--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we're not on them, they go back to…" description: "\"If we're not on them, they go back to their old ways.\" — Dick Butkus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png" --- # If we're not on them, they go back to their old ways. ![“If we're not on them, they go back to their old ways.” quote by Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png) > “If we're not on them, they go back to their old ways.” [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that without proactive engagement, people revert to old habits. **In simple terms:** If ignored, people return to previous behaviors. Key Takeaway Engage actively to sustain change. Themes habit formation behavioral change accountability leadership Mood pragmatic encouraging Type motivational practical When to use this quote - team management - education reform - personal development Key Concepts psychology social dynamics coaching Questions to Reflect On - How can we maintain momentum in change initiatives? - What structures prevent relapse into old patterns? A Different Perspective Change requires continuous reinforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-football/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Old ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-ways/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ways/) ## Related quotes > [“Some of our old ways are better forgotten, but not all of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnedi-okorafor/some-of-our-old-ways-are-better-forgotten-but-not-all-of-them/) [Nnedi Okorafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnedi-okorafor/) > [Old ways don't open new doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xoxo/old-ways-don-t-open-new-doors/) [Xoxo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xoxo/) > [My thing is trying to convince them they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/my-thing-is-trying-to-convince-them-they-can-win/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [We're a big check mark on everybody's schedule. I told them it's just another challenge; let's go after it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/we-re-a-big-check-mark-on-everybody-s-schedule-i-told-them-it-s-just/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [If I was smart enough to be a doctor, I'd be a doctor. I ain't, so I'm a football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-i-was-smart-enough-to-be-a-doctor-i-d-be-a-doctor-i-ain-t-so-i-m-a/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [Few people get to earn a living at what they like to do and there are hazards in any profession. Football is something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/few-people-get-to-earn-a-living-at-what-they-like-to-do-and-there-are/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [I worked hard at becoming a professional football player, just like society says you should. It said you had to be fierce. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-worked-hard-at-becoming-a-professional-football-player-just-like/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [I want to be recognized as the best-no doubt about it. When they say all-pro middle linebacker, I want them to mean Butkus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-want-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-no-doubt-about-it-when-they-say/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. 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Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured \[England\] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditionalists-of-the-early-19th/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [Our life is a reflection of what we believe we deserve. As we deepen our acceptance of and open ourselves to the Infinite love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/our-life-is-a-reflection-of-what-we-believe-we-deserve-as-we-deepen/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [Our souls are getting older and we're tired of doing things the same old way. We want to find some real solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/echo-bodine/our-souls-are-getting-older-and-we-re-tired-of-doing-things-the-same/) [Echo Bodine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/echo-bodine/) ## More by Dick Butkus > [I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-m-not-so-mean-i-wouldn-t-ever-go-out-to-hurt-anybody-deliberately/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [I worked hard at becoming a professional football player, just like society says you should. It said you had to be fierce. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-worked-hard-at-becoming-a-professional-football-player-just-like/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [Few people get to earn a living at what they like to do and there are hazards in any profession. Football is something I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/few-people-get-to-earn-a-living-at-what-they-like-to-do-and-there-are/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [Anything that happens that's good, they think, Oh, it's an accident, when is the roof caving in? You've got to get them out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/anything-that-happens-that-s-good-they-think-oh-it-s-an-accident-when/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [If I was smart enough to be a doctor, I'd be a doctor. I ain't, so I'm a football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-i-was-smart-enough-to-be-a-doctor-i-d-be-a-doctor-i-ain-t-so-i-m-a/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [The bottom line is that these athletes tend to be safer investments because they really value their marketing opportunities. They don't make as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/the-bottom-line-is-that-these-athletes-tend-to-be-safer-investments/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [I wouldn't ever set out to hurt anyone deliberately unless it was, you know, important - like a league game or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-wouldn-t-ever-set-out-to-hurt-anyone-deliberately-unless-it-was-you/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/when-i-played-pro-football-i-never-set-out-to-hurt-anyone/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [We're a big check mark on everybody's schedule. I told them it's just another challenge; let's go after it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/we-re-a-big-check-mark-on-everybody-s-schedule-i-told-them-it-s-just/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [My thing is trying to convince them they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/my-thing-is-trying-to-convince-them-they-can-win/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [Some parents were nervous about how they would portray everything, ... At a picnic the moms put on for the team and coaches, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/some-parents-were-nervous-about-how-they-would-portray-everything-at/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [The real reason for coming to Montour is my love and respect for football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/the-real-reason-for-coming-to-montour-is-my-love-and-respect-for/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [I want to be recognized as the best-no doubt about it. When they say all-pro middle linebacker, I want them to mean Butkus!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/i-want-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-no-doubt-about-it-when-they-say/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) > [If I were young, fast, healthy, and had a lot of money and my whole sex life ahead of me, I'd retire - like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-i-were-young-fast-healthy-and-had-a-lot-of-money-and-my-whole-sex/) [Dick Butkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) [Explore all 15 Dick Butkus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/) ## More Best football quotes > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. 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It's about what you do on the football field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/you-ve-got-to-go-out-there-and-play-your-best-it-s-about-what-you-do/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [I play my best football when I'm calm mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/i-play-my-best-football-when-i-m-calm-mentally/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/george-best-was-one-of-the-most-talented-players-of-all-time-and/) [Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/) > [I'm happy to be in the centre for Wales - that's my favourite position and where I play my best football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/i-m-happy-to-be-in-the-centre-for-wales-that-s-my-favourite-position/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [English football is different: always on the attack. Although one thing is clear. The best football is the Italian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-batistuta/english-football-is-different-always-on-the-attack-although-one-thing/) [Gabriel Batistuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-batistuta/) > [I want to keep winning-the hell with the record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-want-to-keep-winning-the-hell-with-the-record/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/playing-football-is-very-simple-but-playing-simple-football-is-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [I can say I am playing some of the best football of my career at 31. 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If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-s-not-already-he-ll-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) [Browse all 252 Best football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we're not on them, they go back to their old ways.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Butkus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-their-old-ways/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-their-old-ways/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47d/dick-butkus-33088_best-football_if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-the_1567737.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If we're not on them, they go back to their old ways.” — Dick Butkus", "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": "Dick Butkus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-butkus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If we're not on them, they...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-their-old-ways/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-butkus/if-we-re-not-on-them-they-go-back-to-their-old-ways/#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 } } ] } ```