Where there’s a will,
there’s a Way

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

Even though Charles Way’s professional football career was cut short by a severe knee injury, the former New York Giants running back is still living the NFL dream.
And part of that dream is teaching other athletes how to stay in the game as well.
"I’m a prime example of how you could be doing so well and yet your career is over because of an injury," said Way, who grew up playing his high school ball in Northeast Philly.
In 2000, health issues forced Way to call it quits on the football field, but the six-year veteran didn’t totally disappear from the game. He merely took off his uniform one last time and put on a business suit — these days he’s director of player programs for the Giants.
"My main responsibility is to ensure our players are educated financially and are thinking about life after football," said Way during a recent interview with the Times. "That can mean giving them the tools and skills necessary to work in corporate America, if that’s what they choose to do."
And Way is a good fit for the job.
"I think I have a lot of influence with players because they see me as someone who has worn their shoes and has gone through the same situations," he said. "They see that football doesn’t last forever."
For Way, it didn’t even last more than a decade.
The 1990 Northeast High School graduate started his football career with the Vikings, earning selection as a running back on the city’s All-Public team during his senior season. He took his football skills to the University of Virginia, where he played for the Cavaliers and earned a degree in engineering.
In 1995, Charles Way’s life changed big time.
The Giants selected him in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
"It was a dream come true," he said. "All of my hard work and effort had paid off."
The powerful running back started 55 of 75 games for the Giants and rushed for 1,356 yards during his five-year professional career, and he also had 898 receiving yards. Chronic knee problems influenced his decision to retire in 2000 at age 27.
His best season came in ’98, when Way ran for 698 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 304 receiving yards and another score.
"He is what you want in a football player," said former Giants coach Jim Fassel after Way announced his retirement seven years ago. "He is talented, he is bright, he is hard-working and he is a leader."
The years of intense collisions on the field gradually took their toll on Way’s body, to the point that, by the 1999 season, his right knee was just about shot. The cartilage on his joints was gone, leaving no cushion for the bones.
"I could have continued to play, but I told myself I wasn’t going to be one of those players just playing for the money," said Way. "I graduated from college and I have a degree, and I’ll use that degree."
But life after football wasn’t exactly the smooth transition that Way had envisioned.
"Everyone deals with withdrawal symptoms after leaving something you’ve played your entire life," Way explained. "If you ask any former player, they do have some sort of emotional stress because of not being a part of the game anymore. It was really tough at first, but I don’t miss it as much now."
Even though his glory days on the gridiron were officially over, Way didn’t have to spend much time on a job search. Within a week of announcing his retirement, Way accepted an offer to be the Giants’ director of player programs on June 8, 2000.
That decision similarly pleased Fassel at the time.
"He did a lot as a player, and he has a bright future in any direction he wants to go in football," the ex-coach said at the time. "I’m happy that we can hold on to a guy that has such high character and a good work ethic."
Charles Way has a challenging mission — to help players understand that one day the body won’t be as nimble and the cheers will come to an end, forcing them to rebuild their lives and follow new directions.
"Helping players that get it is the best part," said Way, who has been part of the Giants organization — as a player and in the office — for 12 years. "When they come back and say ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,’ that’s a great feeling.
"I’m doing a lot of good for a lot of players, young and old," he continued. "I’m learning from my experiences. I’m content with the choices I’ve made. Knowing that even if I didn’t make it, I still had a college degree to fall back on, was important. I didn’t want to lose everything. I wanted to be able to play with my kids."
These days, Way’s knee is almost fully mended and feeling good as new. He lives in Wayne, N.J., with his wife Tahesha and their three daughters, Fallon, Farrah and Aythe.
He even makes his way back here as often as possible.
"I really loved my time at Northeast," said Way, who stopped by Northeast High School two weeks ago for a visit. "It prepared me for college in all aspects, athletically as well as academically. And it enabled me to achieve a sense of pride and success in the classroom.
"I still love everything about Philadelphia, and I always will," he added. "I love going back and visiting old neighborhoods. I love driving up Roosevelt Boulevard and seeing how things have evolved. It’s an awesome feeling."
And though he has made a career with perhaps the Eagles’ biggest rival, Charles Way still has a place in his heart for the City of Brotherly Love.
"I’m still a Philadelphia fan. There is an intense rivalry there. I’m one of the only Philadelphia fans here, but I still try to represent us," he said with a laugh. ••
Sports editor Melissa Yerkov can be reached at 215-354-3035 or myerkov@phillynews.com