--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes down to why we play…" description: "\"When it comes down to why we play football, we play to win.\" — Devin McCourty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg" --- # When it comes down to why we play football, we play to win. ![“When it comes down to why we play football, we play to win.” quote by Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg) > “When it comes down to why we play football, we play to win.” [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning drives the purpose of playing, defining the sport’s meaning. **In simple terms:** We play football to win. Key Takeaway Focus on victory as motivation. Themes competition goal orientation teamwork Mood determined energetic Type motivational sports When to use this quote - season preparation - game strategy - training sessions Key Concepts sports psychology achievement theory Questions to Reflect On - Is winning the only reason to play? - How does loss shape growth? A Different Perspective Winning can overshadow sportsmanship and enjoyment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-football/) [Play to win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-to-win/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) ## Related quotes > [When Brazil take part in any competition they must always play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zico/when-brazil-take-part-in-any-competition-they-must-always-play-to-win/) [Zico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zico/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [If you don't play to win don't play at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/if-you-don-t-play-to-win-don-t-play-at-all/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [I'm a competitor, you know. I don't want to play just to play; I want to play to win, and I wanted to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-m-a-competitor-you-know-i-don-t-want-to-play-just-to-play-i-want-to/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [Greater than great I am, YES haters they hate I am, WHAT playing I play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juelz-santana/greater-than-great-i-am-yes-haters-they-hate-i-am-what-playing-i-play/) [Juelz Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juelz-santana/) > [If you don't play to win, why keep score?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vern-law/if-you-don-t-play-to-win-why-keep-score/) Vern Law > [I play to win. If I have great numbers, that's great. Obviously you feel good about it, but still, I'm playing to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/i-play-to-win-if-i-have-great-numbers-that-s-great-obviously-you-feel/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [If I play to win will I make it out? I'm tired of feeling my heart, Lord I just wanna scrape it out. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-krit/if-i-play-to-win-will-i-make-it-out-i-m-tired-of-feeling-my-heart/) Big Krit > [Individual records are nice to get, but before the season starts, you want to play to win the Stanley Cup!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-lafleur/individual-records-are-nice-to-get-but-before-the-season-starts-you/) [Guy Lafleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-lafleur/) > [I play to win, because I think that's when you get the most praise is when you win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/i-play-to-win-because-i-think-that-s-when-you-get-the-most-praise-is/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [We don't really try to pay attention to the score, we just try to play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/we-don-t-really-try-to-pay-attention-to-the-score-we-just-try-to-play/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [The true competitors, though, are the ones who always play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/the-true-competitors-though-are-the-ones-who-always-play-to-win/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [You play to win the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-play-to-win-the-game/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you look around you wonder do you play to win? Or are you just a bad loser?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pet-shop-boys/when-you-look-around-you-wonder-do-you-play-to-win-or-are-you-just-a/) [Pet Shop Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pet-shop-boys/) > [The important thing to know is that life will always deal us a few bad cards, but we have to play those cards the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gokongwei/the-important-thing-to-know-is-that-life-will-always-deal-us-a-few/) [John Gokongwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gokongwei/) ## More by Devin McCourty > [Every time I've played in the postseason, it's another huge accomplishment that I want to take full advantage of and go out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/every-time-i-ve-played-in-the-postseason-it-s-another-huge/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I try to be an example for guys who first come into the league of how you can have a huge impact off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-try-to-be-an-example-for-guys-who-first-come-into-the-league-of-how/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I watch a little 'SportsCenter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-watch-a-little-sportscenter/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [When you sign up for different jobs, you kind of discuss it as a family, the hardship of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/when-you-sign-up-for-different-jobs-you-kind-of-discuss-it-as-a/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [My mom has done an awesome job with all my brothers of instilling in us how to give back, how to make a difference.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/my-mom-has-done-an-awesome-job-with-all-my-brothers-of-instilling-in/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I don't know technique-wise, just I've always tackled the same. I've never even really thought about how I tackle or any of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-don-t-know-technique-wise-just-i-ve-always-tackled-the-same-i-ve/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I think the NFL season starts with the first three or four games and all the predictions come out. You're either great on offense,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-think-the-nfl-season-starts-with-the-first-three-or-four-games-and/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [We love this country, but it doesn't mean we can't improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/we-love-this-country-but-it-doesn-t-mean-we-can-t-improve-it/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I think that's everybody - you want to win every game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-think-that-s-everybody-you-want-to-win-every-game/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [Like I've always said, there's a lot that goes into being a football player that isn't the playbook and being on the field, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/like-i-ve-always-said-there-s-a-lot-that-goes-into-being-a-football/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I always tell people the hardest thing is competing against the guys you see every day because any of my strengths that I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-always-tell-people-the-hardest-thing-is-competing-against-the-guys/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [You always want plays back; you want to do things differently. It doesn't control your day-to-day, but you always think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/you-always-want-plays-back-you-want-to-do-things-differently-it-doesn/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [That's a part of being a good football team and being good players is when it's time to go play and turn what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/that-s-a-part-of-being-a-good-football-team-and-being-good-players-is/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [I don't think you ever come into the season and talk, 'Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl.' It's about improving and winning games along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-don-t-think-you-ever-come-into-the-season-and-talk-super-bowl-super/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [There is always going to be a Super Bowl winner, a league MVP, a Super Bowl MVP, great defenses and offenses. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/there-is-always-going-to-be-a-super-bowl-winner-a-league-mvp-a-super/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) [Explore all 99 Devin McCourty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) ## 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 > [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": "When it comes down to why we play football, we play to win.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Devin McCourty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-football-we-play-to-win/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-football-we-play-to-win/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/devin-mccourty-6253_football_when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-footba_1523272.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When it comes down to why we play football, we play to win.” — Devin McCourty", "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": "Devin McCourty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When it comes down to why...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-football-we-play-to-win/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/when-it-comes-down-to-why-we-play-football-we-play-to-win/#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 } } ] } ```