New York Giants legend and Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Jerome Anderson is one of only a handful of players to score a touchdown in two Super Bowls and win the MVP award.
"O.J." Anderson's amazing career with the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals could eventually land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Anderson joined SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about the glory days with the New York Giants, his brilliant start with the St. Louis Cardinals that include the Rookie of the Year award and his thoughts on the current status of the Giants.
The running back's most magical day on the football field came during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium in 1991. It was during the Gulf War and the late Whitney Houston gave a rousing and emotional rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" which got the fans pumped for the big game. How did that impact O.J. Anderson?
"We didn't know Whitney was performing and after hearing that she was and seeing her, we as a team were very excited because she was one of our own. She's from New Jersey and to have somebody of that magnitude to perform was just an incredible day."
Anderson would be inspired to lead the Giants to an upset over the favored Buffalo Bills 20-19 in what many call "The Wide Right" game after Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed a long field goal in the closing seconds.
Going into battle, Ottis was confident that he would have an MVP-like performance in Tampa.
"When I came out of the University of Miami in '79, I predicted that if I played in a Super Bowl in the state of Florida and I was the featured running back, I would win the MVP. That's what eventually would happen. But prior to that in 1989 the Super Bowl was at Joe Robbie Stadium and I was the featured back for the Giants that year and we lost to the LA Rams with a Flipper Anderson incredible catch that sealed the game for them. Sitting on my stool I was kind of in disbelief and had my hands on my face, when Maurice Carthon was sitting across from me. I said 'You know Mo I guess my prediction would never come true' and he said what was that? Then I told him about the prediction I had about being in the Super Bowl and what the results would be and he said you know next year's Super Bowl is in Tampa, Florida. I then said if that's the truth then we are going. So when we were in San Francisco and Matt Bahr was kicking the field goal and everybody was nervous, I wasn't because I knew it was my destiny and I just needed to see it fulfilled."
Anderson would win Comeback Player of the Year in 1989 as a member of the Giants after a superb career with the St. Louis Cardinals. O.J. credits Bill Parcells for motivating him to be great again.
"He challenged me. After the '87 shortened season in '88 he told me I didn't have to come to the offseason workout program which gave everybody an edge over those who didn't go. I decided to show up anyway because I knew that if I didn't, I might not even an opportunity or even be on the roster. So I showed he challenged me mentally that way and every other way that year and years after that. He just constantly let me know that they were running backs on this team that were equally ready to challenge me for my position. I think that's the difference between football today and back in the era that we played. Every position you were challenged to maintain your job or hold onto your job."
The motivation led to a game plan put together by Coach Parcells and the late Giants Offensive Coordinator Ron Earhart. They wanted Ottis to run the ball at least 20-30 times in Super Bowl XXV and keep the ball away from the much-heralded Bills offense.
"I said I welcome the opportunity. He said well then let's pick out the plays you prefer to run. I said coach keep me between the tackles. Twenty-two of my 24 carries were all inside runs."
That strategy worked to perfection. One of those runs was a big touchdown for the Giants who would go on to beat Buffalo.
An induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame would mean a great deal to Ottis Anderson.
"It would complete my career. I look back at what I accomplished. I never won a rushing title but I lost it to a great individual, the late great Walter Payton by five yards. I've done everything you can do in the game in college and the pros. I was Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl starter, Comeback Player of the Year, over 10-thousand yards rushing and 86 touchdowns and Super Bowl MVP." My resume says it all. It says give this man a chance to be in Canton."
Anderson says he understand why the Giants allowed former star Saquon Barkley to get away and sign with the rival Philadelphia Eagles.
"I think the Giants looked at the situation and thought are we losing because we don't have a great running back or because our quarterback and other problems we're having is the reason. I think they did a blessing like the Cardinals did to me. When they looked at our team and said are we better off with him or without him and can we still win without him and the answer was yes. The Giants felt the price tag, I don't think it was too high, I just think that they knew they couldn't him give what he needed as an offensive player. The guy is a super athlete and he's one of the best running backs to come through the league in a long time. He's showing everyone why he was a number one draft pick. If you give someone of his caliber an offensive line, it's 20 times better than what he had with the Giants."
Ottis also believe the Giants need to keep head coach Brian Daboll on for another season.
Since his playing days, Anderson has continued to give back to the community. The Ottis Anderson Scholarship Foundation for high schools students is very important to the NFL legend.
"We just try to make a difference in kid's lives. I was fortunate enough to have a scholarship going to Miami. If it wasn't for that I would have never got into that University. I just couldn't afford it. Sometimes kids fall on hard times and all we try to do is shine a little light and give students a chance to succeed."
Ottis Jerome Anderson was inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor in 2022.
You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Ottis Jerome Anderson here.
