Former NFL Linebacker Makes Comeback From Living Homeless In Tunnel Beneath LA Freeway
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A former NFL linebacker is on the road to recovery after living on the streets of Los Angeles.
For quite some time, Terry Tautolo lived in a tunnel beneath a Los Angeles freeway after the end of his NFL career.
CBS2's Steve Large shows us how a cherished old coach is helping Tautolo turn his life around for the better.
Tautolo began his football career in 1976, when he became a Rose Bowl champion while playing for UCLA.
After graduation, he was drafted by San Francisco 49ers and won his first Super Bowl with the team in 1981.
His career came to a close after nine years, ultimately due to damage from concussions.
Tautolo still will not admit, however, that the concussions led to his homelessness.
When learning of Tautolo's living situation, old teammates put a call out for help and his old coach, Dick Vermeil, took action to help.
Vermeil said he was the coach who recruited Tautolo to play for UCLA and also drafted him to play for the NFL.
Tautolo is now living in a recovery house in Santa Monica and admits drug addiction dominated his life.
"I'm here now, and I'm grateful," said Tautolo. "It's such a bad word, addiction, alcoholism, but it really isn't. That's my truth."
His transformation is remarkable. Tautolo went from having sunken eyes and missing teeth to gaining muscle and looking clean-shaven with sparkling new teeth.
He received a scholarship from the Transcend Sober Living House and is receiving help from Vermeil and the NFL Players Association to pay for the rest of his treatment.
As part of his treatment, Tautolo is serving as a mentor and works with children living with autism under the supervision of House Director Luke Chittick.
Tautolo said he now has a wide safety net of friends helping him to stay sober.
