Life Lessons From A Football Team

Even if you aren't a football fan, it's pretty hard to miss the hype surrounding this weekend's Superbowl game in Arizona.  For the second year in a row, the Seattle Seahawks will play for the Lombardi Trophy.  To say we're excited at my house would be an understatement.  We'll be having a big Superbowl party and can't wait to cheer on our team.  We love the Seahawks.

I love them for a different reason than you might think.  I've witnessed some valuable life lessons from this special group of men.

Never give up.  Work hard and keep fighting.  Be resilient.  It's not over until it's over.

The Seahawks are comprised of many players that no one else wanted. Quarterback Russell Wilson was a third round draft pick, despite a decorated college career, because of his size.  Jermaine Kearse, who caught the winning touchdown two weeks ago that clinched the NFC Championship, was passed over through seven rounds by all 32 NFL teams in 2011.  Chris Matthews, who recovered the on side kick that changed the course of the game, played in the Canadian Football League after going undrafted in 2011. They're like the team of misfit players, and on paper none of them look especially successful.

But just give them to head coach Pete Carroll.  One of his most impressive skills is to find, and then develop, talent that other teams deem unworthy. He gives every player an equal opportunity to compete, and it brings out the best in them.  Carroll is so committed to that philosophy that year in and year out, undrafted players beat out those picked ahead of them for roster spots.

Which brings us to this current team.  What you will find is a bunch of players who may not be the most talented in the game of football, but who possess the biggest hearts and greatest work ethic on the field.  They have fought extra hard to get where they are, and they will not give up on their dreams.

Nowhere was that drive more evident than the come from behind victory over the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago.  Down two touchdowns with just under four minutes left in the game, there was no logical reason to think they would win.  Wilson was having one of the worst games of his life, and the defense was exhausted.  But they still had faith. The players were walking the sidelines, ensuring each other that they would find a way to turn the game around. 

At this point, my boys had pretty much given up and they were sure it was over.  I told them "just watch".  I didn't know for sure that the Seahawks would win, but I felt that if anyone could, it would be this team.  And then they proved me right, and taught my two guys some valuable lessons.

Never give up.  Work hard and keep fighting.  Be resilient.  It's not over until it's over.

I'm glad that my boys can look up to the Seahawks players as role models, even off the field.  Russell Wilson visits Children's Hospital every Tuesday and spends the whole day with sick kids.  Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch and Michael Bennett all have charities which help underprivileged youth.

There's a reason why the 12's love the Seahawks so much.  Sure, it's nice to be winning.  That hasn't happened in Seattle for a really long time.  But I think we all recognize that this is a special group of men, accomplishing something that by most accounts they shouldn't be able to do.

No matter what happens this weekend at the Superbowl, win or lose,  I am very proud to call the Seattle Seahawks my football team.