What Grant Wistrom is doing now

Article on Grant Wistrom
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http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Catching-Up-with-Grant-Wistrom/55b02b1f-d2bf-459f-861e-d67d4e4c8a8c
Julia Faron
Communications Department
Special to Stlouisrams.com

Known on the field for his relentless effort and never-ending energy, Grant Wistrom enjoys the small pleasures of a Midwestern lifestyle in his retirement from playing football. Born and raised in small-town southern Missouri, Wistrom now lives in Springfield, Mo., with his wife and kids, and spends his time coaching youth football, staying fit and volunteering at his children’s school.

Wistrom’s body of work throughout his football career is evident in his winning ways. Wistrom was a key force on his teams at each level. He won two state titles (1992 and 1993), three college national championships (1994, 1995 and 1997) and an NFL Championship (1999). When his six-year Rams career was said and done, he had racketed up 500 tackles, 45.5 sacks and a winning percentage of 63 percent of games played.

Now involved in football only from the sidelines as a coach for his son’s football team, Wistrom has found a way to pay it forward to the game that has given him so much.

“I love coaching the kids,” said Wistrom. “It’s every bit as rewarding as getting the opportunity to play this great game. It’s a gift that I’ve been given and one that I hope, I can pay back.”

This past training camp, Wistrom brought about 20 of his players to watch Rams practice and used the opportunity to help motivate the kids.

“I think it inspires them,” said Wistrom. “It makes the game that they watch on TV a little bit more real to see the guys, shake some hands and see how big they actually are in person. Hopefully, it brings some of that excitement back the practice field, back to our games.”

Wistrom loves coaching his son, though couldn’t comment from his perspective because he admits sometimes his son may get his fill of Dad time. Grant and his wife, Melissa, make an effort to stay involved in their children’s lives in constructive and spontaneous ways, including volunteering at their schools.

“I go up there, serve pizza, hang out with them,” said Wistrom. “I do P.E. class with them sometimes. The more involved we can be in our kids lives, hopefully, the better off they’ll be.”

Wistrom and Melissa have also invested in CrossFit gyms in Springfield and have adopted the workout format for themselves.

“I teach a little bit, not a great deal,” said Wistrom. “I enjoy being there and the people I get to be around.”

Wistrom plans to be a part of the 15-year anniversary of the Rams’ Super Bowl Championship celebration in October. Now with adequate time to reflect on that special season, Wistrom is humbled to be a part of the ceremony.

“I love St. Louis, obviously, I’m a Ram and I forever will be, so any part I can play in that I think is a great honor,” said Wistrom.

When looking back, Wistrom is flooded with memories of good times on the field and of his relationships with teammates. But, one memory jumps out to him from the NFC Championship win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 23, 2000.

“I always looked up to Ray Agnew as far as the type of man he is and the football player he was and how long he’d been in the league and battled,” said Wistrom. “Getting the chance to hug Ray after that win and just knowing that I was part of something that would help a person like Ray get to the Super Bowl, a guy that’s paid his dues for so long. I just remember that moment and I will probably carry that with me to my grave.”

Like many of his teammates planning to make the trip back to St. Louis in a couple weeks to commemorate the 1999 season, Wistrom is looking forward to spending precious time with the people he cherished most in the locker room and in the stands that made that championship season so unforgettable.

• This topic was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by wv.
• This topic was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by wv.