Whether you’re a die-hard football fan, or just in it for the commercials, there’s a good chance you’ll be tuning into the Super Bowl this Sunday. In anticipation of the big game, Chief Executive Magazine has published an article featuring words of wisdom from former Super Bowl champ David Tyree on leadership, teamwork, and the infamous ‘helmet catch’.
During the leadup to Super Bowl XLII, Tyree and his NY Giants teammates had a practice session that did not bode well. With less than 24 hours left before they faced off against the New England Patriots, time was of the essence. After dropping ball after ball, Tyree dubbed it “the worst practice of my life.” What happened next changed Tyree’s entire outlook, and perhaps the outcome of the game. Tyree’s quarterback, Eli Manning, approached him after the disastrous practice and told him “I know you’ll be ready.” With these five simple words, Manning connected to Tyree on a level that allowed him to ‘reset’, and approach the game with renewed focus.
The Giants were trailing in the fourth quarter with less than 3 minutes remaining. Manning threw the ball to Tyree in a crucial play, who reached into the air, grabbed the ball, and pinned it to his helmet with one hand as he fell to the ground. The Giants went on to win the game, thanks to Tyree’s ability to make that amazing catch and keep the drive going. Between Manning’s leadership and his experiences both on and off the field, Tyree was inspired to found his own leadership development company, DT3 Enterprises. Check out the full article here for his advice on how leaders can connect with their teams in high pressure situations, so that everyone is at their best.