Understandably and admirably, Dave and Andrea Szott put their family first.
Following 12 years with Kansas City and Washington, in 2002, the veteran guard and his wife decided to move back to where they grew up, Clifton, NJ, a city in the shadow of the Meadowlands, not knowing if he'd have an opportunity to play a 13th season for the Jets or the Giants.
If he did, fine. But that wasn't why they came home.
"I have two boys, Shane and Josh," Szott said. "Physically, at two ends of the spectrum. One is very challenged, non-verbal, non-ambulatory, in a wheelchair. And the other one ended up being a Division I athlete (playing wide receiver at Colgate).
"Kansas City is a great town. Has a lot of positives, but it didn't have the same amount of resources as the New Jersey, New York area did for special needs. So we made the move. Took a leap of faith and it all worked out. Got my special guy in a great school, got everybody settled, and then the Jets came calling, which was great."
Szott had crossed paths with Jets head coach Herm Edwards while he was playing for the Chiefs and Edwards was a scout turned defensive backs coach. Edwards knew Szott's history. Not only the type of player he was, but the type of man he was, as well.
"Herm and I worked out quite a bit together in K.C., and so he knew my situation," Szott said. "And he said, 'Dave, we know what you're capable of. We know the leadership qualities you have. Just be you.'
"And it was fantastic. He put no undue expectations on me. In fact, he actually gave me Mondays and Tuesdays off during the week, which allotted me more time at home. And that was a huge determining factor with me signing with the Jets at the time."
Having played in 142 games with the Chiefs and 16 games with the then-Redskins, Szott joined the Jets with well-earned and valuable experience. Which in turn, benefited his new teammates in the O-line room.
"Our most talented guy on the team was named Kevin Mawae, and so even a very talented future Hall of Famer, we would talk about things," Szott said. "Randy Thomas and Kareem McKenzie and Jason Fabini, we had a really, really good group. But when you're the veteran guy in the room and you're pushing 34, 35, and you're still around, they're going to kind of wonder how's this guy hanging on as long as he is?"
Szott began to pay it forward when he got to New York, just as it had been done for him in Kansas City.
"I was fortunate when I walked in the locker room, one of the greatest centers that ever played a game, Mike Webster, was in there, and he took me and another young rookie, Tim Grunhard, under his wing and helped us," Szott said. "We stayed late with him multiple times during the week. What to do, how to prepare, how to study film, his routine, and how it works for him.
"Everyone's got to kind of adapt to their own little routine. But ultimately, there's a template that 80, 90 percent of it's going to work for just about everybody. Yeah, he definitely led us. And that's part of your role. You share the lessons you've learned over time with the younger guys, and that's the way it always should be."
Szott's hometown debut in front of his family and friends from high school occurred later than he expected after tearing an ACL and needing surgery.
And rehabbing while on the PUP list…
"One of my fondest memories is actually working really hard with (team trainers) Dave Price and John Mellody to come back," Szott said. "I came back and played the game in six months, and was part of the 2002 team that won the division. We made a big push at the end. Beat New England in New England, beat Green Bay at home, and a wild card game (against Indianapolis) at home.
"It was a really nice run, and I'm proud to be a part of that. Those are some great players, some great guys. And frankly, to say that the last time we won the division was in '02 is startling, but I'm proud of that.
"At my age, I had every reason to kind of step away, but I thought we had something special. Everything worked out. Had no setbacks in rehab, and was able to play, if you count playoffs, six games that year."
Szott played in 15 games the following season, his second with the Jets and 14th and final one on the field. But then Edwards and offensive line coach Doug Marrone encouraged him to stick around and become the assistant O-line coach.
Even though Szott had been in the NFL more than four times the average length of a player's career, the job surprised him
"Until you live it, it's really hard to explain. You are literally in that building burning the midnight oil and looking forward to getting on a plane for an away game so you could get a real good nap," Szott laughed.
"You really can't show them almost every instance or situation. That's where walk-throughs and film study and discussions come in. But you try to be prepared to give your team every opportunity to be successful."
After two seasons as a player, followed by two as a coach, Szott's time with the Jets was far from over. Moving to the front office in 2008, he was the team's player engagement director for the next 17 years.
"I loved getting to know the players and helping them with some of their more intimate needs. Having those deep discussions, helping them transition into the league and give themselves the best opportunity to be successful," Szott said.
"There's so many dynamics that our players go through that many people don't understand. But it was really gratifying to help guys transition in, make the most of their career, and help be prepared to transition out when that eventual time comes.
"My line was, 'Once a Jet, always a Jet.' I've gotten calls from guys two and three years after the fact of their playing days, and would always try to do my best to help them."
Earlier this year, Szott became the co-owner of Alpha International Outfitters with his friend, Dave Hansen. And they're trying to do their best to help clients, men and women, be successful during excursions to Spain to hunt for several different species of deer, wild goats, wild sheep and wild boars.
"I've always been an avid outdoorsman. Unfortunately, the falls coincided with the football season," Szott said. "(Hansen) had been hunting in the country for 15 years, and he brought me over there a few years ago. I fell in love with it, and said, 'Let's do it.' Because he had all the contacts and I know a lot of people who enjoy the outdoors.
"We had 10 clients already in January. We have another 19 for 2025 and 2026. And we're already booking out 2027, actually. Spain is an incredible country, with a lot of neat game that is indigenous to Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, which we don't have in the States. And it's affordable compared to a lot of destinations hunters and outdoorsmen can go to.
"We have a 15,000-acre lease, which is an incredible situation. We're the only ones that hunt on it during the year, so there's absolutely no pressure on these animals when we show up. So for the clients we've had so far, we're 100 percent. If you can adequately shoot 200 yards, you're going to be successful."
Besides hunting, the clients also have time for they and their spouses or friends to accompany Andrea and Hansen's wife, Elena, on sightseeing trips to Madrid or Toledo or Malaga.
When the Szotts are in the U.S., they make their home in Morristown, NJ. Shane lives at the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in nearby Peapack. And Josh is a premium hospitality account executive with LIV Golf in New York.
"I have a great family. God blessed me with two great boys, both unique in their own way. And with a great wife of 33 years," Szott said. "I got to live out my dream. Coming in as a seventh-round pick, it wasn't easy facing those challenges, working through that, fighting, scratching my first couple years in the league to get established. But I wouldn't take any of that back.
"Thankfully being blessed and fortunate enough to play and work as long as I did in the league, and then take on the next challenge and another passion – even if it's not over a football field and it's looking over a ridge in central Spain as we pursue a red stag – I want to continue just to be a voice in people's lives. Regardless of where I meet them, and how I'm involved with them and what brings us together. I enjoy people of all types and backgrounds."
