For Andy Frederick, there is no such thing as “too hard.” When asked what the secret of his athletic success was, Andy replied, “I did what the coaches told me and I kept my mouth shut.”
Now, for anyone who knows Andy, they know that he did not say this out of bitterness or resentment, but out of respect. By following this motto, Andy was a member of two Super Bowl winning teams; the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII in 1978 and the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX in 1986. But even with all this success, Andy still remained humble and simply did what needed to be done. For a total of 13 years, the National Football League was graced with the presence of Andy Frederick. But even as he played on three different teams and created a name for himself, he never forgot and always took pride in being a Lobo.
Andy has done much more than play football. His commitment to his community and his commitment to his school are also present on the wide scope of his many varied interests. He is active in the Salvation Army, serving on its advisory board in Garland, Texas. He is also a member of NFL Alumni Caring for Kids. This is where one can see the true character of such a great man.
When working with kids, or even just when someone asks to see his Super Bowl rings, Andy not only shows them the rings, but tells them to put them on and asks the kids to, “pass them around” to make sure everyone can admire them on their own fingers. Now a man who is prideful and uncaring would never allow for a thing like that, but Andy is neither prideful nor uncaring. His continued work with the NFLPA Retired Players chapter in Dallas, and their contributions to the Annual Holiday House build for the last nine years, along with his participation in the MS150 Bike Ride fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis research show the vast amount of heart Andy has for others.
Even after retiring from football, Andy did not slow down. He returned to his alma mater and received a degree in civil engineering, a field in which, as all other fields Andy was involved in, he greatly succeeded. This was recognized in 1994, when Andy became an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
There are few men in the world as successful, well-loved, and caring as Andy Frederick. Having coached him on two teams, Mike Ditka would know this to be true. Coach Ditka admired Andy for his ability to be, “dependable, reliable, and accountable,” and found that Andy, “conducted himself the way a professional athlete should.” When signing a copy of his book to Andy, Coach Ditka said, “Thanks for being such a good, steady player in times of need.”