--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Playing eight years, never making the…" description: "\"Playing eight years, never making the playoffs, you feel like you're running on a treadmill that's going nowhere. You're like, 'Is this it? Is this all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/chris-long-5847_football_playing-eight-years-never-making-the-pla_2770261.jpg" --- # Playing eight years, never making the playoffs, you feel… ![“Playing eight years, never making the playoffs, you feel like you're running on a treadmill that's going nowhere. You're like, 'Is this it? Is this all football is?'” quote by Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/chris-long-5847_football_playing-eight-years-never-making-the-pla_2770261.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/chris-long-5847_football_playing-eight-years-never-making-the-pla_2770261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/715/chris-long-5847_football_playing-eight-years-never-making-the-pla_2770261.jpg) > “Playing eight years, never making the playoffs, you feel like you're running on a treadmill that's going nowhere. You're like, 'Is this it? Is this all football is?'” [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated failure to reach playoffs feels like endless effort without progress, prompting existential doubt. **In simple terms:** Playoffs never came. Key Takeaway Reevaluate goals and strategies. Themes sports perseverance disillusionment Mood determined thoughtful Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - team sports - personal ambition - coaching decisions Key Concepts goal setting career assessment Questions to Reflect On - What new approaches could break the cycle? - How to maintain motivation despite setbacks? A Different Perspective Changing teams may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-like/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Like Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-football/) [Making Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-playoffs-381624/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Playing Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-years-650789/) [Playoffs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs/) [Playoffs Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoffs-feel-3236934/) [Treadmill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treadmill/) ## Related quotes > [I've been fortunate enough to do pretty well in playoffs. I feel pretty comfortable in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-garcia/i-ve-been-fortunate-enough-to-do-pretty-well-in-playoffs-i-feel/) [Sergio Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-garcia/) > [The first thought is always about making the playoffs. That's the tough part. And once you get there, only then you can allow yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ovechkin/the-first-thought-is-always-about-making-the-playoffs-that-s-the/) [Alexander Ovechkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ovechkin/) > [There's been so many stories throughout the league where teams have started off poorly and ended up in the Finals. Or teams starting out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-bird/there-s-been-so-many-stories-throughout-the-league-where-teams-have/) [Sue Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-bird/) > [That's a moment I will never forget in my life, never ever. It was the first time I made the playoffs. After we lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/that-s-a-moment-i-will-never-forget-in-my-life-never-ever-it-was-the/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [The Process is never going to end. It's an ongoing thing. I don't think it's ever going to stop. As I have explained before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/the-process-is-never-going-to-end-it-s-an-ongoing-thing-i-don-t-think/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [For me, not making the playoffs is a wasted season, a waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/for-me-not-making-the-playoffs-is-a-wasted-season-a-waste-of-time/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [When you can protect your home court, that's one of the biggest things about making the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/when-you-can-protect-your-home-court-that-s-one-of-the-biggest-things/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [Making the playoffs is hard to come by, so if you can help contribute to your team's success it's always a successful time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-vinatieri/making-the-playoffs-is-hard-to-come-by-so-if-you-can-help-contribute/) [Adam Vinatieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-vinatieri/) > [Ultimately, if you can say that I'm a bad owner and we're winning championships, I can live with that. But if we're not making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/ultimately-if-you-can-say-that-i-m-a-bad-owner-and-we-re-winning/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Yeah, once you get a taste of the playoffs - I couldn't imagine not making it back to the playoffs. Give credit to LeBron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/yeah-once-you-get-a-taste-of-the-playoffs-i-couldn-t-imagine-not/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [You want to be the guy who makes an impact in every game. In this sport it's all about results-winning games and making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-st-louis/you-want-to-be-the-guy-who-makes-an-impact-in-every-game-in-this/) [Martin St. Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-st-louis/) > [Winning the Rookie of the Year would be nice but making the playoffs would be even nicer for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bogut/winning-the-rookie-of-the-year-would-be-nice-but-making-the-playoffs/) [Andrew Bogut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bogut/) > [Making the playoffs three consecutive seasons is a great accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pau-gasol/making-the-playoffs-three-consecutive-seasons-is-a-great/) [Pau Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pau-gasol/) > [Only one champion stands at the end of the year, so just making the playoffs isn't enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fizdale/only-one-champion-stands-at-the-end-of-the-year-so-just-making-the/) [David Fizdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fizdale/) > [I joke that every time I'm in the playoffs, it feels like I'm in the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-joke-that-every-time-i-m-in-the-playoffs-it-feels-like-i-m-in-the/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) ## More by Chris Long > [My mother has been really instrumental in raising a lot of money through the Boys & Girls Club in my hometown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/my-mother-has-been-really-instrumental-in-raising-a-lot-of-money/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I'm a big guy and I can't have any tiny tattoos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-m-a-big-guy-and-i-can-t-have-any-tiny-tattoos/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [Before I was a champion, I failed, and I was afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/before-i-was-a-champion-i-failed-and-i-was-afraid/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I came to Philly not only because of the quality of the team and the organization, but also the fans, the passion - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-came-to-philly-not-only-because-of-the-quality-of-the-team-and-the/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I don't think football is enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-don-t-think-football-is-enough-for-me/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [My dad was able to give me everything through football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/my-dad-was-able-to-give-me-everything-through-football/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I've been through nine camps, and they're all a little bit different, but at the end of the day, it's just football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-ve-been-through-nine-camps-and-they-re-all-a-little-bit-different/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I've been lucky, man. I've been very lucky for 10 years, made a lot of money playing a game, a kids' game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-ve-been-lucky-man-i-ve-been-very-lucky-for-10-years-made-a-lot-of/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I love Philadelphia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-love-philadelphia/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [When I grew up, I had everything you could ask for, and I kind of didn't appreciate it. Because it was a given for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/when-i-grew-up-i-had-everything-you-could-ask-for-and-i-kind-of-didn/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [In my career playing football, nobody asked me to do as much as Bill Belichick did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/in-my-career-playing-football-nobody-asked-me-to-do-as-much-as-bill/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [It's a team game, but at the end of the day, you gotta be happy, and you gotta enjoy playing football every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/it-s-a-team-game-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-gotta-be-happy-and-you/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [I've heard a lot of people say you need white athletes to get involved in the anthem protests. I've said before I'll never kneel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-ve-heard-a-lot-of-people-say-you-need-white-athletes-to-get/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [Educational equity was my way of giving my salary. It's not $10 million or anything. I'm not going to act like I'm the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/educational-equity-was-my-way-of-giving-my-salary-it-s-not-10-million/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [This is a wonderful country, and I think everyone agrees on that, but there are things in our country that can improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/this-is-a-wonderful-country-and-i-think-everyone-agrees-on-that-but/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) [Explore all 100 Chris Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Playing eight years, never making the playoffs, you feel like you're running on a treadmill that's going nowhere. 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