--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always thought I could play pro ball. I…" description: "\"I always thought I could play pro ball. I had confidence in my ability, You have to. If you don't who will?\" — Johnny Unitas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/johnny-unitas-35016_ability_i-always-thought-i-could-play-pro-ball-i_2426273.png" --- # I always thought I could play pro ball. I had confidence… ![“I always thought I could play pro ball. I had confidence in my ability, You have to. If you don't who will?” quote by Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/johnny-unitas-35016_ability_i-always-thought-i-could-play-pro-ball-i_2426273.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/johnny-unitas-35016_ability_i-always-thought-i-could-play-pro-ball-i_2426273.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c84/johnny-unitas-35016_ability_i-always-thought-i-could-play-pro-ball-i_2426273.png) > “I always thought I could play pro ball. I had confidence in my ability, You have to. If you don't who will?” [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence and self‑belief are essential to achieving professional sports dreams. **In simple terms:** Believe in yourself to succeed. Key Takeaway Cultivate confidence for goals. Themes sports confidence self‑belief Mood determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - athlete training - career planning - goal setting Key Concepts psychology performance Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your confidence? - How do you handle doubt? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ball Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-confidence-2015184/) [Balls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balls/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confidence Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence-ability-233227/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Pro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-pro-624785/) [Pro Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-ball-636001/) ## Related quotes > [You got guys now declaring they're ready to play pro ball in their second or third year of high school. It's crazy! They're missing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/you-got-guys-now-declaring-they-re-ready-to-play-pro-ball-in-their/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [I'm just taking advantage of good pitches. I am seeing the ball well and my confidence is high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-bautista/i-m-just-taking-advantage-of-good-pitches-i-am-seeing-the-ball-well/) [Jose Bautista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-bautista/) > [Being in the D-League, I might be able to get into a rhythm and start shooting the ball well and get some confidence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmer-fredette/being-in-the-d-league-i-might-be-able-to-get-into-a-rhythm-and-start/) [Jimmer Fredette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmer-fredette/) > [I hit the ball really well... had a lot of good looks at birdie all day, it's firm but you could control your golf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-johnson/i-hit-the-ball-really-well-had-a-lot-of-good-looks-at-birdie-all-day/) [Dustin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-johnson/) > [I always hit that ball for six, I have confidence in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravindra-jadeja/i-always-hit-that-ball-for-six-i-have-confidence-in-myself/) [Ravindra Jadeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravindra-jadeja/) > [I have the same confidence in the ability of our people to reject noxious literature as I have in their capacity to sort out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-have-the-same-confidence-in-the-ability-of-our-people-to-reject/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [After college I was like, Oh, I want to play pro,' but I didn't know exactly what that meant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-larson/after-college-i-was-like-oh-i-want-to-play-pro-but-i-didn-t-know/) [Jordan Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-larson/) > [Reaching the top 100 was always my goal since I started to play as a pro. In '05 I came quite close, reaching a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-chiudinelli/reaching-the-top-100-was-always-my-goal-since-i-started-to-play-as-a/) [Marco Chiudinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-chiudinelli/) > [When we play in the Pro Tour there's no crowds in, so you can concentrate better. The others play better as well, there's players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/when-we-play-in-the-pro-tour-there-s-no-crowds-in-so-you-can/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [I knew I was going to play pro tennis when I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-tiafoe/i-knew-i-was-going-to-play-pro-tennis-when-i-was-12/) [Frances Tiafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-tiafoe/) > [My life goal wasn't really to play pro tennis or nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eubanks/my-life-goal-wasn-t-really-to-play-pro-tennis-or-nothing-else/) [Christopher Eubanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eubanks/) > [Most people won't play basketball with NBA players, because you have to be in the NBA, but you don't have to be a pro…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-hayward/most-people-won-t-play-basketball-with-nba-players-because-you-have/) [Gordon Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-hayward/) > [Hell, I'm going to play pro basketball. I'm going to maybe be famous. I'm going to write books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/hell-i-m-going-to-play-pro-basketball-i-m-going-to-maybe-be-famous-i/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [I have no ax to grind. I was lucky. I played. How many guys play high school, college football never play pro football?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-donovan/i-have-no-ax-to-grind-i-was-lucky-i-played-how-many-guys-play-high/) [Art Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-donovan/) > [To have an opportunity to win a Super Bowl, play in another and play in a Pro Bowl, it's been amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-clark/to-have-an-opportunity-to-win-a-super-bowl-play-in-another-and-play/) [Ryan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-clark/) ## More by Johnny Unitas > [I could have played football for two or three more years. All I needed was a leg transplant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/i-could-have-played-football-for-two-or-three-more-years-all-i-needed/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [There is a difference between conceit and confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/there-is-a-difference-between-conceit-and-confidence/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [I want to be honest with you: The players I played with and the coaches I had...they were directly responsible for my being here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/i-want-to-be-honest-with-you-the-players-i-played-with-and-the/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [There's a big difference between confidence and conceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/there-s-a-big-difference-between-confidence-and-conceit/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [Anything I do, I always have a reason for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/anything-i-do-i-always-have-a-reason-for/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [Nothing's dangerous if you know what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/nothing-s-dangerous-if-you-know-what-you-re-doing/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [There is a difference between conceit and confidence. Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/there-is-a-difference-between-conceit-and-confidence-conceit-is/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [Specialists can never practice their specialties too much. The danger is in not practicing enough. Make that mistake, and soon you may not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/specialists-can-never-practice-their-specialties-too-much-the-danger/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [I wouldn't walk across the street to piss down Don Shula's throat if he was on fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/i-wouldn-t-walk-across-the-street-to-piss-down-don-shula-s-throat-if/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [In order to be successful at anything you choose to do, you must make a 100 percent commitment to what it is you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/in-order-to-be-successful-at-anything-you-choose-to-do-you-must-make/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/conceit-is-bragging-about-yourself-confidence-means-you-believe-you/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) > [Talk is cheap, let's go play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-unitas/talk-is-cheap-let-s-go-play/) [Johnny Unitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) [Explore all 13 Johnny Unitas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-unitas/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always thought I could play pro ball. 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