Only a few years after being scared to take a lick on the gridiron, Mack Strong (Brookstone School, Columbus, Ga.) entered UGA in 1989 having been recognized as the top prep running back in the state. For the next four seasons, he was used primarily as a blocking back while sharing the Bulldogs’ backfield with NFL draftees Rodney Hampton, Garrison Hearst, Terrell Davis, and Frank Harvey. Still, Strong managed to rush for more than 800 career yards, gain nearly 400 yards as a receiver, and score 10 touchdowns.
An undrafted free agent, Strong remarkably played fullback for 15 years with the Seattle Seahawks. No former Georgia player has ever played more seasons with a single NFL organization. His stint included Pro Bowl campaigns of 2005 and 2006. Since retiring from the league, he has remained in the state of Washington as a “transplant Northwesterner,” though still having Georgia on his mind.
UGASports caught up with Mack Strong from his home in Pullman, Washington:
UGASports: So you’ve remained in Washington since retiring from playing in the NFL?
Strong: Yes, after living in Georgia all my young life, including going to the University of Georgia. All my adult life has been out here in Washington. So, I kind of consider myself a transplant Northwesterner. I met my wife out here, we had our kids here, and I played my whole pro career out here, so it just made sense to remain. In fact, my mom and my sister moved out here. I’ve made Washington my home, although I always try to get back to Georgia as much as I can.
UGASports: We read that you nearly quit playing football when you were in high school. Is that right?
Strong: Before playing football for the first time as a freshman in high school, I had played soccer for years, so I guess I wasn’t used to playing football. I started the last few varsity games as a freshman and just wasn’t used to playing against guys older and more experienced than me. Football wasn’t quite what I thought it’d be. I didn’t like getting hit—and that’s a problem in football (laughing). I told my coach, William “Chico” Lynch, that I thought I was done playing the sport. He responded by saying that if I wanted an opportunity to go to college and have it paid for, I had a chance to do so with football and for me to not give in. I’m so grateful I didn’t give up. Even today, when I speak to him, I tell Coach Lynch that his words change the trajectory of my life.
UGASports: When did you realize that you could go from almost quitting football to playing the sport at the college level?
Strong: When Brookstone faced Lincoln County for the state championship my junior year (1987). Although we ended up losing [19 to 14] right at the end, that game kind of put us on the map. Lincoln County was really good and had three guys who would later be standout teammates of mine at Georgia: Garrison Hearst, DeWayne Simmons, and Curt Douglas. Although Brookstone is a private/college preparatory school, that game gave me and a couple of my teammates exposure while inspiring me, since it made me feel like I could hang with top-notch talent and play at the next level (college).
UGASports: Why did you decide to attend Georgia, and were there any other schools you highly considered?
Strong: It came down to signing with either Georgia or Georgia Tech. Tech was obviously a great school academic-wise, and it felt like a good place for me future-wise (professionally), as well. Also, my best friend, Derek Goshay, a year older than me, was a tight end for Tech, so the opportunity to play with Derek to see what we could accomplish at the next level was enticing. But when it came to Georgia, I'd been a Bulldog fan all my life. Herschel Walker had been a hero and inspiration of mine. Also, Georgia had been the first school to offer me a scholarship, and that meant a lot to me. So in the end, the fact I'd grown up a Bulldogs fan, and they were the first to offer me a full scholarship, persuaded me to go to Georgia.
UGASports: Why did you, a highly touted tailback/running back, get moved to play fullback for Georgia?
Strong: (Laughing) It’s interesting. I think that was the plan all along after I signed my letter of intent. I remember reading an article which said something like, Georgia had signed me as a tailback but would likely move me to fullback—and I was like, Whoa! After playing both tailback and fullback as a freshman, I was told going into spring ball my sophomore year that I’d be tried exclusively at fullback, because it was my best opportunity to get on the field and contribute. After that spring, I was told I could make the decision of either being Georgia’s third-string tailback, or I could be the starting fullback. Really, it was a no-brainer at that point, and I essentially played only fullback for the rest of my football career.
UGASports: Apparently, you found Georgia “challenging” upon you entering college and playing football?
Strong: I was coming from a small school and going to a large university with a big-time football program—and I hadn’t made all the best decisions as a young man coming into college. I was also still pretty young when I got to Georgia. When we played Baylor to start the 1989 season, the school needed permission from my parents for me to play, since I was just 17 years old. I had a lot of personal stuff I was going through while I was at Georgia for the first year or so. On the field, we went .500 my first year (6-6), followed by the 1990 team being the first Bulldog team in years to not go to a bowl. After that, the coaching staff was shaken up. I didn’t necessarily handle all the challenges particularly well. But those things often happen to young men—and you either learn from those challenges, or you don’t.
UGASports: After the Bulldogs displayed a rather stagnant I-formation offense in 1990, they decided to make a major change and go to more of a pro-style attack the next season. How did this change specifically influence you?
Strong: Wayne McDuffie, who was a tough-as-nails coach, was hired in 1991 as the new offensive coordinator. With his offense, for one, the terminology changed. The old fullback position was now the “running back,” whereas the tailback became the “scat back.” The vision of the new offense was that both the running back and scat back would be able to run the ball and catch it out of the backfield. Honestly, since I'd been recruited as a tailback, the new offense played right into my skill set. I could run the ball, catch the ball out of the backfield, and I was steadily getting better at blocking. The new offense really helped hone and showcase my skills to not only contribute to the team but help the chances I had to play pro ball.
UGASports: It was kind of ironic that Georgia’s new “passing” offense featured some exceptional running backs and scat backs in 1991 and 1992, huh?
Strong: Coach McDuffie was good at getting the most out of talented players, and we had some really talented backs my junior and senior seasons. As a senior in 1992, our backfield was very special. In fact, I really think we had one of the most talented backfields ever that year. There was Garrison Hearst, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that season; Terrell Davis, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was Garrison’s backup; myself, and Frank Harvey, who would be drafted into the NFL. We could all run the ball, catch it, block. Together, we were an extraordinary bunch.
UGASports: Looking back on your UGA career, what individual games stand out to you?
Strong: My freshman year, it was really good being on a team that beat Florida [17-10], when the Gators had Emmitt Smith and an excellent defense. After that, there was the long drought for us in the series. (Beginning in 1990, Florida defeated Georgia seven consecutive times, and 13 of their next 14 meetings.) The first game of my senior year at South Carolina, I had my only 100-yard [rushing] game while at Georgia. That season, I suffered an MCL sprain at Kentucky, keeping me out of the Florida and Auburn games, before I returned for Georgia Tech. To play my last home game my senior year and to defeat Tech [31-17] was significant. Also, my final game was playing in the Citrus Bowl and beating Ohio State [21-14]—and who knows the number of pros the Buckeyes had on that team!
UGASports: Although not selected in the NFL Draft, were you still confident that you could play in the league?
Strong: I knew of my skill set and what I brought to the table, and just really felt like I could play at the next level if given the opportunity. Although the ’93 draft was the first with reduced rounds (12 rounds reduced to eight in 1993, before seven rounds beginning in 1994), not getting drafted was definitely disappointing. Still, I look back on it, and everything turned out the way it was supposed to be. So, me going out to play for Seattle as an undrafted rookie free agent was definitely the best thing for me—the absolute best. All I had known was Georgia and the South, and, honestly, I wanted a fresh start. I wanted to see if I could make a life and name for myself somewhere else. I didn’t know anything about Seattle or the Seahawks. So, I had no idea how the move would turn out, but I was like, let’s try it! I looked at Seattle’s roster and thought they might be a little light at my position, so I thought I might have a chance to make the team. It ended up working out for me.
UGASports: Mack, from being a two-time Pro Bowler to playing in Super Bowl XL, you certainly accomplished a lot in the NFL playing for Seattle. Still, in the day of free agency and shortened careers, what is perhaps most notable is that you were in the NFL for 15 seasons, all with a single team yet under three different Seahawk head-coaching regimes.
Strong: I look back on it, and it was a definite blessing. I was blessed with the ability to play professional football. But what I specifically did—and I talk to young players in the league, especially the undrafted, about this—was I stayed hungry. The thing that will help you stay in the league and give you a long career is if you stay hungry.
When I came into the NFL undrafted, I was already behind the eight ball. Even after I made the team, it was probably about five years before I felt like, whether it had been true or not, Seattle wasn’t trying to get rid of/replace me. That just made me hungry. After that, having established myself with the team and in the league, I still came into year 10, year 15—you name it—unsatisfied, not complacent, and taking nothing for granted. I never let the thought of “having it made” enter my mind, and it forced me to work hard every year. Each year, I tried to add something new and different to my workout routine to be a better player and asset to the Seahawks.
UGASports: Please tell us about your family.
Strong: I met my wife, Zoe, in 1994, and we got married in 1998. Zoe is a professor in educational psychology at Washington State University. We have two teenage boys: 18-year-old Isaiah and 15-year-old Evan. They both play football. In fact, after playing at Pullman High School, Isaiah committed to play at the University of Washington this past winter. Evan attends and plays at Pullman High.
UGASports: What have you been doing professionally since retiring from the NFL?
Strong: I have my own non-profit organization, TEAM-WORKS, or the Mack Strong Team-Works Foundation. It’s a unique youth development program, where we help kids develop strong minds, strong bodies, and strong character. My wife and I started it in 2002. Outside of that, I became one of the original consultants for the NFL Legends Community beginning in 2013. There are 22 consultants/directors—all former NFL players—across the country. I’m the director of the Pacific West region. Our goal is to embrace, celebrate, and educate the great men who have played in the NFL by highlighting their careers. We make sure they receive the benefits and resources they need.
UGASports: What’s your current association with the UGA football program, if any at all, considering you live more than 2,500 miles from Athens?
Strong: I’ve gone back to a few games, and I try to stay connected and talk with former teammates through social media platforms. Once I went out to Seattle, that became everything about my life. Obviously, UGA has given me a lot, so I do want to come back more often and be more engaged and connected to the school. I still follow the Bulldogs closely, and it’s been fun watching them through the years and all the success they’ve achieved, especially the last few seasons. I miss my time at Georgia. I enjoyed my teammates and all my friends who were there. Those were some good days—some real good times—and I miss that, for sure.
