--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Football isn't who we are, it doesn't…" description: "\"Football isn't who we are, it doesn't necessarily define us. It's part of our life and it always will be, but football won't define us. Excellence does..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/eric-dickerson-20929_doe_football-isn-t-who-we-are-it-doesn-t-nec_2216038.png" --- # Football isn't who we are, it doesn't necessarily define… ![“Football isn't who we are, it doesn't necessarily define us. It's part of our life and it always will be, but football won't define us. Excellence does.” quote by Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/eric-dickerson-20929_doe_football-isn-t-who-we-are-it-doesn-t-nec_2216038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/eric-dickerson-20929_doe_football-isn-t-who-we-are-it-doesn-t-nec_2216038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ebf/eric-dickerson-20929_doe_football-isn-t-who-we-are-it-doesn-t-nec_2216038.png) > “Football isn't who we are, it doesn't necessarily define us. It's part of our life and it always will be, but football won't define us. Excellence does.” [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Football is part of life but does not define identity; excellence does. **In simple terms:** Football is not identity; excellence is. Key Takeaway Pursue excellence. Themes sports identity excellence Mood determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career - sports - personal development Key Concepts Psychology performance Questions to Reflect On - What defines your excellence? - How do you balance sport and self? A Different Perspective Excellence can be elusive and subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Define Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-excellence-3765135/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Football Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-isn-966389/) [Football Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football-won-3716922/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-football-333584/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Who we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-we-are/) ## Related quotes > [In life, as in football, you won't go far unless you know where the goalposts are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-life-as-in-football-you-won-t-go-far-unless-you-know-where-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Define excellence vividly, quantitatively. 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I don't forget. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/when-you-look-at-guys-who-get-recruited-most-of-the-best-athletes/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [Them sportswriters don't even know how to put uniforms on, most of 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/them-sportswriters-don-t-even-know-how-to-put-uniforms-on-most-of-em/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [Life isn't about a hand-out. 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I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-ve-stayed-buddies-with-my-old-buddy-jackie-slater-i-talk-to-jackie/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [In the NFL, you have a short shelf life. As a running back, if you're the first pick, and you're NFL life expectancy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/in-the-nfl-you-have-a-short-shelf-life-as-a-running-back-if-you-re/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I was raised by my great-great aunt. I was adopted within our family. My mother had me when she was, I think, 15, 16.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-was-raised-by-my-great-great-aunt-i-was-adopted-within-our-family/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [Playing the running back position, your legs, that's your living, that's how you make your living. You have to have great thighs, knees, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/playing-the-running-back-position-your-legs-that-s-your-living-that-s/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [When I loved it, I loved it. It was nothing better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/when-i-loved-it-i-loved-it-it-was-nothing-better/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I love the sport but it's definitely taken a toll on me. 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