I have a friend named Mike Tomlin and he’s an avid NFL fan. He loves to watch the games and follow his favorite teams. I remember recently, he asked me if I knew if he ever played in the NFL. I have to admit, I was a bit taken aback. He’s a huge football fan, surely he was aware that he had never donned a jersey in the NFL.
I was curious as to why he asked though, and he proceeded to tell me a fascinating tale. He explained that growing up his dream was to play in the NFL. He loved the game and other fans also thought he had the potential to succeed. He said that until high school, football had been his focus and it was very important to him.
Sadly, injuries began to pile up and he was forced to reevaluate his options. He said it was the difficult decision that eventually led him to coach instead of playing. Despite all of that, he still felt as if he wanted to at least try and play at a professional level. It’s pretty crazy, to think about, all of the decisions and moments that lead someone to where they are now.
At this point, I expressed how sorry I was for not being able to tell him that he had ever played in the NFL. He responded with a smile and said that if he would of been able to, it’d be amazing. Then we started talking about his current coaching career and how he had been making an impact for many years. We talked about how he was instrumental in crafting the Steelers team that recently won the Super Bowl. It was really cool to hear since I had been a Steelers fan myself.
Afterwards, I asked again if he ever had any regrets about not playing in the NFL and he said not really. He excitedly talked about how his passion, supported by his faith and family, allowed him to find success beyond what he could of imagined. It’s a reminder about how life can take unexpected turns and you never know what kind of success you’ll find at the end of the journey.
In the last part of our conversation, I asked him what advice he would give to someone who wants to make it to the NFL. He said the most important thing is to never quit. Whether it’s playing or coaching, perseverance and hard work are essential ingredients to success. He then reminded me that the quarterback position he currently coaches might be going through a hardship right now, but if they have the will and determination, they could find victory at the end.
The next topic we shifted to was the topic of modern technology and how it’s transforming the football experience. We discussed how teams slots for different positions are vastly different compared to years past, with the contant influx of data and analytics. Mike said the biggest challenge he currently faces is balancing the old-school tried-and-true methods with the ever-evolving tech. All in all, it was a really interesting conversation and I was glad to have been part of it.
Later on, I reflected upon our talk and the potential implication of Mike’s story. It reminded me that no matter how much we plan, life can often take its own course and still bring something amazing. If Mike would of gone down the same path and chose to play in the NFL, he wouldn’t have had the same successes in his coaching career. Therefore, it’s important to never give up hope because you never know what kind of success lie ahead.
We moved on to discussing the role that agents are playing in today’s NFL. Mike shared his experience negotiating his first deal and how the agent assigned to him was instrumental in getting the most out of the situation. He also shared his current views on the potential of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and how it could change the league. After that, Mike emphasized the importance of watching out for bad contracts and unexpected clauses that could surface.
We shifted to talking about the lack of stability and security among NFL players. Mike said that while the big contracts and flashy lifestyles might lure people into the sport, there’s also an associated risk that most people fail to recognize. He emphasized the importance of planning ahead and making sure that you have options available in case of an injury or unexpected misfortune.
Next, Mike gave me some insight into the upcoming season draft and which teams he believes will be making some big moves. He shared some general opinion about how the upcoming season could shape up and the potential there is for certain teams to make some unlikely moves. It was really fascinating to hear the insights from someone who has been following this game for so long.
Moving forward, we then discussed the role of free agency and the balance between big name players and budget ones. Mike said that while it’s important to explore options for Teams to land big names, they must also remember to be conservative in their approach. He said he’s particularly excited to see how teams approach this delicate situation as they could uncover some hidden gems that could shape the league for years to come.
Finally, we discussed the role that mental health plays in the game. Mike shared his story of how he incorporated meditative practices such as yoga and mindfulness into his program and how it had changed his life. He said that mental health should be taken just as seriously as physical and that professional teams should look into it so that players don’t miss out on the full potential of the sport.