Honesty. Integrity. The basic fundamentals. You have to live by those yourself. To me that was the most important thing. It was to lead by example. – Ron Jaworski

Art Eddy: I love the passion you have for breaking down film for ESPN. You had to do that when you were playing in the NFL as a quarterback. I can see your attention to detail as you break down film. How long does it take you on average to break down a game and prep up for a new matchup?

Ron Jaworski: It all depends on the magnitude of the game. There are some games that I will go through pretty quickly. I can go through both sides of the ball in an hour. There are some games like a game of the week type of thing as the season moves on that I might spend more time on.

Throughout the week I will spend 30 to 40 hours a week studying tape. I try to base my comments on what the tape shows me. Using my 27 years as an NFL analyst and my 17 years as an NFL quarterback. That is a lot of time of tape study. You develop a pretty good pro forma of what it takes to be successful in the NFL. I believe that the tape is the way to go for me. I enjoy that part of it. It can be very boring at times. To me that is the backbone of what I do as a tape study guy.

AE: You started your career with the Rams. What do you remember the most from your first start as an NFL quarterback?

RJ: (Laughs.) That was a long time ago. My rookie years was in 1973 with the Los Angeles Rams. It is crazy how things are embedded in your mind. We played a preseason game at the LA Coliseum. It was the LA Times charity game. There was about 104,000 people in the stands. I came out of Youngstown State. We had about 5,000 people at our games.

There was a play that was coming to our sideline. We had a linebacker by the name of Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. I found out why he had that name. When that Browns running back got to the hash mark Jack hit him. He ended up in our bench area. I think if they had a picture of my face it would have been like oh my God. This is the NFL. This is how they hit. This is the real deal. I remember that specific play very vividly. It was an eye-opener of what it looks like to play in the NFL. Thank goodness I was able to last 17 years.

AE: Do you like the way the NFL has evolved since the time you were playing in the league?

RJ: I applaud Commissioner Rodger Goodell. I think he understood the changes needed to be made in the game. The concussions, the injuries, and all the things that make the game so difficult to play. I think the commissioner understood that he needed to protect the players because quite honestly we couldn’t protect ourselves. The vicious hits, the late hits, the leading with the crown of the helmet, and launching. All of those things like a defenseless player catching the football or running the football.

With all of those things I think the commissioner had a pretty good understanding that he needed to do something to make these careers longer. Although it really hasn’t happened. Careers are getting shorter. I think it is because of the caliber and talent of the players coming in more than injuries. I think that the commissioner knew that he needed to protect the players. He went about it and made changes. I think the game is better because of it.

AE: You are part owner and team president of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Congrats on going back to back as defending champs. What got you involved into the Arena Football League?

RJ: We got our first team here in Philadelphia in 2004, but I have been involved year before that. I never had enough money to buy an NFL team. Very few people do, but I was always intrigued by sports ownership. An arena team became available. At that time Jon Bon Jovi was my business partner along with a few other businessmen in the Philadelphia area. We bought the team.

I love the game. I love the players. The league continues to do well. We have been around 30 years. There is some expansion on the horizon in the Arena Football League. All and all the future of league looks great. It does not only give an opportunity for players to play, but it gives coaches an opportunity. It gives administrators a chance as well as athletic trainers. It puts people to work. You mentioned winning back to back championships. I can tell you it is just as hard to win in the Arena Football League as it does in the NFL. I am very thankful for our players and coaches.

AE: What were some of the first few thoughts that popped into your mind when you found out that you were going to be a dad?

RJ: It was pretty exciting. My daughter is forty now. I still remember it very well. At that time it was the offseason. We were living up in Buffalo. It was at Buffalo General Hospital where she was born. It was very, very exciting.

It is even exciting now seeing my daughter have their son. My son have his son. I have another daughter that is going to get married very soon in a few months. I am excited about that about that opportunity to see my next grandson or granddaughter be born. I will tell you that you remember all of those things. They are embedded in your mind forever.  

AE: What were some of the core values you looked to instill in your kids as they were growing up?

RJ: Honesty. Integrity. The basic fundamentals. You have to live by those yourself. To me that was the most important thing. It was to lead by example. You can’t just tell people how to be or how to act or what they should do. If you set an example your kids will your kids will follow. I have always believed in that part of leadership. Lead by being a good example.

AE: What advice do you have for new dads?

RJ: Teach your kids that there are no short cuts. Hard work will get you to where you want to go.

AE: Do you guys have a favorite family movie that you all love to watch together?

RJ: The most film that I watch is football film. I don’t know when the last time I saw a movie. I have seen very few movies quite honestly. I would say the movie I really saw was Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School. That was a long time ago.

AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing to or dance to as a family?

RJ: The song that resonates with our family is On The Way To Cape May. We still have a place in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. We have been going to the Jersey shore ever since I came to play in Philadelphia in 1977. I can still remember the drive down with the kids in the back in the minivan. That song always seemed to be on.

AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.

RJ: I am a big Disney guy. I love when our family goes to Disney. It is about as good as it gets. It is for every one of all ages. I am the biggest kid of them all.

AE: Favorite NFL player you like to watch the most this year is…

RJ: I will give you two. The way Kareem Hunt runs the football and the way Alex Smith has been throwing the football down the field. After watching the game in Week 1 I immediately projected the Kansas City Chiefs in as a Super Bowl contender.

AE: Best thing about being a grandfather over a father is….

RJ: Oh there is no doubt. You give them back to your kids when they go home. (Both laugh.) You give the grandkids back. They leave. (Laughs.)

About Ron Jaworski

After a 17 year distinguished career as an NFL quarterback, today Jaworski is coaching football fans on TV with a multiplatform NFL analyst role that includes appearances on Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, and other platforms and shows throughout the year. Jaworski’s passion for football can be traced back to his days as a kid growing up in the gritty steel town of Lackawanna, NY.

A three-sport stand out in high school (football, basketball and baseball), Jaworski was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of high school. He wanted to go play baseball immediately, but his father pushed for college first, and Jaworski’s football talents brought him to Youngstown State where he excelled as the quarterback for the Penguins.

The Los Angeles Rams drafted Jaworski in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft. After four years with the Rams, Jaworski joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1977. Under head coach Dick Vermeil and behind Jaworski’s ability and field leadership, the Eagles advanced to their first-ever berth in a Super Bowl vs. the Oakland Raiders. Jaworski finished the 1980 season as the No. 1-rated passer in the NFC and was the 1980 NFL MVP.

Today, Jaworski lives in Southern New Jersey and is civically active. Jaworski is committed to the Jaws Youth Playbook, which focuses on a mission to improve the overall health and wellness of at-risk youth, primarily in the Greater Philadelphia Region. To date, the Jaworski family is proud to have donated over $4 million to at-risk youth.

Ron owns an exclusive business development company called Business Clubs America as well as owning four Signature Golf courses in South Jersey- RiverWinds Golf & Tennis Club, Valleybrook Country Club, Running Deer Golf Club, Blue Heron Pines, Downington Country Club, and Ramblewood Country Club.

Jaworski also serves as the President of the Maxwell Football Club, Co-Majority Owner of the Philadelphia Soul and sits on the boards of PNC Bank and NFL Alumni Association.

The South Jersey Chamber of Commerce awarded Jaworski the Pinnacle Award for his outstanding volunteer work and longtime service to South Jersey Chamber & business community. The United Way honored Jaworski with their Volunteer Leadership Award, the highest award given by United Way.

Jaworski is married to his high school sweetheart Liz; has three children, Joleen, Jessica and BJ, and three grandsons Ryan, Colin & Andrew.

Follow Ron on Twitter at @jawsespn and go to his website at ronjaworski.com.