Darius Victor: On Duty

By Allen Austin

Darius Victor

Guardians RB Lives Through Faith and Football

It was a frosty February Saturday when the New York Guardians went to 2-2 on the year, their first year in the newly relaunched XFL. Vince McMahon gave the league a try back in the early 2000s, but it didn’t last more than one season. Now in 2020, he’s giving football another shot.

Darius Victor is also giving football another shot, even though the fire and desire to play has never left him. Opportunities, however, had eluded him after being on the practice squads for the Cardinals and Saints over the years.

Coming into this particular Saturday, Victor was listed as Doubtful as recently as Friday, the day prior, because of an ankle injury. He hadn’t practiced all week. There he was, though, taped up and ready to run down the field like the bowling ball he is so often compared to, being that he is 5 foot 6 inches and 226 pounds. Darius didn’t let an ankle injury hold him back.

When I asked the Guardian if he’s like to do this interview, he replied “Sure. I’d be happy to.” Later that evening, we spoke on the phone about all things Darius Victor.

My hope to interview Darius wasn’t arbitrary. I had heard about this XFL running back who’d been through a whole cavalcade of ups and downs in his 26 years of existence so far. That’s putting it mildly.

I read about a kid who grew up in refugee camps in the Ivory Coast, sleeping in bushes while on the run with his family during the First Liberian Civil War. I read about a man who lost his brother to a gunshot in 2011. I read about a man whose family, a year after the murder of his brother, had its house burn down. I read about a player who bounced around a couple of NFL practice squads, but never ultimately reaching his goal. Sometimes when you read stuff on the internet, you have to question it’s authenticity, but now that I had the source himself on the phone, I had to ask if it was all real.

“Yes. Everything’s true that you read.”

Victor assured me. In regards to being on the run in Africa, Victor elaborated. “I don’t know if you guys seen like a Blood Diamond type of movie, things like that, but that’s the environment that I was born in, my family had to survive in. It’s pretty crazy, it’s a blessing just to be here with my family.”

Counting his blessings is a common theme we will get into, as Darius has a great relationship with God. After leaving Africa, Darius’ parents Gary and Patricia settled their family in Hyattsville, Maryland.

The transition from being on the run as a child in Africa to growing up in Maryland wasn’t that bad for Darius. “I grew up pretty quick, I was always one of the coolest kids in school, it wasn’t too bad on me. At points at times where kids would be a little mean, but it was pretty fine though to be honest. Like I said, I was one of the cooler kids in school, and one of the most athletic and things like that, so that helped, I gained a lot of friends.”

It was here in Maryland where Darius found his passion on the gridiron, thanks in large part to his brother, Kevin.

“He was my designated babysitter, and he started playing football. And he was pretty good, and we were so competitive, so my drive, main drive, was just to be better than him at everything we did…That was my motivation to be good at playing ball.”

Kevin is not here with us today, but I asked Darius how Kevin would feel about where Darius is at today after all the adversity he’s been through, and where he’s at in his career. “I think he’d be proud of me, the way I play, the way I live, the kind of person I am. Think that I’m a good person. I believe in treating others how I wanna be treated, so I think he would be proud of me.”

Victor’s football career would continue in Maryland, where he’d wind up playing at Towson University, putting up 3,309 rushing yards, and 42 total touchdowns.

Earning his stripes while being a Tiger is something he holds very near and dear to his heart.

“It was great, man. Chose Towson to be close to my family, and Towson had the family environment, their style of offense fits me perfectly, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, I love those guys, I love the program, I love the coaches. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Darius was not ready to hang up his cleats after his last release from an NFL practice squad. Once he heard the XFL was launching, he wanted to do whatever it took to be a part of it.

“I definitely put it on my radar, because I was out of football, the NFL, the AAF started, and I missed out on that opportunity, and I was itching to play football. I heard about the XFL and I was like Yo, I have to…It all happened. If I wasn’t playing in football right now in the XFL and I was on the outside like I was with AAF I’d probably be going crazy right now ‘cause I love to ball so much, and just not playing, and watching other people play, it kills me every time.”

Victor sees the XFL as a “breath of fresh air” when it comes to the business internally, preferring the XFL to an NFL futures deal.

It’s not just a breath of fresh air, it’s another shot at the game he loves so much.

His Guardians brothers and coaches all share a common goal and understanding of one another. “I love these guys, we’re a family. We gravitated towards each other. We’ve all been through the disappointment of getting cut and not being in the NFL. That brings us closer, because we can relate to each other…I go out there every day, every game and give it my all for my guys. It’s all about being held accountable to your brothers. I’m grateful for the opportunity Coach Gilbride gave us, and Vince McMahon.”

One of his aforementioned Guardian brothers quipped on the sidelines after the game Saturday that Victor performed on one leg.

The aforementioned Coach Kevin Gilbride also feels Darius is more than just a member of the team, he’s so much more.

“Darius is obviously a good football player. He gives us physical presence that you love to see from your running back. But also he’s an emotional leader, I mean he is a fiery, bubbly, upbeat, buoyant kind of guy, so when things are going wrong or things are going tough and we’ve strung two losses together, you look to guys with his personality, and there’s no question he helps to lift us, he’s the leader of our team no question.”

Speaking of McMahon, Victor said he is a big time pro wrestling/WWE fan, and listed Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle as his favorite.

Darius has kept God at the forefront as he's dealt with his challenges. He even sells merchandise promoting this bond with the Almighty. The main message being “Keep God 1st”.

“What I’ve been through, having that faith, I gravitate towards the Lord to make things better…Walking with faith and trusting the Lord and things will shape out for the better…My boy, He’s always looking out for me.” Number 27 always had this Guardian watching over him, whether it be his father, brother or God, and now he gets to be a Guardian as well, albeit in a different way.

Admittedly, it was awesome seeing Darius play so well, get the post game in stadium interview, and sign as many footballs, jerseys and whatever else he could before he was whisked away to the locker room. This man is the real deal, and after all he’s been through, it’s going to take more than a defensive scheme to stop him from doing what he sets his mind to.