--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My oldest son played for the NFL, until…" description: "\"My oldest son played for the NFL, until he got hurt and opened a gym here in Mississippi. He trains young athletes and inspires them to chase their dre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg" --- # My oldest son played for the NFL, until he got hurt and… ![“My oldest son played for the NFL, until he got hurt and opened a gym here in Mississippi. He trains young athletes and inspires them to chase their dreams, playing football in college and professionally.” quote by Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg) > “My oldest son played for the NFL, until he got hurt and opened a gym here in Mississippi. He trains young athletes and inspires them to chase their dreams, playing football in college and professionally.” [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A former NFL player turned coach uses his experience to motivate youth toward athletic and academic aspirations. **In simple terms:** Former pro helps kids aim high. Key Takeaway Leverage personal setbacks to inspire others. Themes motivation sports mentorship Mood inspirational hopeful Type storytelling motivational When to use this quote - Youth sports programs - school counseling - career advising Key Concepts Resilience role modeling community impact Questions to Reflect On - How can you create pathways for athletes beyond high school? - What support do young athletes need to balance sports and education? A Different Perspective Success depends on resources and support beyond inspiration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Playing football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-football/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Young athletes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-athletes/) ## Related quotes > [I've been advised by guys who have played in the NFL and guys who have my best interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/i-ve-been-advised-by-guys-who-have-played-in-the-nfl-and-guys-who/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [It wasn't until after I became famous that people noticed I played in the NFL. I kind of snuck in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/it-wasn-t-until-after-i-became-famous-that-people-noticed-i-played-in/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [After five years in prison, five years on parole, and a total of 10 years of being in hell, I can look back on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-banks/after-five-years-in-prison-five-years-on-parole-and-a-total-of-10/) [Brian Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-banks/) > [From the perspective of everything I went through to have played in four NFL games, it was one of the best experiences of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-banks/from-the-perspective-of-everything-i-went-through-to-have-played-in/) [Brian Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-banks/) > [Anthony Gonzalez, who I played against in the NFL, got elected in Ohio. With old football players, you don't really have to do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-allred/anthony-gonzalez-who-i-played-against-in-the-nfl-got-elected-in-ohio/) [Colin Allred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-allred/) > [I was a big receiver when I played in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-carter/i-was-a-big-receiver-when-i-played-in-the-nfl/) [Cris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-carter/) > [Coy Wire played in the NFL for 9 years and is now a motivational speaker and has a book out called 'Change Your Mind.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-zolciak-biermann/coy-wire-played-in-the-nfl-for-9-years-and-is-now-a-motivational/) [Kim Zolciak-Biermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-zolciak-biermann/) > [The longer and longer I played in the NFL, I kind of said, 'Well, I'm not going to go out and get a 9…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-willig/the-longer-and-longer-i-played-in-the-nfl-i-kind-of-said-well-i-m-not/) Matt Willig > [After I suffered a labral tear in my hip while playing soccer, I realized that many sports-related injuries can be prevented and I dedicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cobi-jones/after-i-suffered-a-labral-tear-in-my-hip-while-playing-soccer-i/) [Cobi Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cobi-jones/) > [The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/the-more-difficult-the-victory-the-greater-the-happiness-in-winning/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [ \[Some young athletes\] get home, look at social media, and they have thousands of people ripping it out of them, telling them that they're… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/some-young-athletes-get-home-look-at-social-media-and-they-have/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [These days the temptation to use steroids in sports has become too great for many young athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/these-days-the-temptation-to-use-steroids-in-sports-has-become-too/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [I still love to find and develop the young athletes in traditional ways. I like to watch the physical and mental growth. That has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-karolyi/i-still-love-to-find-and-develop-the-young-athletes-in-traditional/) [Bela Karolyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-karolyi/) > [I like to tell young athletes to make sure you're taking care of business in all aspects of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davante-adams/i-like-to-tell-young-athletes-to-make-sure-you-re-taking-care-of/) [Davante Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davante-adams/) > [I always tell young athletes the same thing, 'Wherever you go, whatever you do, what must your top priority be? Running.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haile-gebrselassie/i-always-tell-young-athletes-the-same-thing-wherever-you-go-whatever/) [Haile Gebrselassie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haile-gebrselassie/) ## More by Mike Espy > [If you're going to get elected to anything in Mississippi, you have to pay attention to and court the black vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/if-you-re-going-to-get-elected-to-anything-in-mississippi-you-have-to/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [What better symbol of unity, what better symbol of growth, than to have Mike Espy in the United States Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/what-better-symbol-of-unity-what-better-symbol-of-growth-than-to-have/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I am an African American public official operating in an environment dominated by Caucasians. That is not too dissimilar from what I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-am-an-african-american-public-official-operating-in-an-environment/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I really don't need anyone to come to Mississippi to generate a vote for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-really-don-t-need-anyone-to-come-to-mississippi-to-generate-a-vote/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [There are some farmers who have been terribly discriminated against by the USDA. They've suffered tremendous losses and pain and anguish, and they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/there-are-some-farmers-who-have-been-terribly-discriminated-against/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [While we march in the streets making our voices heard, we must also march to the ballot box. That's where the real change happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/while-we-march-in-the-streets-making-our-voices-heard-we-must-also/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [We made mistakes in 2018, as a candidate and as a campaign. I had not campaigned in 25 years, and people forgot me, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/we-made-mistakes-in-2018-as-a-candidate-and-as-a-campaign-i-had-not/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I'm the proud father of three Black children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-m-the-proud-father-of-three-black-children/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [There's no way that I could be a congressman in a California district at 32.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/there-s-no-way-that-i-could-be-a-congressman-in-a-california-district/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [It's hard to pick yourself up and go vote for a candidate if you don't have any sense that that candidate could have an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/it-s-hard-to-pick-yourself-up-and-go-vote-for-a-candidate-if-you-don/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [You've got to know what you need to correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/you-ve-got-to-know-what-you-need-to-correct/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I am dedicated to expanding Medicaid in Mississippi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-am-dedicated-to-expanding-medicaid-in-mississippi/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I'm a frustrated artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-m-a-frustrated-artist/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [The United States has taken pride in maintaining the 'safest food supply in the world.' And we can still have it, as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/the-united-states-has-taken-pride-in-maintaining-the-safest-food/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I am a lifelong Mississippian. I remember Jim Crow, 'colored' and 'white' water fountains, and my mother's inability to try on a dress in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-am-a-lifelong-mississippian-i-remember-jim-crow-colored-and-white/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) [Explore all 98 Mike Espy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My oldest son played for the NFL, until he got hurt and opened a gym here in Mississippi. He trains young athletes and inspires them to chase their dreams, playing football in college and professionally.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Espy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-he-got-hurt-and-opened-a-gym/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-he-got-hurt-and-opened-a-gym/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/884/mike-espy-6672_dreams_my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-h_1852527.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My oldest son played for the NFL, until he got hurt and opened a gym here in Mississippi. He trains young…” — Mike Espy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mike Espy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My oldest son played for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-he-got-hurt-and-opened-a-gym/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/my-oldest-son-played-for-the-nfl-until-he-got-hurt-and-opened-a-gym/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```