Wabash College’s most decorated athlete Pete Metzelaars entertained a Thursday Chapel Talk crowd with stories from his 16 years as an NFL player. It was the final Chapel Talk of the 2010-2011 school year.
Metzelaars ‘82, who now serves as the Indianapolis Colts offensive line coach, spent 16 seasons as a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions. He was a key contributor to the Bills run of four straight Super Bowl appearances, 1991-1994.
He started off by giving every football fan what they wanted to hear. “At some point we are going to have an NFL season this year,” he began. “Right now everything seems to be swinging toward the players' favor. Owners could end up with a similar deal to the one they just got out of.”
He shared his hopes the Colts would draft an offensive lineman for him to coach and then turned to a few questions and answers.
He spent time talking about the adjustment from Division III football to professional football filled with Division 1 players. He credited the late Economics Professor Steve Schmutte as one of his biggest Wabash influences along with basketball coach Mac Petty.
Metzelaars led the 1982 Little Giant Basketball team to the Division III National Championship. The ability to play both football and basketball, along with outstanding academics is what led him to Wabash.
“I played 16 seasons in the NFL and now have coached eight seasons,” he said. “I’m approaching 51 years old so it’s been “a dream come true for a kid from Three Rivers, Michigan.”
He talked about being benched, being cut the the Panthers, and the ups and downs of an NFL career. He said the biggest highlight was sharing the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl win with his two sons and wife.
Metzelaars encouraged the students to show up every day, “work hard, and do everything you can do and it’s amazing what you can achieve.”
The full video of Metzelaars talk will be available later today on the Wabash College YouTube Channel.
