Catching up with Jason Belser: Ex-Colts S still involved with NFL

Fourth in an occasional series catching up with former Colts. The first edition featured former Colts RB Edgerrin James. The second edition featured former Colts TE Marcus Pollard.The third edition featured former Colts OL Tony Mandarich.

Anyone wondering how Jason Belser is handling life after the NFL is advised to take a seat and have patience.

The former Indianapolis Colts safety isn't there, yet.

"I'm still in the NFL," Belser said. "That's one of the benefits and beauty of my job."

That would be as the NFL Players Association's senior director of player affairs and development.

Belser, 44, is in his 10th year with the union, following an 11-year playing career that ended in 2002. His final two seasons were with the Kansas City Chiefs, but he established himself during a nine-year stint as a relentless safety with the Colts.

"I grew up a lot as a man while I was (with the Colts)," Belser said.

There were bursts of success — four trips to the playoffs, including the AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh after the 1995 season — but also seasons that tested everyone's fortitude. The Colts finished 4-12 in '93, Belser's second season, and endured consecutive 3-13s in '97-98.

"I realized I couldn't take that frustration home," said Belser, a 1992 eighth-round draft pick. "One thing I'm thankful of is (owner Jim) Irsay brought in Bill Polian, someone who had a football mind. He decided to make the right draft picks and draft Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James to build on what we already had with Marvin (Harrison).

"That really transformed the Indianapolis Colts."

Belser did his part. He was durability personified, appearing in all 16 regular-season games in eight of his nine years. When his Colts career came to an end in 2000, he had started 102 consecutive games and, according to the team, piled up 979 tackles, 13 interceptions and nine sacks.

"I wanted to be accountable to my teammates. I wanted to be held accountable by the fans of Indianapolis," said Belser, who had at least 100 tackles seven times.

"You don't know how many games you're going to get. You want to value every one of those 16 games. I approached it with that mindset."

Belser has attacked his role with the NFLPA in a similar fashion. His objective: be there for the membership. To that end, he works in concert with former players Martin Bayless, Tom Carter, Ernie Conwell, Don Davis and Lester Archambeau.

"I find myself busy making sure the players understand the wages, hours and working conditions which are negotiated in the collective bargaining agreement," Belser said. "We make sure they understand the resources and services the union provides for professional development, career transition both into the league and out of the league, and make sure they understand all their rights under the CBA so they don't lose out on any benefits.''

Belser's continued relationship with the NFL and commitment to its players isn't a surprise. His father, Caesar, played in the NFL for five seasons as a safety/linebacker and was quick to instill certain core values in his attentive son.

"My father was a union member and big supporter. He always told me two things — pay your dues and go to the union meetings," Belser said.

That foundation was further engrained when Belser arrived in Indianapolis as a rookie. Veteran Eugene Daniel was the team's union rep at the time and prepared Belser for a succession.

"Gene told me I was going to be the player rep. I understood exactly what that meant and I listened to his words and wisdom," he said. "I wanted to make sure our players always were informed."

Belser resides in northern Virginia with his wife, Sarita, 11-year old daughter Malaka and 13-year old son Sajon.

"Married to my college sweetheart and we've got two wonderful kids," he said.

The NFL, he added, "was a job. Everybody has a job to do and you want to be the best at it and do the best at it so you can support your family.

"I've been able to make the most of it and, most importantly, leave a positive impact on the game."

Belser is motivated by the NFLPA's mission statement.

"The last thing it says is 'to preserve our gains and achieve those goals not yet attained,'" he said. "Every day I come to work, I'm trying to think about how that translates into every decision we make, everything we do in conjunction with our partners with the NFL and at every level of football — high school, college, the NFL."

Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830. You can follow him on Twitter at @mchappell51.