 He played college football at Notre Dame, graduating in 1980, and was drafted in the 1980 NFL Draft in the second round by the New Orleans Saints, where he played until 1989.He was offered a contract by the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL), but opted to remain in New Orleans, saying, "I always wanted to play there.I've got a lot of friends there, and that is where, hopefully, I'll finish out my career."