Suplex to sobriety: How that viral James Harrison tackle changed a Cleveland fan's life for the better

PITTSBURGH — Outfitted in a gray Kent State football sweatsuit and black Nike sneakers, James Harrison quietly made his way through the lobby and into the main dining area of Napa Prime Chophouse & Cigar Bar in Marshall. There, sitting alone at a candlelit table with a fireplace at his back, was a face familiar to the four-time All-Pro, but one he hadn't seen in quite some time. "You look a little different from the last time I saw you, baby," Harrison said, taking a seat. "You look the same," Nathan Mallett responded, generating a chuckle from both parties. In 2005, a crowd of 73,136 fans witnessed Harrison and Mallett's first meeting. That brief interaction was far less cordial than their reunion last Wednesday, and the first one ended with Mallett spending Christmas morning in a jail cell. Much has changed. Two decades after his biggest embarrassment, Mallett has a fresh lease on life. He's become a completely different man since the day that most of the football world learned his name, and he claims Harrison's viral tackle put everything into motion. An imperfect storm A lifelong Browns supporter, Mallett's fandom dates to 1993, when Eric Metcalf scored two touchdowns on punt returns against the Steelers to fuel a 28-23 comeback win. "I still remember watching that game with my grandpa," Mallett said. "I was hooked. I haven't stopped loving that team since." Mallett started to regularly attend Browns games as a young adult. The team was rarely competitive, but it didn't matter, especially when the Steelers were in town. In 2005, the Steelers visited on Christmas Eve. Mallett, whose birthday is Dec. 23, purchased tickets with a group of friends. They partied the evening before at his home in Chippewa Lake, 50 miles south of the city. Mallett never went to bed, drinking into the early morning. "He was always the life of the party," said Mallett's friend and roommate at the time, Justin Steiner. "He really got after it, especially that night." They hit the road around 8 a.m., stopping to purchase 30-packs of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Mallett's personal favorite, Miller High Life. The drinking resumed before the stadium's tailgate lots opened. It continued well into the afternoon, as they watched the Steelers make easy work of a hapless Browns. As Pittsburgh led 41-0 early in the fourth quarter, Mallett decided to take matters into his own hands. "I was telling people, 'If I was out there on the field, I could get to Roethlisberger before anyone on the Browns' defense,' " Mallett said. "That's when the idea got in my head." Mallett shared with friends his plans to storm the field. Those conversations carried over to others in his section along with a few security guards nearby. They warned him of the punishment he'd receive if he tried it. Then came a phone call to his grandmother. "Every year we had dinner at her place on Christmas Eve," Mallett said. "I had to let her know that I was probably going to be a bit late." Before making his way to the field, Mallett handed his ticket stub to a Steelers fan, saying he should keep it to remember what was about to take place. He then walked to the front row of his section, handed his beer to the person on the end of the aisle and hopped the fence. Mallett's dash began in the far corner of the east end zone, along the Browns' sideline. He rushed past security to midfield, where the ball was. With Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger no longer in the game due to the lopsided score, Verron Haynes became his target. But the Steelers' backup tailback easily dodged Mallett, who was barking like a dog while sprinting through the backfield. Browns defensive lineman Kenard Lang pushed Mallett, causing him to turn his back toward the Steelers' sideline. Mallett told Lang, "Do your job," and then jumped up with both arms in the air, celebrating the roar of the crowd. That celebration was quickly interrupted. "Before I knew it, I was staring up at James Harrison," Mallett said. Harrison had picked up Mallett and suplexed him onto the turf, creating a memorable moment in Steelers-Browns lore. He then stood over Mallett, holding him on the ground until Cleveland police took him away. "It was an opportunity I couldn't miss," Harrison told Mallett with a smile 20 years later, as he waited for his 14-ounce dry aged New York strip steak to arrive. 'This ain't for me' A few hours after his on-field arrest, guards at the Cuyahoga County jail asked Mallett for a photo. The next morning, his sister Jamie drove him home to join their family for Christmas. There were no lectures or talk of disappointment. Seemingly everyone found the stunt more humorous than harmful. "He instantly became the talk of the town," said Mallett's close friend, Jeramie Arnette. " ... He was a local legend." Mallett was charged with criminal trespassing. His sentence included five years on probation, 250 hours of community service, court-mandated attendance to Alcoholics Anonymous classes and a series of fines. Judge Joan Synenberg threw in a few extra items that turned his punishment into national news. Mallett had to spend Super Bowl weekend in jail. He was placed in solitary confinement that Sunday — ironically sparing him from watching Harrison and the Steelers capture the Lombardi Trophy. That fall, Mallett was placed under house arrest only on days when the Browns played a home game. The Browns also banned him from attending games for the next five seasons. The incident became a spectacle, one covered by ESPN, Yahoo and USA Today. Mallett and Judge Synenberg appeared together on ABC's "Good Morning America" just a few weeks before Super Bowl XL and were the subject of jokes by Jay Leno on NBC's "The Tonight Show." "He cannot see the Browns play for five years," Leno remarked. "And the punishment is what? I say make him watch those games. That's the punishment!" Mallett did his best to take everything in stride. He even penned an apology letter to the Browns, which ultimately earned him a free trip to a game the following Christmas Eve with Judge Synenberg and his parole officer. But it would take a few more years for him to ultimately learn his lesson. Most of Mallett's friends were drinking just as excessively, so there was little incentive to change. His drunken shenanigans were just "Nate being Nate," enabling such behavior to continue. "Anytime I found myself in a setting with boundaries, I was not afraid to cross them," he said. "I was going over the top too many times." Mallett was drinking more and more. Six to seven beers after work. Weekends became three-day benders. He regularly missed work and lost a few jobs. Even that was not enough incentive to slow down. His wakeup call arrived in 2009, when he was charged with assault for his involvement in a bar room scuffle in his hometown of Wooster. Still on parole from his field-storming mishap, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail. Mallett squirmed with discomfort earlier this month when asked to reflect upon that stretch of time. He vividly recalls the jail's lack of natural light. Thick layers of frost along the building's windows prevented a clear view of the outside world. "The moment I walked in there, I remember thinking, 'I don't like this already. I already feel like a caged animal. This ain't for me,'" Mallett said. That's when he decided it was time for a serious change. Alcohol was the overlapping factor that led him to trouble. It was time to grow up. It was time to get sober. While incarcerated, Mallett began Moral Recreational Therapy. He was tasked to set a list of goals he hoped to achieve during the first year, five years and 10 years of his sobriety. After being released from jail, Mallett remained committed to checking each item off the list. Turning it all around Earlier this month, Mallett sat next to his wife, Camille, in the living room of their two-story home in Smithville. In the next room over, their 8-year-old son, Lincoln — appropriately wearing a Myles Garrett jersey — played video games. Their residence was filled with lights, festive pillows, stockings and a life-sized showgirl leg lamp displayed in the window, as seen in the film "A Christmas Story." Their walls displayed dozens of photos from Nathan and Camille's wedding, the early years of Lincoln's life and trips they took together as a family. Mallett is now 16 years sober. This is the life he worked to create. "I've only known Nate as being sober," Camille said. The day he was released from jail, Mallett stumbled upon Omaha Bob's BBQ, a new restaurant that had opened while he was behind bars. The owner was someone he worked for back in high school. Mallett explained his situation. He needed a job but couldn't work full-time. Each week, he was set to attend three court-ordered recovery classes, along with five AA meetings. Sobriety was his top priority. "I was going to get treatment," he said. "I knew I had a lot to work through, and I knew I was going to need time." Mallett was hired as a line cook. Living in his late grandmother's home with a few heavy drinkers, he learned to isolate himself upstairs to avoid a relapse. The job allowed him to save enough money for his own apartment. It also introduced him to his wife. At that time, Camille was 19 years old, working part time as she attended the College of Wooster. On their first date, Mallett shared his struggles. He revealed all his past mistakes along with the things he hoped to accomplish through sobriety. She didn't run. They've been together 15 years, married for 11. "I saw him for who he was," Camille said. "I appreciated that level of transparency that early on. I think that says a lot about where he was, how genuine and authentic he was." Mallett worked his way into a manager role at the restaurant before leaving for another opportunity. Today, he is a self-employed painter, working on anything from residential homes to commercial buildings. The 10-year goals Mallett set for himself in prison included getting married, having a child and owning a home, motorcycle and classic car. He scratched off the final item last month, purchasing a 1937 International pickup truck that he can't wait to fix up. "Man, that's old school, old school," Harrison said as Mallett showed him a picture. "That's gonna look real nice." In his early years of sobriety, Mallett led a youth ministry. His testimony began with him playing a video of him getting blasted by one of the greatest linebackers in Steelers history. His message was simple: Everyone makes mistakes, but those mistakes don't have to define who you are. Mallett's journey has inspired many, including those who know him best. Steiner, his former roommate and close friend for decades, was among them. Today, Steiner is 11 years sober. "Nate is a huge reason I'm clean today," Steiner said. "He was an inspiration to me. I saw what he was doing. I saw the type of person he was, the husband he was to Camille and the father he was to Lincoln. I thought, 'If Nate can do this, why can't I?' " Once known as the life of the party, Mallett is now a self-described homebody who prioritizes quality time with loved ones. He says the only things that can drag him out of the house are work, Lincoln's sporting events, cross-country motorcycle trips and practices, and shows for his band. Last week was a special occasion — James Harrison wanted to meet him for dinner. An unlikely reunion Mallett was nervous in the days leading up to his reunion with Harrison. After all, their first encounter ended with him being thrown to the ground like a rag doll. Harrison, however, eased the tension upon his arrival. Known throughout his career for his intense nature and intimidating stare, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was eager to gain a first-hand account of Mallett's story. "I wanted to see if he actually did get sober," Harrison said. Naturally, the first thing they discussed was Harrison's tackle. "After I slammed you, you kind of didn't know what the hell was going on," Harrison said. "You looked around and looked up at me. You were like, 'Oh yeah, I got your ass now!' " Mallett shared his side of things, telling Harrison about his party the night before, the buildup to his run and the immediate aftermath. Harrison was amused, but he was even more captivated when Mallett told him how the hit eventually helped him turn his life around. Harrison listened intently as Mallett shared his journey, from his 60-day jail sentence, to his commitment to sobriety, to developing his career, to building a family. "Man, you really got everything in line," Harrison said. Both can now look back on the incident with a smile, knowing that it ultimately led to something positive. The dinner lasted more than two hours, with the two chatting about a range of topics, from Harrison's football stories to a Browns-themed song that Mallett's band performs. "I'm pretty pumped that we were able to do this," Mallett said to Harrison just before the check arrived. "I just want to say thank you, because I think you slammed some sense into me." Harrison, a man of many words that night, could only sit back, nod his head and shoot Mallett a look of appreciation. The five-time Pro Bowler registered 811 tackles throughout his 15 years in the NFL, but it was the one takedown that never appeared on a stat sheet that might have been the most impactful.