---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't want to be paper champs."
description: "\"We don't want to be paper champs.\" — Derek Carr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg"
---

#  We don't want to be paper champs.

![“We don't want to be paper champs.” quote by Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg)

> “We don't want to be paper champs.”

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote urges avoiding superficial victories and focusing on genuine achievement rather than empty titles.

**In simple terms:** Don't settle for false accolades; aim for real success.

Key Takeaway

Seek substance over superficial wins.

Themes

achievement integrity competition

Mood

determined reflective

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- team building
- career goals
- personal development
- leadership challenges

Key Concepts

authenticity meaningful success self‑respect

Questions to Reflect On

- What does true success look like for you?
- How can you measure impact beyond titles?

A Different Perspective

Success can be hollow if not backed by real effort or impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Champs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champs/) [Don Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-want/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Paper Champs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper-champs-6123737/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-paper-1885898/)

## Related quotes

> [“I don't care what you all think you want on paper. In reality, you're doing it all wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-clayton/i-don-t-care-what-you-all-think-you-want-on-paper-in-reality-you-re/)

[Alice Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-clayton/)

> [“I want to paper cut her. On every square inch of her body. And then roll her in salt water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton-2/i-want-to-paper-cut-her-on-every-square-inch-of-her-body-and-then/)

[M Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton-2/)

> [We don't plan to be good or bad. We just think, 'What do I want now? I want coffee now. I want the paper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-livingston/we-don-t-plan-to-be-good-or-bad-we-just-think-what-do-i-want-now-i/)

[Ron Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-livingston/)

> [I dont wanna rape ya, I just want the paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biggie-smalls/i-dont-wanna-rape-ya-i-just-want-the-paper/)

[Biggie Smalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biggie-smalls/)

> [They say that when you're the champs, everybody will try to beat you. Well, I'm glad we're champs, so bring'em on, bring'em all on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/they-say-that-when-you-re-the-champs-everybody-will-try-to-beat-you/)

[Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/)

> [There's dad champs, there's mom champs, so anyone that has children can attest to the fact that your kids look up to you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-pena/there-s-dad-champs-there-s-mom-champs-so-anyone-that-has-children-can/)

[Julianna Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-pena/)

> [“corner of the Champs-Élysées and the rue de Berri.30”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/corner-of-the-champs-lys-es-and-the-rue-de-berri-30/)

[Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/)

> [It just feels good to beat the world champs to be the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/it-just-feels-good-to-beat-the-world-champs-to-be-the-world-champs/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [“Rats! It's rainy outside, And to be a good fella Invite a smile so wide Nobody needs umbrella!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/rats-it-s-rainy-outside-and-to-be-a-good-fella-invite-a-smile-so-wide/)

[Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/)

> [The Champs-Elysees is like the world championships for sprinters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bennett/the-champs-elysees-is-like-the-world-championships-for-sprinters/)

[Sam Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bennett/)

> [“It is wonderful, awesome and merrywise to see satan lose the battle to us in fear and panic and shame! Our victory is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-wonderful-awesome-and-merrywise-to-see-satan-lose-the-battle-to/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [When you have a chance to take the ball for the world champs, you take the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-clemens/when-you-have-a-chance-to-take-the-ball-for-the-world-champs-you-take/)

[Roger Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-clemens/)

> [The champs are the guys who can do it the best, to lock it in for 25 minutes and do what they plan to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/the-champs-are-the-guys-who-can-do-it-the-best-to-lock-it-in-for-25/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [As a competitor and an athlete, you love that you get to go back and challenge someone, especially the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/as-a-competitor-and-an-athlete-you-love-that-you-get-to-go-back-and/)

[Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/)

> [To win this league, the toughest league in the country, and to be outright champs is a tribute to their effort. It's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thad-matta/to-win-this-league-the-toughest-league-in-the-country-and-to-be/)

[Thad Matta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thad-matta/)

## More by Derek Carr

> [Making false claims about somebody before you know them, and about a group of guys, that has no business in our world. If we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/making-false-claims-about-somebody-before-you-know-them-and-about-a/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [I think just that dog inside of you. When things suck, just to still fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/i-think-just-that-dog-inside-of-you-when-things-suck-just-to-still/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [For me, if I didn't have my faith, the game gives you a lot of highs and a lot of lows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/for-me-if-i-didn-t-have-my-faith-the-game-gives-you-a-lot-of-highs/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [Football is important, but it's not the most important thing anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/football-is-important-but-it-s-not-the-most-important-thing-anymore/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [When things get tough, a lot of people point fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/when-things-get-tough-a-lot-of-people-point-fingers/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [I feel like, even if a guy is covered, I can put the ball where it needs to be so we can have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/i-feel-like-even-if-a-guy-is-covered-i-can-put-the-ball-where-it/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [Everyone knows with a rookie, you're going to take lumps. Even with a first-, second-, third-year guy, you're going to take lumps until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/everyone-knows-with-a-rookie-you-re-going-to-take-lumps-even-with-a/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [Raider Nation is everywhere, literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/raider-nation-is-everywhere-literally/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [The game has slowed down for me. It's so much easier than it was. I feel like I see things better, and I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/the-game-has-slowed-down-for-me-it-s-so-much-easier-than-it-was-i/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [God will put me where he wants me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/god-will-put-me-where-he-wants-me/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [If you see anything, you see I post a lot of Scriptures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/if-you-see-anything-you-see-i-post-a-lot-of-scriptures/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [There's times where I get emotionally hijacked, then I'll try and force something and do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/there-s-times-where-i-get-emotionally-hijacked-then-i-ll-try-and/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [My only focus was to be the best version of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/my-only-focus-was-to-be-the-best-version-of-myself/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [It's the most violent sport there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/it-s-the-most-violent-sport-there-is/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

> [I got my process down, I got my way I go about things and I surround myself with good people around me and they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/i-got-my-process-down-i-got-my-way-i-go-about-things-and-i-surround/)

[Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

[Explore all 97 Derek Carr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/)

## More Champs quotes

> [The Champs-Elysees is like the world championships for sprinters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bennett/the-champs-elysees-is-like-the-world-championships-for-sprinters/)

[Sam Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bennett/)

> [As a competitor and an athlete, you love that you get to go back and challenge someone, especially the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/as-a-competitor-and-an-athlete-you-love-that-you-get-to-go-back-and/)

[Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/)

> [The champs are the guys who can do it the best, to lock it in for 25 minutes and do what they plan to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/the-champs-are-the-guys-who-can-do-it-the-best-to-lock-it-in-for-25/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [When you have a chance to take the ball for the world champs, you take the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-clemens/when-you-have-a-chance-to-take-the-ball-for-the-world-champs-you-take/)

[Roger Clemens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-clemens/)

> [“It is wonderful, awesome and merrywise to see satan lose the battle to us in fear and panic and shame! Our victory is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-wonderful-awesome-and-merrywise-to-see-satan-lose-the-battle-to/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Rats! It's rainy outside, And to be a good fella Invite a smile so wide Nobody needs umbrella!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/rats-it-s-rainy-outside-and-to-be-a-good-fella-invite-a-smile-so-wide/)

[Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/)

> [It just feels good to beat the world champs to be the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/it-just-feels-good-to-beat-the-world-champs-to-be-the-world-champs/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [“corner of the Champs-Élysées and the rue de Berri.30”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/corner-of-the-champs-lys-es-and-the-rue-de-berri-30/)

[Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/)

> [There's dad champs, there's mom champs, so anyone that has children can attest to the fact that your kids look up to you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-pena/there-s-dad-champs-there-s-mom-champs-so-anyone-that-has-children-can/)

[Julianna Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-pena/)

> [They say that when you're the champs, everybody will try to beat you. Well, I'm glad we're champs, so bring'em on, bring'em all on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/they-say-that-when-you-re-the-champs-everybody-will-try-to-beat-you/)

[Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/)

> [To win this league, the toughest league in the country, and to be outright champs is a tribute to their effort. It's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thad-matta/to-win-this-league-the-toughest-league-in-the-country-and-to-be/)

[Thad Matta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thad-matta/)

> [One thing we did well the whole tournament was keep fighting. And no matter what happened the point before, missed opportunity, missed easy shot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-nestor/one-thing-we-did-well-the-whole-tournament-was-keep-fighting-and-no/)

[Daniel Nestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-nestor/)

> [I think Champs is a great partner. I think they embody our vision for the future. 'Sport For Life' is kind of like my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-think-champs-is-a-great-partner-i-think-they-embody-our-vision-for/)

[Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/)

> [I always say my three dream wins would be San Remo, Champs-Elysees, and World Championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bennett/i-always-say-my-three-dream-wins-would-be-san-remo-champs-elysees-and/)

[Sam Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bennett/)

[Browse all 15 Champs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champs/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We don't want to be paper champs.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Derek Carr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Champs"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/derek-carr-6770_champs_we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs-3233030_3233030.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We don't want to be paper champs.” — Derek Carr",
                "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": "Derek Carr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We don't want to be paper...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/we-don-t-want-to-be-paper-champs/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
