It seems many NFL players are finding it hard to stay out of trouble. The money and the lifestyle are a dangerous mix. The media love these mishaps and give them great attention. However, beyond the sensationalism, there can be found many NFL players whose work ethic and discipline stand out as positive points of light. Gary Stills, a West Virginia University alumni and special teams standout for the Baltimore Ravens, is one of these professionals.
He was a member of the classic 1998 Mountaineer team that produced several current NFL players—Marc Bulger, Jerry Porter, Amoes Zeroue, and others. According to Stills, the downfall of this bowl-contending team was its over-abundance of talent. “The ’98 team lost the Insight Bowl because it had too much talent and got in its own way.” This comment is vintage Stills. He is the kind of player who believes in teamwork.
It is also this commitment to team play that makes Stills and the Ravens a great fit—that and the fact that Gary is what can be called a tweener, a player that can play both defensive end and linebacker.
The Ravens are known for having many tweeners on their defensive roster. Stills was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft. He learned a lot in his time there but feels that since coming to the Ravens as a free agent in 2006 he has become more of a complete player and linebacker. He attributes this growth to the communication of the Ravens coaching staff with the players. “Its not a ‘me defense,’ it’s a ‘we defense,’” he says. “And we keep that team mentality around here.”
Stills followed special teams coordinator Frank Ganz, Jr. from Kansas City. He and Ganz left the Chiefs the same off-season and found themselves together again in Baltimore. In Stills, Ganz has a player who knows his system and is familiar with his coaching style. This helps the other players better understand what Ganz wants from them.
When asked about his best memory of playing in West Virginia, Stills chose a game played in 1997 against Marshall. He sacked Chad Pennington four times, and says he should have had five sacks—but only got credit for four. “I had a chance to showcase my talents on a big stage, and I’ve been trying to get back to that point ever since,” Stills said.
Stills calls special teams players the silent killers. “You can’t count us out. Special teams is the third facet of the game. We start the game with a kickoff and sometimes we finish it with a field goal,” he said. Special teams players, says Stills, are the players that “get it done in the dark,” referring to the lack of publicity that players who serve primarily on special teams get.
Stills has gained recognition for his special teams play, though, by becoming the Chiefs all-time leader in special teams tackles. He also has been named to a Pro Bowl, and last season set a Ravens single-season record for special teams tackles. In 2006 he was just a couple of tackles shy of beating the all-time NFL single-season record for special teams tackles.
Stills feels his best season has yet to come. He says that this year will top all the rest. “This team can go beyond the stars. We just have to stay focused and keep our minds off outside distractions.”
Stills should see more time on defense this season, with the loss of All Pro linebacker Adalius Thomas to the New England Patriots. Because of his versatility, he will see action at both outside linebacker and defensive end, getting a chance to substitute for starters who need a rest.
All in all, Gary Stills feels blessed and has learned from all his stops along the way. As for his thoughts on his time in West Virginia, “The people in West Virginia treated me the way I wanted to be treated. I experienced miracles there and got to play on a very aggressive defense and showcased my talents,” he said. Everything in Stills’ life seems to be coming together, and the future appears to be pretty bright for this silent killer getting it done in the dark.
