Bruce Kozerski (64) poses with Cincinnati Bengals quaterback Boomer Esiason (7) and his fellow offesnive lineman during media day for Super Bowl XXIII. Pictured are: Back row, from left, back row: Joe Walter, Herb Wester, Dave Smith, David Douglas. Front row: Brian Blados (74), Max Montoya (65), Kozerski, Bruce Reimers (75), Anthony Munoz (78).
AP file photo
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WILKES BARRE – Bruce Kozerski sees a lot of the last Cincinnati Bengals team to go to the Super Bowl when he looks at the current version of the Bengals.
Kozerski should know. The area native played 12 seasons on the Bengals’ offensive line, including helping to anchor that line of the 1988 team that went to Super Bowl XXIII.
“I see determination and professionalism,” Kozerski said, of the Bengals who will face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI today. “This team is almost a reflection of my team back in ‘88. We came off a bad season and the player strike of ‘87 really pulled the team apart.
“This is a very special group of skill players. There aren’t many teams who are blessed to have so many healthy guys that make such big impacts like (quarterback Joe) Burrow, (wide receiver Ja’Marr) Chase and (running back Joe) Mixon. The defense has stepped up tremendously this year, especially (defensive end Trey) Hendrickson, and the secondary.”
He also mentioned, “Burrow can win a lot of games. he has to stay healthy and take advantage of the off season.”
Before playing 12 seasons for the Bengals, Kozerski graduated from James M. Coughlin High School.
During his senior year at Coughlin, he tore his ACL likely ruining his chances of receiving any scholarships to play at the collegiate level. But he did not give up, he worked hard enough to earn a look from a small Division 1 school, Holy Cross, located in Massachusetts.
Kozerski earned enough of a name for himself at Holy Cross to be a ninth round pick of the Bengals in the 1984 NFL Draft.
After retiring from the NFL, he decided that football would always be a part of him, and he wanted to get the closest to playing he could. That’s when he decided that he wanted to teach math and coach, landing Holy Cross High School located in Covington, Ky.
“The most challenging part of coaching when I first started was slowing the game down,” he said. “Not just for myself but for the kids as well. Not everyone is gifted with the required athletic ability and knowledge. Everyone has their own limits, and I had to make sure that all my guys were on the same page.
“The NFL violence is off the charts, maybe not as much as it was back then due to a lot of new rules but those kids look up to and admire NFL players. They are going to try and replicate what those pros are doing, and my job is to make sure they are doing that the proper and safe way. I can’t do anything but believe in my team and call plays as a coach, that’s all you can do.”
Even after being a head coach and teacher for nearly two decades, Kozerski says there was a learning curve in the beginning.
“The thing I’m most excited for is helping every individual I can. These kids have been through all kinds of mental, physical and emotional trauma,” he said. “There’s no better feeling than watching my kids walk across the stage for graduation then coming to see me and thanking me. It feels really good to make a difference for these kids.”