--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter if you want to be in…" description: "\"It doesn't matter if you want to be in the NFL or do something else. If you want something great, you won't get it sitting around.\" — Eric Dickerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/eric-dickerson-20929_football_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-want-to-be-in-t_3033270.png" --- # It doesn't matter if you want to be in the NFL or do… ![“It doesn't matter if you want to be in the NFL or do something else. If you want something great, you won't get it sitting around.” quote by Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/eric-dickerson-20929_football_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-want-to-be-in-t_3033270.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/eric-dickerson-20929_football_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-want-to-be-in-t_3033270.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/500/eric-dickerson-20929_football_it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-want-to-be-in-t_3033270.png) > “It doesn't matter if you want to be in the NFL or do something else. If you want something great, you won't get it sitting around.” [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. He asserts that achieving greatness requires active effort, not passive waiting, regardless of career goals. **In simple terms:** Greatness needs effort, not waiting. Key Takeaway Take proactive steps toward goals. Themes motivation effort achievement Mood encouraging direct Type motivation career When to use this quote - motivational speeches - self-help Key Concepts sports career planning personal development Questions to Reflect On - What actions lead to greatness? - How to stay motivated? A Different Perspective Effort alone may not guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [You always want to see the NFL try to protect the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dorsett/you-always-want-to-see-the-nfl-try-to-protect-the-players/) [Tony Dorsett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dorsett/) > [I didn't really have a plan B. My plan B was work harder and try to make it in the NFL, and that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hogan/i-didn-t-really-have-a-plan-b-my-plan-b-was-work-harder-and-try-to/) [Chris Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hogan/) > [You set a goal to win a state championship, to get a scholarship, then your focus is on just playing in the NFL. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/you-set-a-goal-to-win-a-state-championship-to-get-a-scholarship-then/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [ You want to win and you want the \[NFL\] ring. But when you win and you get the ring, you never really wear it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-strahan/you-want-to-win-and-you-want-the-nfl-ring-but-when-you-win-and-you/) [Michael Strahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-strahan/) > [We can project just about anything we want onto NFL owners - one of them is named Arthur Blank, for heaven's sake. He's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/we-can-project-just-about-anything-we-want-onto-nfl-owners-one-of/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [I want to own an NFL franchise. I understand the business of football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/i-want-to-own-an-nfl-franchise-i-understand-the-business-of-football/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [I tell people that all the time: It's like you play for team goals but who wouldn't want to be the NFL sack leader?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/i-tell-people-that-all-the-time-it-s-like-you-play-for-team-goals-but/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [Life isn't about a hand-out. That's not what the NFL is about and that won't get you in the NFL or take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/life-isn-t-about-a-hand-out-that-s-not-what-the-nfl-is-about-and-that/) [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 want to be great, and that's holding myself to my standards, not anybody else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-garrett/i-want-to-be-great-and-that-s-holding-myself-to-my-standards-not/) [Myles Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-garrett/) > [Sometimes you have to take a risk if you want great things to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-pulisic/sometimes-you-have-to-take-a-risk-if-you-want-great-things-to-happen/) [Christian Pulisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-pulisic/) > [We just want to have great people working for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergey-brin/we-just-want-to-have-great-people-working-for-us/) [Sergey Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergey-brin/) > [I want to be the great American heavyweight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/i-want-to-be-the-great-american-heavyweight/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [Bayern could buy any No. 6 in the world, so that they want me is a great honour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kimmich/bayern-could-buy-any-no-6-in-the-world-so-that-they-want-me-is-a/) [Joshua Kimmich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-kimmich/) > [I want a great country. I want people happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-want-a-great-country-i-want-people-happy/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Eric Dickerson > [When you look at guys who get recruited, most of the best athletes, they come from poor families. 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. That's not what the NFL is about and that won't get you in the NFL or take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/life-isn-t-about-a-hand-out-that-s-not-what-the-nfl-is-about-and-that/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [When they have their hands on their knees, that's when they're tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/when-they-have-their-hands-on-their-knees-that-s-when-they-re-tired/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I hated the goggles, don’t get me wrong, but I felt naked without them. Almost like playing without a helmet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-hated-the-goggles-don-t-get-me-wrong-but-i-felt-naked-without-them/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I don't love football the way I once loved the game. I don't look at it as fun anymore, and it definitely used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-don-t-love-football-the-way-i-once-loved-the-game-i-don-t-look-at/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I think I'm proudest of making my parents proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-think-i-m-proudest-of-making-my-parents-proud/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [Most of the hits I take come on top of the shoulder pads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/most-of-the-hits-i-take-come-on-top-of-the-shoulder-pads/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I've stayed buddies with my old buddy Jackie Slater. I talk to Jackie Slater. I play golf with Marcus Allen a lot. 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. The first two years after I retired I was in pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-love-the-sport-but-it-s-definitely-taken-a-toll-on-me-the-first-two/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) > [I run upright mostly when I see daylight, so if you watch film you'll see I don't get hit in the chest much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dickerson/i-run-upright-mostly-when-i-see-daylight-so-if-you-watch-film-you-ll/) [Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) [Explore all 30 Eric Dickerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dickerson/) ## 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": "It doesn't matter if you want to be in the NFL or do something else. 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