, again, super-supportive. I think every level of football, every coach had influence on me. There was some point in time where I was pushed by each of them. Then when I got to the NFL, playing with Gregg [Williams]<\/strong>\u00a0and Blake [Williams]<\/strong>\u00a0was a blessing. It\u2019s been a blessing having all of them as coaches and friends. Each coach got me to play a little better at each level. I\u2019m definitely appreciative of their effort and how much they cared about me.”<\/p>\n

Who were your favorite players growing up?<\/h3>\n

“I was actually a Cowboys fan and a Broncos fan, so Emmitt Smith<\/a> <\/strong>and Terrell Davis<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 This is back when I was a running back.”<\/p>\n

Is there one quarterback you were especially happy to sack?<\/h3>\n

“Nah, they\u2019re all the same. When you get one, you get one. That\u2019s all that mattered to me.”<\/p>\n

Who was the toughest guy you ever played with\/against?<\/h3>\n

“The toughest guy I ever played with? It probably goes back to Vilma and Will Smith<\/a><\/strong>. One of the toughest guys I ever played against? It would probably be Adrian Peterson<\/a><\/strong> or Marshawn Lynch<\/strong><\/a>. Every time they touch the ball, they\u2019re bruisers. It was fun to play against them.\u00a0That\u2019s exactly what I would have been. That\u2019s exactly what I was in high school.”<\/p>\n

What player was the biggest motivator in the Saints locker room?<\/h3>\n

“We didn\u2019t have many rah-rah guys. Maybe Gregg Williams. Gregg Williams was the motivator. He would always motivate you to play that much better. If I had to pick a player, it would probably be Drew [Brees]<\/strong>. Drew definitely tries to get the best of all of us as players. He has a certain sense of leadership and motivation, so I\u2019d say Drew Brees<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

Do you have future aspirations to coach?<\/h3>\n

“I was coaching in Cleveland. Blake [Williams]<\/strong>\u00a0called me a few days ago and asked me if I wanted to get back into coaching in Cleveland next year. I\u2019m not sure. It\u2019s something that I\u2019ve dabbled in and I\u2019ve thought about. If the family situation is right and I can do it, good. If not, I\u2019m pretty content doing what I\u2019m doing now.”<\/p>\n

What’s it like seeing yourself in a Madden video game?<\/h3>\n

“It\u2019s a dream come true. It\u2019s something you always thought about. The first time you get the game, you literally only play as yourself. I went through that phase for a while, which was great. Then you just start enjoying the game, but it\u2019s surreal to see and be a part of.”<\/p>\n

Describe the moments you’d see a fan with your jersey on.<\/h3>\n

“It\u2019s all cool as hell.\u00a0 I remember when I was in New Orleans, if I see a Dunbar jersey, I\u2019m stopping this guy. I\u2019m stopping him and I\u2019m talking to him for a few minutes. I did that in New Orleans and in St. Louis.”<\/p>\n

Any concerns about the long-term affects of head trauma?<\/h3>\n

“Absolutely. The science behind it says that it\u2019s real. That\u2019s something that, as a player, is certainly in the back of your mind. Thank God I haven\u2019t experienced anything like that and hopefully I don\u2019t, but that\u2019s certainly something that has to be going through your mind both as a player while you\u2019re playing and after your playing days are over.”<\/p>\n

Thank you Jo-Lonn Dunbar for the time, and for helping bring the Lombardi trophy to the city of New Orleans.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:Embed from Getty Images<\/a>