New Bears defensive tackle Neville Gallimore talks with ChicagoBears.com about the culture shock of going from playing football in Canada to playing in the United States, his favorite dad activities, retiring from freestyling and much more.
What was your welcome to the NFL moment?
Probably just having to go get food for the veteran guys. When we got done with a Saturday practice before a game, one of the guys was like, 'Man, who got the food?' I was just kind of like, 'What's going on?' I'm just thinking he's talking about next week or something. He's like, 'No, we need it now. Flight leaves at 2 p.m. though, don't be late.' They wanted Chick-fil-A and fortunately, I was packed up already. So I had to drive to the spot, get the fast food, and obviously, it was a crazy order. They made me order like $150, $200 worth of Chick-fil-A. And then I'm talking, I just made it for the plane.
What's your favorite football memory ever?
It was probably my junior year of high school. I'm originally from Canada. I went to Canada Prep and it was the first school to play a full U.S. schedule. It was my first time going up against U.S. competition. We played this team called Steubenville in Ohio. And it was my first time seeing and getting a taste of the football culture. It was just small city in Ohio, but I'm talking, there was fans, cheerleaders, bands. It was insane. For me, that was kind of like, 'Oh, I love this feeling,' because in Canada you wouldn't have games like that where the city shuts down like that.
Who's been the toughest offensive lineman to go against?
Fortunately, I've actually been able to go against Zack Martin in Dallas, Quenton Nelson when I was at the Colts, Kevin Dotson when I was with the Rams. I got a chance to go against these guys on the daily in practice, so those three probably stood out.
What is the best coaching advice you've ever received?
See a little, see a lot. Your best ball is when you're not out there thinking and you're able to just be.
Was there a culture shock going from Canada to the U.S.?
Yes. For me, I wasn't a person that was afraid of competition, but it was more so the standard and the level of intensity in football here. I'm a person that's intense and I'm very intentful when it comes to the game. But when I got here, especially going from Canada to Oklahoma, the mentality — the fans are diehard fans. Even the traditions, like certain teams you just don't lose to. Just how the grind was — I think just everything was a shock. You go from a place where football is cool ... people love football where I'm from, don't get me wrong, but it's night and day when you go to Oklahoma or Texas.
Would you rather have a strip sack or tipped ball interception?
Tipped ball interception. And then to add to that, like a 20, 30-yard touchdown.
Have you ever had one?
No, that's why I'm channeling it. We're manifesting it. It's happening at some point.
You have a son, Nas — what's become your favorite dad activity?
Changing diapers. Nah, my son, he's really into football and basketball. So really just watching him run around. Watching Blue's Clues with him. If you give him a basketball, he's gonna try and dunk it. You give him a football, he's gonna try to run around with it. He thinks he's a running back. So just watching him just be him, just seeing how fast he grows, and running around with him is great.
You seem to be into the game day fits. Build your ideal game day fit.
I love the fact that I'm here because I feel like my game day fits are gonna be able to go to another level, because I like the cold fits. I like a jacket, a hoodie. I get to bring out the '90s type of jackets. Some of the stuff you may see me wear might be from your favorite movie.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I gotta ask my wife. Do I have a hidden talent?
Chelsie: You like to freestyle.
I don't think I've done that in a few years. I'm, like, retired. Me and my best friend, before he had kids, it was a thing we used to do before practice. Any song — rock, hip hop, pop, country, bluegrass — any song that was playing before the warmup, we used to start freestyling, get everyone involved. But I've been off the map, that's crazy. [Chelsie] be freestyling too, though.
