---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pro football was taking off when I became…"
description: "\"Pro football was taking off when I became commissioner, and when a sport's successful and you're its chief executive officer, much of the credit flows ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg"
---

#  Pro football was taking off when I became commissioner…

![“Pro football was taking off when I became commissioner, and when a sport's successful and you're its chief executive officer, much of the credit flows to you and you develop a good track record.” quote by Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg)

> “Pro football was taking off when I became commissioner, and when a sport's successful and you're its chief executive officer, much of the credit flows to you and you develop a good track record.”

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success of a sport often credits its leader, shaping his reputation.

**In simple terms:** Chief executives receive much credit for a sport's success.

Key Takeaway

Leverage leadership to build lasting legacy.

Themes

leadership credit sports management

Mood

proud strategic

Type

leadership business

When to use this quote

- team expansion
- marketing campaigns
- policy decisions

Key Concepts

reputation legacy building

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you share credit with your team?
- What responsibilities come with public praise?

A Different Perspective

Credit may overlook contributions of others.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chief executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-executives/) [Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [Pro football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-football/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Track record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track-record/)

## Related quotes

> [I think that David Stern is probably the greatest commissioner that any sport has ever had in the history of this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-russell/i-think-that-david-stern-is-probably-the-greatest-commissioner-that/)

[Bill Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-russell/)

> [I think it will get moving faster. I mean once you get it off the - once credit flows - now the recession is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-think-it-will-get-moving-faster-i-mean-once-you-get-it-off-the-once/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [My uncle played rugby, and my dad played football, and they used to argue which game was the roughest - and everybody agreed rugby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/my-uncle-played-rugby-and-my-dad-played-football-and-they-used-to/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [I've been very fortunate to be part of the sport and be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harvick/i-ve-been-very-fortunate-to-be-part-of-the-sport-and-be-successful/)

[Kevin Harvick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harvick/)

> [Bodybuilding is much like any other sport. To be successful, you must dedicate yourself 100% to your training, diet and mental approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/bodybuilding-is-much-like-any-other-sport-to-be-successful-you-must/)

[Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/)

> [Strangely enough, politics may just be the one realm in which having kids imposes no penalty on women. Kids are practically a necessity. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/strangely-enough-politics-may-just-be-the-one-realm-in-which-having/)

[Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/)

> [ \[Former chief executives\] come away thinking that America needs a strong, functioning presidency to succeed, and they become very protective of that office. Democrats… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/former-chief-executives-come-away-thinking-that-america-needs-a/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [I believe that if you go and ask a chief executive of a Goldman Sachs or a BP, and they answer you honestly they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/i-believe-that-if-you-go-and-ask-a-chief-executive-of-a-goldman-sachs/)

[Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/)

> [Ethics must begin at the top of an organization. It is a leadership issue and the chief executive must set the example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-f-hennessey/ethics-must-begin-at-the-top-of-an-organization-it-is-a-leadership/)

Edward F. Hennessey

> [Shareholder meetings are not usually the occasion for utter candor - or for that matter, arch sarcasm - by chief executives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/shareholder-meetings-are-not-usually-the-occasion-for-utter-candor-or/)

[Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/)

> [As we all know there have been fabulous women chief executives: Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/as-we-all-know-there-have-been-fabulous-women-chief-executives/)

[Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/)

> [Of one thing the investor can be certain: A large company's need to bring in a new chief executive from the outside is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-arthur-fisher/of-one-thing-the-investor-can-be-certain-a-large-company-s-need-to/)

[Philip Arthur Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-arthur-fisher/)

> [ \[F\]or the most part football these days is the opium of the people, not to speak of their crack cocaine. Its icon is the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/f-or-the-most-part-football-these-days-is-the-opium-of-the-people-not/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [At the heart of any good business is a chief executive officer with one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/at-the-heart-of-any-good-business-is-a-chief-executive-officer-with/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [I accept that responsibility and ask only that I be judged by my performance as its chief executive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-byrne/i-accept-that-responsibility-and-ask-only-that-i-be-judged-by-my/)

[Jane Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-byrne/)

## More by Pete Rozelle

> [Rather than saying that the commissioner is hired by the owners and therefore is subservient to them, you have to look at whether or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/rather-than-saying-that-the-commissioner-is-hired-by-the-owners-and/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [I'm not saying that the press is wrong to report any internal differences we have, but at the same time, I think it's our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/i-m-not-saying-that-the-press-is-wrong-to-report-any-internal/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [The most difficult owner for me was the late George Marshall of Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/the-most-difficult-owner-for-me-was-the-late-george-marshall-of/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [Considering what Americans have been confronted with in the last ten years, domestically and internationally, it's clear that we need emotional outlets; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/considering-what-americans-have-been-confronted-with-in-the-last-ten/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [I think the big thing I've had going for me in that regard has been the success of the league. I don't have quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/i-think-the-big-thing-i-ve-had-going-for-me-in-that-regard-has-been/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [Every franchise of both leagues will remain in its present location.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/every-franchise-of-both-leagues-will-remain-in-its-present-location/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [There are a lot more TV sets in use on Monday night than on Sunday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/there-are-a-lot-more-tv-sets-in-use-on-monday-night-than-on-sunday/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [At last, someone came to tell me I'd been selected as commissioner, which gave rise to the line that I took the job with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/at-last-someone-came-to-tell-me-i-d-been-selected-as-commissioner/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [Squabbling in public will eventually ruin football; there's no doubt it's hurting us already. Polls taken by Louis Harris - polls as valid as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/squabbling-in-public-will-eventually-ruin-football-there-s-no-doubt/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [At least I'm going into the job with clean hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/at-least-i-m-going-into-the-job-with-clean-hands/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [I'm not claiming that football is the nation's salvation in this area, but it's one of them, one little thing that apparently has captured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/i-m-not-claiming-that-football-is-the-nation-s-salvation-in-this-area/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [But I haven't met a player or a coach whose goal isn't to win the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/but-i-haven-t-met-a-player-or-a-coach-whose-goal-isn-t-to-win-the/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [I don't know if 1300 players could really participate in the selection of a commissioner, and I've never given it a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/i-don-t-know-if-1300-players-could-really-participate-in-the/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [In fact, an awful lot of N.F.L. club owners have practically no influence on their players at all, simply because they're not full-time working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/in-fact-an-awful-lot-of-n-f-l-club-owners-have-practically-no/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

> [People are interested in pro football because it provides them with an emotional oasis; they don't want football to get involved in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/people-are-interested-in-pro-football-because-it-provides-them-with/)

[Pete Rozelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

[Explore all 16 Pete Rozelle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/)

## More Chief executives quotes

> [ \[Former chief executives\] come away thinking that America needs a strong, functioning presidency to succeed, and they become very protective of that office. Democrats… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/former-chief-executives-come-away-thinking-that-america-needs-a/)

[Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/)

> [I believe that if you go and ask a chief executive of a Goldman Sachs or a BP, and they answer you honestly they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/i-believe-that-if-you-go-and-ask-a-chief-executive-of-a-goldman-sachs/)

[Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/)

> [Ethics must begin at the top of an organization. It is a leadership issue and the chief executive must set the example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-f-hennessey/ethics-must-begin-at-the-top-of-an-organization-it-is-a-leadership/)

Edward F. Hennessey

> [ \[F\]or the most part football these days is the opium of the people, not to speak of their crack cocaine. Its icon is the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/f-or-the-most-part-football-these-days-is-the-opium-of-the-people-not/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [Strangely enough, politics may just be the one realm in which having kids imposes no penalty on women. Kids are practically a necessity. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/strangely-enough-politics-may-just-be-the-one-realm-in-which-having/)

[Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/)

> [At the heart of any good business is a chief executive officer with one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/at-the-heart-of-any-good-business-is-a-chief-executive-officer-with/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [I accept that responsibility and ask only that I be judged by my performance as its chief executive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-byrne/i-accept-that-responsibility-and-ask-only-that-i-be-judged-by-my/)

[Jane Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-byrne/)

> [Of one thing the investor can be certain: A large company's need to bring in a new chief executive from the outside is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-arthur-fisher/of-one-thing-the-investor-can-be-certain-a-large-company-s-need-to/)

[Philip Arthur Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-arthur-fisher/)

> [As we all know there have been fabulous women chief executives: Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/as-we-all-know-there-have-been-fabulous-women-chief-executives/)

[Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/)

> [Shareholder meetings are not usually the occasion for utter candor - or for that matter, arch sarcasm - by chief executives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/shareholder-meetings-are-not-usually-the-occasion-for-utter-candor-or/)

[Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/)

> [There is no constitutional or legal requirement that the President shall take the oath of office in the presence of the People but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-harrison/there-is-no-constitutional-or-legal-requirement-that-the-president/)

[Benjamin Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-harrison/)

> [It has become the custom in our country to expect all Chief Executives, from the President down, to conduct activities analogous to an entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-has-become-the-custom-in-our-country-to-expect-all-chief/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/if-general-motors-ford-and-chrysler-get-the-bailout-that-their-chief/)

[Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/)

> [I think Gary Johnson would be capable of being a good chief executive and yes a commander in chief - Aleppo to the contrary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/i-think-gary-johnson-would-be-capable-of-being-a-good-chief-executive/)

[William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/)

> [Whatever the political affiliation of our next President, whatever his views may be on all the issues and problems that rush in upon us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/whatever-the-political-affiliation-of-our-next-president-whatever-his/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

[Browse all 52 Chief executives quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chief-executives/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Pro football was taking off when I became commissioner, and when a sport's successful and you're its chief executive officer, much of the credit flows to you and you develop a good track record.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pete Rozelle"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-became-commissioner-and-when-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chief executives"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-became-commissioner-and-when-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f54/pete-rozelle-31182_chief-executives_pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-becam_1050206.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Pro football was taking off when I became commissioner, and when a sport's successful and you're its chief…” — Pete Rozelle",
                "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": "Pete Rozelle",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rozelle/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Pro football was taking off when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-became-commissioner-and-when-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rozelle/pro-football-was-taking-off-when-i-became-commissioner-and-when-a/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
