--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a special teams player my first two…" description: "\"I was a special teams player my first two years and wasn't a main contributor in an offense until Year 5.\" — Darren Waller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg" --- # I was a special teams player my first two years and wasn't… ![“I was a special teams player my first two years and wasn't a main contributor in an offense until Year 5.” quote by Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg) > “I was a special teams player my first two years and wasn't a main contributor in an offense until Year 5.” [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience and perseverance can turn a marginal role into a key contributor over time. **In simple terms:** Hard work eventually leads to greater responsibility. Key Takeaway Stay patient and keep improving. Themes perseverance growth teamwork Mood reflective optimistic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - sports career - team dynamics - personal development - coaching Key Concepts role evolution skill development Questions to Reflect On - What steps are you taking to improve your role? - How do you handle setbacks? A Different Perspective Not all delayed breakthroughs are guaranteed; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contributor Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contributor-offense-5427480/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Offense Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-year-5427479/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Player Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player-years-1985472/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-teams/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-years/) [Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year/) ## Related quotes > [Morata is a player that I appreciate a lot, he has been a top player for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-alba/morata-is-a-player-that-i-appreciate-a-lot-he-has-been-a-top-player/) [Jordi Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-alba/) > [I definitely wasn't a vocal player my first two years in the league, just trying to fit into everything, being a young player, listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/i-definitely-wasn-t-a-vocal-player-my-first-two-years-in-the-league/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [Some of the money going to the rookies can now be spent on people who have proved their worth. After all, the average playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-lilly/some-of-the-money-going-to-the-rookies-can-now-be-spent-on-people-who/) [Bob Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-lilly/) > [I think teams win. I don't think offense wins. I don't think defense wins. I don't think special teams - teams win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-think-teams-win-i-don-t-think-offense-wins-i-don-t-think-defense/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [I take great pride in playing on special teams. A lot of people think that most special teams players aren't good enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordarrelle-patterson/i-take-great-pride-in-playing-on-special-teams-a-lot-of-people-think/) [Cordarrelle Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordarrelle-patterson/) > [We live in the instant gratification world. And the route of playing core-four special teams for a couple of years and not really getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/we-live-in-the-instant-gratification-world-and-the-route-of-playing/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [If they want to feature me and let me run routes, I'm fine with that. If I'm coming in and blocking, I'm cool with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/if-they-want-to-feature-me-and-let-me-run-routes-i-m-fine-with-that/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [English law in 1572 decreed that beggars above 14 years of age are to be severely flogged and branded on the left ear unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/english-law-in-1572-decreed-that-beggars-above-14-years-of-age-are-to/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Victory is produced by and belongs to all. Winning a Super Bowl results from you whole team not only doing their individual jobs but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/victory-is-produced-by-and-belongs-to-all-winning-a-super-bowl/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [I want to attack matchups on special teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/i-want-to-attack-matchups-on-special-teams/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [The thing about special teams - and I think football in general - is sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harbaugh/the-thing-about-special-teams-and-i-think-football-in-general-is/) [John Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harbaugh/) > [Being able to move all over the place is going to help me a lot and also playing special teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/being-able-to-move-all-over-the-place-is-going-to-help-me-a-lot-and/) [Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/) > [I've been on some really good teams, but we weren't able to get over the hump. It's offense, defense and special teams, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-on-some-really-good-teams-but-we-weren-t-able-to-get-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [It's hard to score in this league when you don't get on the power play and don't play special teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-trotz/it-s-hard-to-score-in-this-league-when-you-don-t-get-on-the-power/) [Barry Trotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-trotz/) > [I played a ton of special teams at LSU. I'm familiar with it, I'm comfortable doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reid/i-played-a-ton-of-special-teams-at-lsu-i-m-familiar-with-it-i-m/) [Eric Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reid/) ## More by Darren Waller > [You look at a certain craft, I mean, quarterback and corner are ridiculously hard to do, but at the same time, the wide range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/you-look-at-a-certain-craft-i-mean-quarterback-and-corner-are/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [I didn't have a lot of confidence in myself. When things got tough, and I had to make something happen, I'd just kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-confidence-in-myself-when-things-got-tough-and/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [You accept people and you love people for who they are and that's that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/you-accept-people-and-you-love-people-for-who-they-are-and-that-s-that/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [I feel like adversity in my life is what has taught me the most and given me the most wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/i-feel-like-adversity-in-my-life-is-what-has-taught-me-the-most-and/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [As soon as I started turning over my will and my life to God, things turned around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/as-soon-as-i-started-turning-over-my-will-and-my-life-to-god-things/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [I'm naturally a mellow guy. 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The commitment that it requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/there-s-so-much-that-goes-into-the-process-of-going-from-april/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [You hear how high class of an organization the Giants is, and then you get here and you get to experience that and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/you-hear-how-high-class-of-an-organization-the-giants-is-and-then-you/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [I have confidence now in myself. 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However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. 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Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [I first got into boxing when I was quite young. I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) [Browse all 9,159 First quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a special teams player my first two years and wasn't a main contributor in an offense until Year 5.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Darren Waller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-two-years-and-wasn-t-a-main/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-two-years-and-wasn-t-a-main/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a78/darren-waller-5764_first_i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-tw_3109718.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was a special teams player my first two years and wasn't a main contributor in an offense until Year 5.” — Darren Waller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Darren Waller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was a special teams player...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-two-years-and-wasn-t-a-main/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/i-was-a-special-teams-player-my-first-two-years-and-wasn-t-a-main/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```