TCU’s Marshall Newhouse dishes on his NFL career, Coach P and what’s ahead for him
Marshall Newhouse isn’t ready to call it a career yet. He still believes he has more football left in him.
Who’s going to doubt him?
This is a guy who was a two-star recruit coming out of Lake Highlands and then played as a true freshman and had a standout career at TCU, earning All-Mountain West honors as a senior in 2009. He entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick in 2010, but just finished his 10th season in the league with the New England Patriots last season.
“I still love the game,” Newhouse said last week from his home in Austin. “I still love the X’s and O’s and the locker room and traveling and playing. The other stuff is a little more tedious now that I’m older — more aches and pains and stuff that comes from aging and playing a lot of snaps.
“When the time comes that I’m like, my body is not letting me do what I need to do and my mind isn’t all the way there, I’ll be able to get out and figure out what’s next.”
Newhouse has embraced being a journeyman offensive tackle in the NFL, willing to go wherever he’s needed. He’s lived on both coasts and been affiliated with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Newhouse started his career with the Green Bay Packers (2010-13) with now-Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He’s gone on to stops at Cincinnati (2014), reuniting with former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton; the New York Giants (2015-16); Oakland (2017); Buffalo and Carolina (2018), and New England (2019).
He’s been part of a Super Bowl-winning team with the Packers in 2010. He also experienced being part of one of our generation’s greatest tandems with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick last season.
Newhouse attributes his longevity in a league that’s been referred to as “Not For Long” to his upbringing and college experience. His cousin, Robert Newhouse, played for the Dallas Cowboys for 12 years and TCU coach Gary Patterson has an impressive track record of sending players to the league.
As far as being Robert Newhouse’s cousin, Newhouse said: “The main thing I learned as I got older was the professionalism part — being prepared for anything, being someone who is resilient. He was a great fullback, but I think people see how highly his teammates spoke of his character and the things he did in the locker room. There’s a reason that he went back to work for the Cowboys post-career.
“That’s what I’ve tried to do in my career — be someone who is reliable and dependable. A good teammate, a person who works hard and you never have to question if I want to be there.”
Newhouse learned similar traits during his college career under Patterson.
Patterson is known for his hard-nosed, demanding style, but it’s something that Newhouse has come to appreciate more over the years.
Asked whether Patterson reminded him of any of his NFL coaches, Newhouse chuckled and said: “Coach P is his own animal, man, and I say that in the most endearing way possible. I don’t think he can be duplicated. His entire history motivates him daily, just the edge that he has, the chip he has on his shoulder. He wants to get guys better and make them buy into the system because when they do it’s brought success.
“He’s someone who I’ve come to appreciate more every year I’m removed from TCU. When you’re in it and getting yelled at, you don’t see the forest through the trees. You’re like, ‘Man, why is he on me?’ But you come to appreciate it.”
Newhouse has also come to appreciate those teams at TCU. The 2006 class, for instance, featured a number of success stories.
Newhouse was a two-star prospect who is now a 10-year NFL veteran. Dalton went from three-star QB prospect to TCU legend to NFL Pro Bowler. Jerry Hughes went from high school running back to a first-round NFL Draft pick as a defensive end. Marcus Cannon and Colin Jones were a couple other recruits from that class who had extended NFL careers.
“We had a ton of hard-working, high-character guys who knew how to work and knew how to be leaders in their own right,” Newhouse said. “I’ve gotten to play with all of them in the NFL and nothing changed with how they prepared. There’s something to be said for that class.”
Newhouse may reunite with one of them again for the 2020 season. He’s working out and waiting for a call from a team who needs a veteran offensive tackle. In the meantime, he’s also looking ahead to what his life might look like beyond his playing days.
Newhouse has found a passion for the business world, living in New York and San Francisco, and has invested in emerging markets and small businesses. He’s even considered going to business school to boost his credentials to run a company one day.
“I’m staring at the 18th hole as they say,” Newhouse said. “I know that I’ll be done with football soon, so trying to do my best to plan accordingly.”
