The Dave Pasch Podcast - James Conner

Cardinals Pro Bowl running back James Conner. We're gonna get into James story, talk with him about being a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma back in twenty fifteen, what it took to come back from that, what inspired him to then write a book about his story, his great twenty twenty one season when he was among the NFL leaders and touchdowns and went to his second Pro Bowl, and whether he can repeat that in twenty twenty two.

That's that's the standard. My mentality is do what he did last year and then so we'll also get into his new contract, the running back room, in his relationship with college teammate Aaron Donald, who's obviously one of the best players in the history of the NFL. A lot to talk about with James Conner, and we're going to discuss it all here over the next thirty minutes. We are presented by BETMGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos.

Get ready for football season like never before with bet MGM, an official partner of the Arizona Cardinal. Sign up today using code cards one thousand and get your first bet risk free up to one thousand dollars. Visit betmgm dot com for terms and conditions twenty one and over Arizona only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem called one eight hundred. Next step All right, time to hear from our guest this week,

Pro Bowl running back for the Arizona Cardinals, James Conner. Well, James, you have such an incredible story personally, professionally, and I want to get into all that, but let's start first with football. You signed a contract in the off season to stay here for multiple years. First of all, what did it mean to you to get that contract after coming here last year for the one year deal? And why did you want to stay here with the Cardinals it meant a lot to come back and you know,

get locked in for three more years. I just wanted to continue to build on what I did last year. And I kind of feel like what I had started, you know when I came here last year, I just feel like I had a fresh start, you know, felt brand new, like I said, and so I just wanted to continue to build on that. And so it meant a lot just to have a team believing you, you know, believing your talents and the person you are and so um yeah, and then just I feel like this organization

has everything we need to be successful. You know, everybody in the building, everybody's on the same page, and we're just you know, working day in and day out just to build something special here, and I just want to be a part of it. So yeah, it's just nice to have that. People leaving you. Obviously, you had played in other cities, so it's not like you only played in Pennsylvania, but you were in Pennsylvania for your life.

So and my wife spent a lot of her childhood and Lower Burrow, so very familiar with the Pittsburgh area. And I know you were born an Erie, which is north of Pittsburgh, but living here and being in the desert, how different is it for you? Uh yeah, it's a lot different, just the scenes, the views, all that, the mountains, the human the heat, the dry heat. Yeah, um yeah,

it's a lot different. But um, I think I needed it for my growth as a person, you know, just to come out here, coming across the country, be on my own and just uh just focused straight on football and just have new surroundings and all that. So I just felt like it was it was something needed for my growth as a person. And so yeah, obviously the desert is a lot different than Pennsylvania. Um, but I feel like I adapted well, I got embraced and uh

still rolling with it. And you know, it's nothing but love ever since. And you're a big family yet, right, So absolutely was it hard for you to be that far away? At times? It was? But um, you know it was that just came out here, you know it strictly business, you know, and uh and I just wanted to see it. I love I love to travel. Even though I'm huge on family, I still love to travel and experienced and see different things around the world. So for me to come out here was it was totally

different and now. It gives my family opportunity, you know, to come to games and to travel and for them to experience something new and see new scenes and the mountains and go for a hike, you know, and just just try new things. So it was needed for my growth. You had such an incredible year. How much of because look, you had been to the Pro Bowl before. In twenty eighteen, you had fifty five catches. I know everybody talked a lot about your receiving last year, but it's not like

you had improven yourself as a receiver. You did that in twenty eighteen. How much of your mindset last year was I want to prove to everybody who I am, what kind of player I am. How much of it was I'm just gonna do my thing, Like how much do you think about that when you're in a contract year, when you're on a new team and people aren't sure what the next step is for you. Everything was just based around a work and I feel like that's all

it was. I got some some some good role models and people who who I can can come and talk to, and they said, you know, you work hard, everything is gonna take care of yourself. And I feel like I had proved myself even when I was in Pittsburgh, So I never doubted myself as you know, as a football player or my talents. I always knew what I was capable of. So I just wanted to come in and work hard, to put my head down and just grind. And I knew that, um if I was you know,

coming into shape. You know, I always trusting my hands, my running ability, my past protection, and so I kind of was just looking for that opportunity, um and and the Cardinals gave me that opportunity, and so I just wanted to come in and uh, you know, I was still rehabbing off of a foot injury and everything so got tough at times, but I knew that was my work ethic, um and the talent that I already had, you know, just make the most of my opportunities that

I had. I think of a one handed catch that you made during the season, and you know everybody did it bother you when people kept saying, oh way, I didn't know that James Connor had great hands, because again, you had that year a few years ago where you caught you know, almost sixty passes. Yeah, that's every year

that's going to continue to happen every year. If I make some nice catches this year, people are gonna be like, I didn't know he could catch like, you know, because not everybody pays attention, you know, But that's the game of football, you know. You have to You have to prove yourself every day even of practicing, especially on game days. You know, they they judge you on what you've done

for him recently. So, um, you know, even though I caught passes years previous, you know, they not everybody was paying attention to it. So you just have to come in and improve yourself every day. I'm still going to try to prove myself even more in the passing game and the running game as a football player in general. So yeah, you just never stopped proving yourself in this league. You mentioned to me that there are some other guys that you relied on, Guys that you would talk to.

Who were some of those people in your life either outside of football or other players that you speak with. Uh, my family for sure, you know, my family definitely. Um, they always you know, whether I want to hear it or not, tell them telling me what I need to hear.

Um and just constantly instilling that confidence in me and just knowing what I'm capable of, and guys from around the league, Um, you know, guys like Aaron Donald's the guy from from Pitt that I got a chance to play with, and you know, he talking to me and and just knowing he said, you know, you take care of your football things. Everything else to take care of itself and stuff. So um, and that's one of the

hardest working guys I know. You know, so I just kind of like following that league, following that hard work pays off phrase and mentality, and it's been working for me. I remember doing some of your games for ESPN when you and Aaron were both at pitt. First of all, I think at the time you might have been bigger than Aaron. Well you're taller than for sure, yeah, yeah, yeah, and you played some defense. You were recruited to play defense there. What was the most you weighed when you

were at pet uh? The most, I wahed, I was two sixty. I was two sixty at Pitt. Uh. That was my sophomore year twenty fourteen. Um, you know, I was just I was happy to be there. Man. I was eating everything inside on training table and lifting heart You know more than I was high school and my body was still just growing, you know. So yeah, I got up to that um. But yeah, it's been awesome to play alongside him. And yeah, got recruited as a defensive end coming out of high school. I went to

their prospect camp. They gave me a scholarship to play defensive endum and I was going into my senior year of high school. But then my senior year of high school, that's uh, when I went to running back and then coach Joe Rudolph that was at the University of Pittsburgh at the time. He's at Wisconsin now, but he gave me a call before training camp and he said, when you get here, we want to try you out a running back instead of defensive ends. So that's kind of

how that that switched. I'm from Madison, so I've known Paul Chris forever and Joe rudolphs as you mentioned now at Wisconsin. Uh, how involved was Paul too, Like, Man, we gotta get this guy on offense. This guy's got

a ridiculous talent. We can use him on offense. Yeah, that whole that whole staff, they were all just awesome with getting me to to come to the offensive side of the ball, and you know, they all they loved those big offensive linemen and that power running scheme, and uh, they just felt I fit for that, you know, and I believeue I could fit for that too. You know, running back was my first love. Defense kind of just

happened late in high school. But I've been playing running back since I first started playing football, you know, when I was ten years old, So that's what I wanted to do. So yeah, they were all involved in getting me to, you know, coming the offensive side. Did you know being with Aaron Donald when he was that young, that he would be this good? Because it wasn't like the guy was a top five pick. And I think

one of the reasons, obviously was the quote unquote measurables. Right, he wasn't six five and twenty five pounds on the inside, but clearly he's one of the best defensive players ever, right did you did you know that when you're around him in college? U. I seeing how he worked in college. I've seen flashes of it. You know, there's plays where he you know, remember when we were playing vers Duke.

You know, he tackled the running back in the quarterback at the same time, and you know verse Georgia Tech, he took over that game. And in the Bowl game versus Bowling Green, he took over. So it's like you knew that he was dominant, but you just didn't know you know that he was going to be this good, like he said, one of the best ever, so if not the best ever. So yeah, that's just shows you what that work ethic can do. But he definitely showed

flashes of it. You'd mentioned earlier in camp that I think you said you were in dog shape? Was that the was that the quote? What exactly did you mean by that dogs shape? It's just, uh, you know, you dogs flat, they can just run. They can't run all the day. You know, it's hard. It's you really really see dogs get tired and so um, you know that's just my mentality is just to not be able to not getting tired out there on that field, be able to go four quarters over time if needed, and I'll

just being able to run all day. What are you weighing right now? It's fluctuating throughout camp. You know, sometimes I'm going but I'm still between two twenty five two thirty And is that what you were most of last year. Yeah, more at times, less at times. Um, you know, I kind of just go off the field, go off how I'm feeling, you know, if I need more or need less.

Do you think your role will be the same this year or do you think now the chase the running back rooms pretty deep and I want to get into that. But Chase Edmonds isn't here, So do you think that your role will be different? I feel like similar to last year's role, except um maybe you know more, more, more or less in a running game or passing game. I just want to be available first thing and be able to just make the most of my touches, whether

that's in the running game or the passing game. So yeah, my roller is just to bring intensity, bring aggression, run hard, be available, protect the quarterback, and be you know, get open in the passing game. And so I feel like that's all my role, especially as a running back. So everything is on the list. Everybody talked last year when you got here about your leadership, uh, in just your presence. Are you a vocal guy? Are you somebody that holds

others accountable? Do you lead by example? What type of a leader are you? I feel like when if you're a leader. You have to have all those qualities. Be vocal when needed, lead by example when needed, pull a guy off to the side, one on one if it's needed. Uh, some everything, but just knowing the time in the place and when to do that and what to say. So I kind of feel like, UM, I have experienced in all those categories. So UM, it's just when when it's needed.

I'm sure you're probably tired of being asked this question because you've probably been asked by everybody. Oh, great numbers last year, eighteen touchdowns, fifteen rushing. Can you do it again? Uh? When you get asked that question, what's your reaction? Uh, you know that's like that's the standard. Um, you know you want to My mentality is, um, do what you did last year and then so you know, that's how you stay around in this league and continue to make play.

So the numbers, you know that eighteen touchdowns is awesome, but I want to either match that or do more, you know, for this upcoming season, and afeel like that will be a successful season. What do you think about the running back room? A lot of people have talked about Eno Benjamin being one of the most improved guys

from the end of the the last season too. Now what do you see with Eno, Uh, I would agree with that, you know, definitely improved um And this is one of the most talented running back rooms I've been a part of, you know, with him, jay Ward, Darryl and then all the three rookies, you know, t J, Ronnie and Keante and so well, all those guys men are eager to learn. They're listening, they're practicing really hard, which is good to see.

That's how you that's how you do it. You know you pract that's hard, so the games can be easy. And so yeah, I would agree with that. These guys are all compete and hard and all making plays, all very capable, all great pass catchers run past blockers. So I'm excited to see that competition to continue to just play out. Is it is the running back position in

Cliff's offense? Is it difficult to learn? I mean at pitt you were in a pro style offense with Paul and in Pittsburgh with the Steelers, I assume mainly pro style offense, right, not as much spread with Roethlisberger as you have here. What is it difficult to learn? The terminology? Uh? In the passing game or in terms of protections here or is it something you were able to pick up on quickly. I feel like I picked it up pretty

quickly quickly. I'm still I'm still learning it, but uh, I don't feel like it's difficult if you love it, you know, and I love a game, and so you have to adapt, you know, if I wanted to, you know, stay around in this league, I had to. And you know, I can't be worried about if offense is difficult to learn or not. I just need to learn it or else. You know, I wasn't gonna be on the field, So that's just what it is. I like Cliff's offense, you know.

It's also we have a whole bunch of weapons out there, and so I just gotta play my rolling. What do you think the offense will look like? And I know you can't get into specifics obviously, but in general, what do you think without d Hop for those six games, how do you think the offense might look different? How might your role or zach Ertz's role be different without d Hop. I'm not sure how the roles will be different, But I just gotta continue to play my best football.

I know that, why, especially why while d Hop is out for those six games, I'm just gonna have to do what I can and to just move the ball offense to get a touchdowns and just try to do everything I can to win games. I know the receivers, you know, they'll be ready there coached will, the running backs will be ready for coach well, and qbs will be ready to their coach will. So everybody has to do their job and then when we get d Hop back, we just gotta keep it rolling. Tell me something about

James Saxon. I know you guys are close. Obviously, he was with you in Pittsburgh. He's a running backs coach here with the Cardinals. Uh, what's that relationship like between the two of you in terms of on the field and you know off the field too, If you guys are you know that close off the field as well. Yeah, I feel like, you know, me and coach have a great relationship, especially with having history in the past. And man,

he just coaches hard. He coaches hard, but that's because he wants the best for us, you know, And he's played the position. He's been in our shoe before, he's been through the grinds, of training camp, the grinds of the season, and so he just teaches us what we need to know and he knows we're capable, you know. So he puts no expectations on us except for to play hard and play with effort, and that's all he can ask for. And so, um, yeah, I just you know,

I'm thankful for coach. You know, we got multiple Pro Bowls together, and we want to we want to add to that. We also just want to win. You know, he doesn't have no Super Bowls. I don't have no Super Bowls, and so we just know that we can control what we can control and that's what the message he preaches and for us to just do our job and do our job well. Another guy that has multiple

Pro Bowls is Kyler Murray signed the contract extension. I know Kyler hasn't been around much because you know, I got COVID, so wasn't around, uh, you know, a week two of a training camp. But if you noticed anything in the time you've been around him, that's different from last year. I think his uh, his approach to me as always, he came to he always come to work and he's prepared. So um, if anything, he's just getting better,

you know. And he's already super super talented. So um even you know to Tom and he was there during the OTAs you know, he's making some great passes and uh earlier this training camp, and so he's in shape, you know, And that's the first part of his game is is to be in shape, you know, because fatigue. He can't play your best football if you're fatigued out there. So, um, yeah, he's he's getting better. And that's a scary thing just because we know how talented he is. And so when

he gets better, um, it's gonna be special. You played with one of the biggest quarterbacks in the league, took to now one of the smallest. Both obviously very successful and do it different ways. How is it when you're playing with a guy that you're taller than that you're bigger than at that position. Um, I really don't think of it much, you notice, because I'm doing my job.

But man, his feet are incredible, you know, and so it's uh, I like it just because that's to keep the defense honest, you know, especially anytime we are doing any readoption like like plays and whatnot. And so man, he's capable of extending to play. We've seen him Tennessee last year, you know, running all over and the fielding them back and making something special happen. So, uh, you know, it's it's hard over height, you know, for him. So we don't really pay attention to his size. We know

he's gonna come to play. But it is interesting when you watch, like you said, in a read option situation and it's the two of you back there. You know, when you're behind, you know, if you're in the tailback in the que position behind Ben Roethlisberger, it's maybe a little bit easier to hide, even if your size. But it is cool to kind of see the run game. How do you think because I know that's something Cliff has talked about it. Coach Cooler has talked about last

year things in the run game. Word is good second half of the season as they were in the first half. Why do you think that is? And what are some differences in the run game that we could maybe see this year? Uh? Man, we just have to continue to stay focused and we can't get We got to just continue to stay discipline and uh you know, come second half of the season, just keep it Rowland. So we were not going to change much. We're just going to

change our details and change our focus level. We have to up our focus and not the run game will be just fine. Look, man, you've got such an incredible story and I know you probably get asked about it all the time. Battling hodgkinsl and foma cancer in two fifteen, coming back to play at pitt in two sixteen, and then coming to the NFL, and you're only twenty seven years old. You just turned twenty seven, You've been in the league for five years, You've already been to two

Pro Bowls. So it's it's remarkable what you've been able to accomplish. But one thing that really stands out to me, James, is just how willing you are to talk about your story and to give back. Can you talk about something that happened this summer when you went back to Pittsburg. If I'm getting the story correct, it was a nurse of yours that helped you when you were going through cancer. That then you went back to Honor the summer and she was battling cancer. Is that correct? Yeah? She she was.

Thankfully she was able to beat it. Um. But yeah, twenty fifteen, when I was battling my um my hashings in the phone. But my nurse, um, she was the one taking care of me. And years later, you know, she ended up getting diagnosed with the same illness. And so that just goes to show, you know, cancer does not discriminate. Um. You know, it doesn't matter who it is. Um, you know, it's out there and uh so we just and I know firsthand would us liked to deal with that.

So um for her to to to get diagnosed and still treat other patients that whatnot, even why she was battling, you know, the illness herself, it just show true strength. And so UM my doctor, doctor Stanley Marks and Pittsburgh you know, has his has his uh a charity every year where you know, we raised money and for research and whatnot, and he gets out that James Corner Courage Award and so um uh he would my nurse was actually the one who received the James kind of courage

the war. So thankfully the schedules are lined up and we had that break in the summer for me to be able to fly back to Pittsburgh and uh see my doctor, see all my close friends, and present my nurse with the award. So it was just it was a great night, you know, as an emotion field night. Um. But yeah, that's cancer man. Uh, it's it's terrible obviously, but it also brings people together and has that community feel to it, um, for for for better. So yeah,

that's how it worked out. Did she know you were coming? Was a surprise she see me when I first got there, you know. So I didn't like surprised her all on stage, and I like that. Um, I didn't want to make it too much about me, you know. So I was just there and um, obviously you know, her whole family was there. My mother was able to come, and I was able to you know, give her some flowers in the award on the stage. So it was a special moment.

So how long now officially have you been cancer free? Uh? Twenty since twenty fifteen, twenty sixteen, so it's been six years. For six years going on seven year olds almost. And how often do you get approached to talk, either in this kind of a setting or in a charity environment

to talk about your story? Um? Pretty often, I would say a lot of the times come from like social media, people reaching out through messages and whatnot, just because you know, everybody seems like they know somebody who's affected, whether that family member affected by it or a close friend you know, you know somebody, So it's pretty often. But um, it's it's it's priceless to to make somebody's day, or to change somebody's perspective, or to give somebody hope. You know,

you really can't put a price on that. So it's it's just really special. Even even if it happens often, you know, it never gets old. And you wrote a book Fear Is a Choice a couple of years ago. What inspired you to write the book? And you know how detailed did you get in the book about what

you went through? Um? I was inspired just to to give hope, you know, and because a lot of people just like me, when they get diagno if they're confused, you know, that's that was my main thing I would I would even say I was more confused and scared. Um And so in the book, I wanted to to settle the confusion with you know, with the Good Lord and let people know that God has a plan for all of us. Whether you know it seems like why would you know? People have that you know mindset of

of why why would this happen to me? And all this? But I feel like there's there's purpose and plan for everything, even the bad or the stuff that we look at as bad. And so I just wanted to give hope to the people. And um, I was just trying to be vulnerable, let it all out, giving those behind the scene stories, you know, the dark day stories. Um, you know, twelve total treatments, you know, and so, like I say in the book, the treatment too was tough. Treatment six,

treatment ten, you know, Um, those are all difficult. But it was just trying to shift my my perspective on you know, I'm getting closer to beat this and uh, you know, because unfortunately, I feel like cancer's not going awhere, you know, and so we have to continue to research and fight and just give hope to the pe. So yeah, those are my two many motives behind it. I know a lot of people that have either are dealing with cancer.

I worked for three years with Chris Spielman, who as a linebacker I don't have a stating in the NFL and now works for the tron Lions. And I was working with Chris the year his wife passed away from cancer. She battled breast cancer for twelve years, and there was always that fear. Eventually, obviously it, you know, cost to her life, but during that decade, there was always the fear of is it coming back? Every little thing there

was Okay, well does this mean it's back? Do you ever do you still deal with that or is it something because of the type of cancer you had you feel like, Okay, I'm good or is it something that's still in the back of your mind you think about. Oh, no, I don't. I don't feel it's in the back of my mind. I don't feel like it's coming back. Early on, you know, when you first beat it, that first year or two after, you definitely, you know, have those questions

and those thoughts. You know, if you get a little cold, you you know, you cough in and whatnot, or you can sleep some night I see you like, you know, you had those questions like is it coming back? But I'm years removed now my faith is a lot, a lot stronger, you know, and so um I try not to think about that, you know, I just trying to focus only on the good and only on the good. And so now I don't have I don't I don't feel like that. No, more. I feel like I'm blessing too.

Can care of well. It's been great to see man, it's You're an incredible story, great inspiration to so many people. Again, just reading the article touch my heart. You going back and giving back to the community, being a part of the ceremony last year or last summer with the nurse given which he's going through. How involved are you lastly

in the community here in Arizona? Is that something? Because you've only been here a year and because of COVID you really didn't get a chance to do much of And what do you think that'll be like now that you're here a long term. I haven't got involved much

since it's being out here. You know, things happening so fast the year before I even got here with being a free agent, having an off season surgery, and it's coming here, going right into training camp and right into the season, you know, trying to prove myself and just head down. So I didn't get a chance to do much. But now that I'm in a long term, I definitely want to get involved. Head over to the Arizona Children's Hospital.

I know it's pretty big here. It's huge here, so I would love to get over there and connect and just see the kids over there and get some hope over there. And now, you know, home out here, this is home now for me. So I feel now I'm able to things that are a lot you know, easier now off the field, you know, I feel like I'm settled in. So now it's time for me to you know, get involved out in that community and take it to a new level. All right, man, look forward to watching

again this year. I know you're gonna have a great season and keep it up. Appreciate the time much appreciate it. Certainly. One of those inspiring young men in sports. Cardinals running back James Connor personally, it's been through so much, but has embraced being someone that dealt with cancer in college and it's now cancer free and thriving. You can just hell hearing his heart how much cancer awareness is something

that he's constantly focusing on and helping others. That's why he wrote his book Fear as a Choice, tackling life's challenges with dignity, faith and determination. He talked about wanting to get involved more here in Arizona and just can't wait to see what James is going to do on a personal level, but obviously also professionally had an incredible twenty twenty one eighteen touchdowns, fifteen rushing and still the

running back room is really good. But without Chase Edmonds and without DeAndre Hopkins the first six games, you wonder will we see even more of James Conner in the passing game. He had thirty seven catches last year, and I know it took a lot of people by surprise, but back in twenty eighteen as a member of the Steelers when he went to the Pro Bowl, he had fifty five receptions. So he's a guy that's going to be involved in the passing game and is a big

part of the Cardinals in twenty twenty two. We are presented by bet MGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. You can follow us on Twitter at Pashpod. We'd also love to hear what you think about the Dave Pash Podcast, So regardless of your podcast platform, rate us, tell us what you think, give us your input. Who would you like to see maybe is a future guest on the Dave Pash Podcast. Obviously, this is a primarily Arizona Cardinals

and NFL podcast. But we have had on actors, comedians, basketball players, coaches, broadcasters, and we'd like to keep a diverse group of guests and we'd love to get your thoughts and who you might like to hear from on the Dave Pash Podcast. Thanks again to James Connor, Cardinals Pro Bowl running back, and thanks to you for listening to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast.