--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She told me I wasn't playing for the…" description: "\"She told me I wasn't playing for the coach, I was playing for myself.\" — Eric Dickerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/eric-dickerson-20929_coach_she-told-me-i-wasn-t-playing-for-the-coa_1654374.png" --- # She told me I wasn't playing for the coach, I was playing… ![“She told me I wasn't playing for the coach, I was playing for myself.” quote by Eric Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/eric-dickerson-20929_coach_she-told-me-i-wasn-t-playing-for-the-coa_1654374.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/eric-dickerson-20929_coach_she-told-me-i-wasn-t-playing-for-the-coa_1654374.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/eric-dickerson-20929_coach_she-told-me-i-wasn-t-playing-for-the-coa_1654374.png) > “She told me I wasn't playing for the coach, I was playing for myself.” [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. Playing for personal pride rather than external expectations leads to authentic performance. **In simple terms:** Play for yourself, not just for the coach. Key Takeaway Focus on internal motivation. Themes sports self‑motivation authenticity performance Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Athlete mindset - team dynamics - career decisions - goal setting Key Concepts Intrinsic drive personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What does playing for yourself look like in your life? - How do you balance personal drive with team goals? A Different Perspective External pressures can still impact personal focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) ## Related quotes > [Let's face it, when you're a striker and the coach is playing you at left-back you know your time is up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-murray/let-s-face-it-when-you-re-a-striker-and-the-coach-is-playing-you-at/) [Glenn Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-murray/) > [You and I are players, God's our coach, and we're playing the biggest game of all. 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Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [When I wasn't playing, the most important thing was to stay patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-griezmann/when-i-wasn-t-playing-the-most-important-thing-was-to-stay-patient/) [Antoine Griezmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-griezmann/) > [I had games where I had better statistics than others, but it wasn't because I wasn't playing hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-peppers/i-had-games-where-i-had-better-statistics-than-others-but-it-wasn-t/) [Julius Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-peppers/) ## 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. 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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 Coach quotes > [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/) > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. 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It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [A lot of the kids gave a lot of positive feedback about if I ever became a coach, they would love to play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/a-lot-of-the-kids-gave-a-lot-of-positive-feedback-about-if-i-ever/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [I think it's very important to have contact with the players that I will coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-martino/i-think-it-s-very-important-to-have-contact-with-the-players-that-i/) [Gerardo Martino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-martino/) > [Of course, it's always fun when you're winning and you have a great coach, great organization, great trainers, great strength staff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-gurley/of-course-it-s-always-fun-when-you-re-winning-and-you-have-a-great/) [Todd Gurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-gurley/) > [No one likes a change of coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-azpilicueta/no-one-likes-a-change-of-coach/) [Cesar Azpilicueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-azpilicueta/) > [As far as being a coach, it's always fascinated me. 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