16 Life Lessons Learned from Super Bowl LIV Champ Chiefs – football is just an entertaining game in the larger game of life. However, many life lessons can be learned by examining the sport of football, and what it takes to be successful, then apply it to every facet of real life. We are fortunate the Chiefs just won the Super Bowl, the pinnacle of defined success in the football world. The thrill of victory is fresh in our minds, which makes reflecting on the 2019 season, easy to glean for life lessons.
1. Never Give Up – Never Say Die
Is there a better example than the 2019 Chiefs? I doubt it. The Chiefs were behind in 11 games this year that ended as wins. The same is true for us as well. We should never give up, never stop chasing dreams no matter our age, no matter the circumstances.
2. Always Stay Positive
4th quarter, 10 minutes left, down by 10. If you don’t stay positive, you say… “I can’t”… you give up… and you lose. It means believing “I can do it” no matter what. Getting it done and having the time to get it done are different. This is simply knowing we can do it. Remember the Texans game? Perfect example. Plus, for Chiefs fans, this should forever change the meaning of: “Remember the Titans?”
3. Innovate – Be Creative
Think and do outside of the box. Call an improbable play on 3rd and 15. Call a blitz when no one expects it. Revisit the 1948 Rose Bowl. Reid and Spags did this throughout the season and even the preseason. Andy created Pat plays all last offseason! Spags said after the SB that “We can still get better.” Oh Boy! We can find new ways to accomplish our jobs.
4. Give it your best shot – all the time
Mahomes said this nearly verbatim. He is out there giving each and every play his best. Think, Pats TD run against the Titans. Think, the comeback against the ‘9ers. Always do your best even if you are having a bad day. The energy and effort you place into “giving it your best shot” will turn a bad day into a good day or even a great day!
5. Compliment those around you
It started at the top with Clark Hunt, to Veach, to Andy, to all the players. I have never heard an organization and team, be so complimentary to their teammates, coaches, and front office. It was amazing and infectious. Every single person talked about the family environment at the Chiefs. This is a great lesson we can implement with our own families, workmates, social circles, etc!
6. Never forget where you came from
Whether you sold hot dogs on campus, were a forgettable undrafted free agent nobody wanted, or a surprise first round draft choice from a losing college team, if you put in the hard work, you will succeed, sooner or later. We each have the same 24 hours a day to achieve our own definition of greatness. No matter our background, ethnicity, religious beliefs, eco-social status, etc. we can succeed. We all started from the womb, what will we do with the time given us?
7. Seek/Be a Mentor
Bill Walsh had Paul Brown… Mike Holmgren had Bill Walsh…. Andy Reid had Mike Holmgren… and Eric Bieniemy has Andy… and so it goes. Learn from someone who has been there and done that. Someone who knows more than you do about the subject you want to know about. Gardening, fishing, brewing beer, does it matter about the subject matter. No! Just keep learning.
8. Exert Energy and Passion Everyday
Very similar to giving it your best shot everyday. Passion wins the day everyday especially when you are tired, sick, distracted, or checked out. Energy brings a sense of urgency and focus to each play or every day. The Chiefs love players who love (have passion) to play football. Be a player who loves whatever you do!
9. Be Thankful/Grateful
A SB sportswriter was blown away by the fact that on SB Saturday, Tyrann Mathieu actually had the nerve to say “thank you” to the sportswriters and media! That’s crazy. The “media” hounds the players, ask stupid questions, then ask even more stupid questions, over and over, and a player actually thanks them for it? Everyday we should be grateful we are alive, live in America, and have a chance to do anything we want and succeed in any field we want. Every day is a new day. Every day is a gift!
10. Never Blame Others – Take Responsibility
No matter the score or what was happening, throughout the entire season, I never saw or heard a single Chief, point the finger and throw someone else under the bus. Down 24-0 to the Texans, no one pointed a finger, except at themselves. Then “boom” – Mecole takes off, the track meet started and we never looked back. Again this is a simple lesson to apply to our daily lives. If there is a problem, fix it. Be the solution to a problem.
11. Visualize Success
We heard it in various interviews with Mahomes and others. See yourself (literally) succeeding aka mental imaging, then implement it, put it to practice. See yourself achieving your goals.
12. One Play at a Time
Marty Schottenheimer said it in the 90’s, and the 2019 team picked it up as well. Drop a pass, forget it. Miss a tackle, forget it. There is always hope until the clock hits 0:00 and we always have hope until the moment we die. “Keep firing” said Andy to Patrick after the 2nd interception. Aren’t you glad PM2 has a short memory? One day at a time, do your best, achieve your goals.
13. Add Better Resources
Veach brought in more speed, more power, edge rushers, safeties, linebackers, offensive lineman, running backs, more passion, more discipline, more drive, and it showed on the field, every game. Get a masters degree, add education, attend seminars, take night classes, watch YouTube videos, get proven advice.
14. Play to your Strengths
Remember when Kelce said “When you think we are going to run, we are going to pass. When you think we are going to pass, we are definitely going to pass”? This is also known as not taking the ball out of the hands of your playmakers. Think about a running team not running the ball anymore. It can cost a Super Bowl win. What are your strengths? Spend time and energy on magnifying your strengths! Your weaknesses will soon be forgotten.
15. Take a Chance
2-3 Jet Chip Wasp on 3rd and 15. Enough said. The offense accelerated and the defense slammed on the brakes. Risk energizes us. Risk energizes those around us. Risk turns the tide in your favor. Just don’t be reckless. Remember: 2-3 Jet Chip Wasp was a proven risk.
16. Have “Championship Swagger”
It started in training camp with Frank Clark declaring “This ain’t last year” and ended with a Super Bowl victory! Tyrann Mathieu coined the phrase and the rest of the defense made it their personal and collective mantra. It showed with the helmet pointing at the opposing team, signaling “We are too smart for that.” What does championship swagger mean for you and me? Having extreme confidence in our ability, a firm belief that no matter the challenge or obstacle in front of us, know and believe beyond a shadow of a doubt, we win!
Did I miss one? What did you learn, personally, from the 2019 Chiefs?
Be Brave. Be Bold. Be Brilliant. Times yours!
David Perkins — ArrowheadOne
If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/16-life-lessons-learned-from-super-bowl-liv-champ-chiefs/#disqus_thread)