Nothing was ever handed to Damon Pieri as a player.
He was named All-State as a defensive back and running back at St. Mary's High School in Phoenix, AZ, but wasn't recruited by any Division I schools, and went to Phoenix Junior College, where he earned all-conference honors.
Transferring after one year to San Diego State, Pieri was All-WAC at safety and cornerback in his final two seasons, but wasn't chosen during the 1993 NFL Draft.
"To be honest with you, I didn't even really expect to be drafted. I was just kind of hoping and praying that I would get a tryout," Pieri said. "And when the draft ended, my phone started ringing. The Giants and the Redskins and the Patriots and some other teams were trying to sign me (as a free agent).
"And my agent kind of pushed me to sign with the Jets, 'We think that you have the best chance of making the team in New York.' I'm in college, not really paying attention to NFL rosters, and so I looked and thought it's pretty much stacked. I might have some problems making this team. But I signed there anyways."
The Jets were indeed stacked. Pieri was one of 15 defensive backs on their preseason roster.
With so many vying to make the team, on a good day during training camp, he'd get on the field for a play or two during a drill or a scrimmage. On a really good day, he would not be noticed by head coach Bruce Coslet or defensive coordinator Pete Carroll for the wrong reason and told to turn in his playbook, pack his bags, and go home.
"I was running fourth-team safety, and occasionally they gave me some reps at cornerback," Pieri said. "You really don't know the business of the NFL. You don't realize that once they sign you, they can cut you whenever. I saw a couple people that showed up at the mini-camp, and the next thing you know, they're gone.
"So I'm thinking to myself, I just kind of have to show that I'm versatile, that I can play multiple positions. Maybe even on special teams to have a chance. I was a little unsure of whether or not I could pull this off."
Pieri couldn't have swung his arms without hitting another defensive back who was also a little unsure if they'd be able to pull it off and make the team. But perhaps unlike those others, Pieri tried to improve his chances by seeking advice from some of his veteran teammates.
"The starters, you pretty much knew who they were: Ronnie Lott, Brian Washington, James Hasty. If you'd ask them questions, they'd help you out," Pieri said. "But you're a rookie and a little bit nervous about asking questions. You could tell, minus the starters, the other players were kind of wary of helping you out. They're the second-level guys that you're in competition with. But especially, Ronnie Lott, I remember him helping me out pretty well."
While Lott's suggestions likely helped, Pieri still had to prove himself. And he did. The same defensive back who wasn't recruited out of high school or whose name wasn't called during the draft, turned out to be the only undrafted player to make the Jets' opening-day roster.
"There was another really good undrafted defensive back, Victor Green, and he had a tremendous camp. I was kind of a little shocked that I started on the active roster instead of him because he ended up having a very good career. Played like 10 or 11 years," Pieri said.
"They started Victor Green on the practice squad and me on the active roster because I thought maybe they needed a gunner on special teams, somebody out wide to help cover punts, and he was probably a little bit made more for that position.
"I played five games, and then there were some injuries and they kind of switched us. I always thought it was strange to make the active roster from the get go, so I wasn't too pissed off about that. It is what it is. I was cool with the practice squad. I needed some more experience, and was just happy to make the NFL and get paid. So I was a little disappointed in moving down, but it wasn't the end of the world."
Pieri's world had a few twists and turns the following season. After turning heads by having a strong performance during training camp, he broke an ankle in the Jets' first preseason game against Detroit.
"That was pretty much the end for me," Pieri said. "When you're on the bottom of the roster and you get injured, they move on pretty fast. They give you an injury settlement and kind of set you off."
While an injury slowed down his career before he'd even be able to get into third gear, what does Pieri remember most from his time with the Jets?
"I was 185 pounds, and you've got a lot of people, non-believers, saying, 'Hey, you're not big enough,'" he said. "And I always thought, 'Okay, yeah, maybe I'm not big enough, but I could hit hard enough and I can run well enough. I can run with these guys. I can hit with these guys.' And maybe I'm not absolutely big, you know, 185 pounds soaking wet, but I just always had in my mind that I had to play big."
After spending some time with San Francisco, Pieri was big enough to play the 1996 and '97 seasons with Carolina before retiring in 1998. And while he didn't realize it at the time, Pieri began to establish his post-playing career while he was still playing.
Returning home to Phoenix during the offseasons, Pieri would work out at Sunnyslope High School, where he ran into its head coach and former NFL player Dallas Hickman.
"He said, 'Hey, whenever you're done playing, why don't you come help me coach?' And I just kind of dismissed it. I wasn't interested in that at all. I had a degree in criminal justice and thought maybe I'd be a police officer, a private investigator, or something like that," Pieri said.
"Well, when I got done playing, I'm like, I'd better figure out what I'm going to do.' And I started substitute teaching at the local high school I used to work out at. I ran across Dallas Hickman again, and he's like, 'Hey, why don't you help me coach?' So that's what I decided to do. I'd be a substitute teacher and coach. And then the principal brought me in and said, 'We want you to teach here, as well.'
"So I went and got my teaching certification and helped out with the varsity squad a little bit. But I mostly ran the JV team until I got the head football job.
"This is year 25 and I never thought I'd end up teaching. And I never thought I'd end up teaching this long. But I really enjoyed my time as a head coach. I was the head coach for like 10 years, and then I figured, 'I had two sons and I was lucky enough to get a chance to coach them.' And then when my youngest son graduated, I said, 'You know what? I think I'm done.'"
That was four years ago. Altogether, Pieri coached football at Sunnyslope for 21 years. And he's still there teaching physical education and coaching the boys tennis team.
Making their home in Phoenix, Pieri and his wife, Jenny, have two daughters: Samantha and Molly; two sons: Ben and Jack; and will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary next year.
