--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The NFL was something I never really…" description: "\"The NFL was something I never really dreamed about, but when you get to this level, you realize how special this is. This league is about winning. It's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/matt-lafleur-16377_something_the-nfl-was-something-i-never-really-dre_1641467.jpg" --- # The NFL was something I never really dreamed about, but… ![“The NFL was something I never really dreamed about, but when you get to this level, you realize how special this is. This league is about winning. It's a very competitive league. Sometimes you don't win as much as someone else thinks you should, and you're out.” quote by Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/matt-lafleur-16377_something_the-nfl-was-something-i-never-really-dre_1641467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/matt-lafleur-16377_something_the-nfl-was-something-i-never-really-dre_1641467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/matt-lafleur-16377_something_the-nfl-was-something-i-never-really-dre_1641467.jpg) > “The NFL was something I never really dreamed about, but when you get to this level, you realize how special this is. This league is about winning. It's a very competitive league. Sometimes you don't win as much as someone else thinks you should, and you're out.” [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competing at the highest level demands relentless focus; occasional setbacks are inevitable. **In simple terms:** Winning requires constant effort despite losses. Key Takeaway Stay resilient and keep improving. Themes competition leadership resilience Mood determined serious Type inspirational pragmatic When to use this quote - season planning - player motivation - coach strategy Key Concepts high performance team dynamics expectations Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain morale after defeat? - What habits sustain elite performance? A Different Perspective Pressure can erode confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competitive League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive-league-571716/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league/) [League Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/league-winning-571717/) [Nfl Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl-really-571715/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special League](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-league-571718/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [It's a dream for any player, having the opportunity to play in the Premier League. Everybody knows it's the most competitive league in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-moura/it-s-a-dream-for-any-player-having-the-opportunity-to-play-in-the/) [Lucas Moura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-moura/) > [When you manage a big team like River Plate or Madrid, they are used to winning titles. The people are happy, but they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/when-you-manage-a-big-team-like-river-plate-or-madrid-they-are-used/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [It's such a great lesson for young players in this league that winning is the most important thing, and that's what Dwyane embodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-spoelstra/it-s-such-a-great-lesson-for-young-players-in-this-league-that/) [Erik Spoelstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-spoelstra/) > [To me, it's always bumpy, and to me, that's the joy of it. That's this game. That's how hard it is in the NFL.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mccarthy/to-me-it-s-always-bumpy-and-to-me-that-s-the-joy-of-it-that-s-this/) [Mike McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mccarthy/) > [In the NFL, there's never really that moment where you're like, Hey, I made the team. Or: Hey, you made the practice squad. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-thielen/in-the-nfl-there-s-never-really-that-moment-where-you-re-like-hey-i/) [Adam Thielen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-thielen/) > [I wanted to find out if we went to the NFL and really took care of guys, really cared about each and every individual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/i-wanted-to-find-out-if-we-went-to-the-nfl-and-really-took-care-of/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [I love the NFL. Everything that I really have is because of the NFL... but every idea that the NFL pitched is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-love-the-nfl-everything-that-i-really-have-is-because-of-the-nfl/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [I know the type of player I am so I don't feel there's too many people in the NFL that could really do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/i-know-the-type-of-player-i-am-so-i-don-t-feel-there-s-too-many/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [The Premier League is a competitive league where strikers can be brought in for x amount of pounds and it might block your pathway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/the-premier-league-is-a-competitive-league-where-strikers-can-be/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [There's a lot of money coming in, and so a lot of good players are going to each team, so every game is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-bruyne/there-s-a-lot-of-money-coming-in-and-so-a-lot-of-good-players-are/) [Kevin De Bruyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-bruyne/) > [We all know the Premier League is a competitive league and that every game is competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernandinho/we-all-know-the-premier-league-is-a-competitive-league-and-that-every/) [Fernandinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernandinho/) > [What makes you better is not playing every single game in a modest championship. What makes you better is playing 10 games in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/what-makes-you-better-is-not-playing-every-single-game-in-a-modest/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [Italy is a very competitive league, where most of the teams wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-alonso/italy-is-a-very-competitive-league-where-most-of-the-teams-wait-for/) [Marcos Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-alonso/) > [Spain is such a competitive league, and for the players to give up La Liga, it's such a tough decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-silva/spain-is-such-a-competitive-league-and-for-the-players-to-give-up-la/) [David Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-silva/) > [We do a lot of great things, but it's a competitive league. A lot of great guys around us do the work and help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/we-do-a-lot-of-great-things-but-it-s-a-competitive-league-a-lot-of/) [Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/) ## More by Matt LaFleur > [Generally speaking, there's going to be times when it's going to be a little more challenging, depending on how the rush goes. But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/generally-speaking-there-s-going-to-be-times-when-it-s-going-to-be-a/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [We try each and every week to win. We know what's at stake, but every coach has that mindset, so it's not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/we-try-each-and-every-week-to-win-we-know-what-s-at-stake-but-every/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [I want to attack matchups on special teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/i-want-to-attack-matchups-on-special-teams/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [We are going to be process-driven in the pursuit of bringing a Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/we-are-going-to-be-process-driven-in-the-pursuit-of-bringing-a/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [It's hard dealing with wins and losses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/it-s-hard-dealing-with-wins-and-losses/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [You've got to be able to hang in there in some uncomfortable pockets and uncomfortable situations, where you're going to take a hit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-hang-in-there-in-some-uncomfortable-pockets/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [Statistically, the teams are getting the chunk plays - the explosives - are the teams that are going produce more yards and more points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/statistically-the-teams-are-getting-the-chunk-plays-the-explosives/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [Unfortunately, we're in a profession, and if you've got thin skin, you're not going to last very long. So you take the good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/unfortunately-we-re-in-a-profession-and-if-you-ve-got-thin-skin-you/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [There is no place like in all of sports, in my opinion, like game day at Lambeau Field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/there-is-no-place-like-in-all-of-sports-in-my-opinion-like-game-day/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [I am so blessed and fortunate to be a part of Packers nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/i-am-so-blessed-and-fortunate-to-be-a-part-of-packers-nation/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [It's an honor to play in a Thanksgiving Day game and bring excitement to the entire country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/it-s-an-honor-to-play-in-a-thanksgiving-day-game-and-bring-excitement/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [Football is not always easy; you need to navigate through some adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/football-is-not-always-easy-you-need-to-navigate-through-some/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [I knew my chances of playing beyond college were extremely slim. You just don't see too many 5-foot-10 quarterbacks out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/i-knew-my-chances-of-playing-beyond-college-were-extremely-slim-you/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [There's a strength and weakness to every play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/there-s-a-strength-and-weakness-to-every-play/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) > [I want to develop a championship culture that's filled with high-character people that are dedicated to becoming the best versions of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lafleur/i-want-to-develop-a-championship-culture-that-s-filled-with-high/) [Matt LaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) [Explore all 40 Matt LaFleur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lafleur/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "The NFL was something I never really dreamed about, but when you get to this level, you realize how special this is. 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