From Hampton University to the NFL, pro football player Justin Durant knows all about focus. He’s an outside linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys —“America’s Team” — and has built an impressive resume. Currently in his 7th season, Justin has 378 total and 466 combined tackles. He’s aggressive on the field and a kind of low-key cool off of it. He hails from South Carolina, but puts his southern charm aside when it’s time to go hard in the paint (on the field).
It’s no easy feat to live the American Dream. Work, work, and more work is the name of the game and Justin puts it in, day after day. Between training, practice, studying film, and all that it takes to be successful in the NFL, the 28-year-old hard-hitter talks with DOPE’s Arionne Alyssa about physicality, family, and the unspoken truth behind women on football Sundays.
Written by Arionne Alyssa
Images by Doug Coombe
Read an Excerpt from the Full Length Interview
(Arionne Alyssa: AA) You’re currently playing for the iconic Dallas Cowboys, known as “America’s Team.” Is there any added pressure playing on a team with such a huge legacy?
(Justin Durant: Justin) No, I don’t feel it personally because I put the most pressure on myself to perform. I hold myself up to such high standards and I push myself every day so it’s more pressure coming from me than anyone else.
(AA) When you see people on TV, it’s easy to make assumptions about what their life is like, but I’m sure, we really have no idea. What’s a day in the life like in your shoes?
(Justin) My life is just routine and boring (Laughs!). Wake up early, go to training, go to practice, go to the weight room, go to meetings, go study—more practice, more meetings. Then, I rest up and get ready for the next day. I don’t do too much extracurricular during the season.
(AA) So I’m training for a half-marathon and I’m learning that there’s way more to physical stuff than just athleticism. What characteristics do you need to be a champ?
(Justin) To be a champ? Well, first off, you have to be motivated, dedicated, and passionate. It’s much more to it than just having skill. There are a lot of people that have talent, but that don’t have the mindset to work hard for it. It’s difficult to have the foresight to see that the work you’re putting in, doing the same thing every day, is preparing you for that place you’re trying to get to.
(AA) You went to Hampton. How do you think having an HBCU experience differs from that of a majority college?
(Justin) It was harder. We didn’t have a national platform to play on. People didn’t get to watch us every week on TV, but we were glad that the higher ups were able to find us. Our mentality was that if you’re good and you work hard, you’ll get noticed. We watched the guys in the NFL playing on TV and we wanted to get there, too.
(AA) You’re the iPod DJ king, right? So what’s currently playing in your iPod?
(Justin) The new Solange compilation, Saint Heron. It’s real cool. It’s kind of a different sound—R&B that’s pushing the boundaries. She has a lot of cool stuff on there.
(AA) You do a lot of giving back, especially your work with troubled kids. How important is it to always give back?
(Justin) We’re just in a space that we can help people. They see what we do on the daily and it gives us a platform to help. I used to think that none of that really mattered until I found out that you can actually touch people by being in the public eye. I try to be the best that I can be and give back when I can.
(AA) What drives you every day?
(Justin) I’ve been blessed with this opportunity and I’m going to make the best of it because a lot of people aren’t in this position. I have a young daughter and every time I see her face, it motivates me. It’s tough to work every day, putting your body through it all, but I do it for my daughter and to represent for my family.
(AA) So this is probably the toughest question. For a lot of girls, football can be intimidating. Trust me, I took a football class last season and it was filled with confused women. What’s your advice for women when it comes to football season: A) Learn the game and watch it with your man? B) Help him host football Sunday parties for he and his friends or C) Just cook and then get out of the way?
(Justin) (Laughs!) Mannnnn! Honestly, with most men, especially men who like football, it’s rare that they honor a woman’s opinion on it. Help him host, but maybe go hang out with your friends during the second half. Go do the girl thing and let him have time with his guys (Laughs!).
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