--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Philadelphia, I was told to use my…" description: "\"In Philadelphia, I was told to use my ability. Buddy Ryan said, basically, 'Hey, go out there and make five big plays a game. We'll get some turnovers...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/randall-cunningham-5186_ability_in-philadelphia-i-was-told-to-use-my-abi_1574995.jpg" --- # In Philadelphia, I was told to use my ability. Buddy Ryan… ![“In Philadelphia, I was told to use my ability. Buddy Ryan said, basically, 'Hey, go out there and make five big plays a game. We'll get some turnovers.' The defense was supposed to win the game. That's how I developed into a 'running quarterback.' The year I ran for 942 yards, I was just doing…” quote by Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/randall-cunningham-5186_ability_in-philadelphia-i-was-told-to-use-my-abi_1574995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/randall-cunningham-5186_ability_in-philadelphia-i-was-told-to-use-my-abi_1574995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9d/randall-cunningham-5186_ability_in-philadelphia-i-was-told-to-use-my-abi_1574995.jpg) > “In Philadelphia, I was told to use my ability. Buddy Ryan said, basically, 'Hey, go out there and make five big plays a game. We'll get some turnovers.' The defense was supposed to win the game. That's how I developed into a 'running quarterback.' The year I ran for 942 yards, I was just doing what I was told.” [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He followed coach’s instructions, becoming a running quarterback, achieving high yardage. **In simple terms:** He did what he was told and succeeded. Key Takeaway Follow guidance while adapting to strengths. Themes sports coaching performance Mood reflective motivational Type sports interview personal story When to use this quote - football training - team leadership - career planning Key Concepts strategy role adaptation Questions to Reflect On - How did coaching shape his style? - When should you deviate from instructions? A Different Perspective Blindly following may ignore personal strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Any defensive coordinator is worried about two things: a running quarterback and a deep ball. You know, don't get beat deep and don't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/any-defensive-coordinator-is-worried-about-two-things-a-running/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [ A running quarterback, to me, is safer. Because, once I got out \[of the pocket\], I didn?t run where there were a lot of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/a-running-quarterback-to-me-is-safer-because-once-i-got-out-of-the/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [People ask me who he reminds me of. The way he's playing, I'd say he doesn't remind me of anybody. I've never seen anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fouts/people-ask-me-who-he-reminds-me-of-the-way-he-s-playing-i-d-say-he/) [Dan Fouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fouts/) > [I've never had a quarterback run-driven offense. We don't run designed plays where we snap the ball directly to the quarterback and he's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kelly/i-ve-never-had-a-quarterback-run-driven-offense-we-don-t-run-designed/) [Chip Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kelly/) > [I said all along, you judge your quarterback in his third year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-shanahan/i-said-all-along-you-judge-your-quarterback-in-his-third-year/) [Mike Shanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-shanahan/) > [Call me a quarterback, not a running quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/call-me-a-quarterback-not-a-running-quarterback/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I never intended to be a running quarterback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rivers/i-never-intended-to-be-a-running-quarterback/) [Philip Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-rivers/) > [“He hadn't developed into the accomplished running quarterback many had predicted he would become over the course of the season. But he had come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-hayes/he-hadn-t-developed-into-the-accomplished-running-quarterback-many/) [Neil Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-hayes/) > [“After fourteen seconds, Ryan said, “I want you. Come here.” James breathed out, the tight knot in his stomach loosening a bit. “Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-hazard/after-fourteen-seconds-ryan-said-i-want-you-come-here-james-breathed/) [Alessandra Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-hazard/) > [“As Samantha wrapped the ornament in paper, and placed it in a bag, Mrs. Ryan said, “Hearts are like that spun glass, beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-hoffa/as-samantha-wrapped-the-ornament-in-paper-and-placed-it-in-a-bag-mrs/) [Tamara Hoffa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-hoffa/) > [“It is,” Ryan said. “I find it fascinating to see Alex become Zander and Dagger … well, he just morphs into this other crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/it-is-ryan-said-i-find-it-fascinating-to-see-alex-become-zander-and/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) > [“You’re not broken,” Ryan said fiercely, pulling back so he could look Phillip in the face. He refused to allow his P.J. to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-vaughn/you-re-not-broken-ryan-said-fiercely-pulling-back-so-he-could-look/) [Piper Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-vaughn/) > [“I don’t wanna say ‘I love you’, cause it’s been, like, two months since we met, but... I want you to know I’m falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-a-merikan/i-don-t-wanna-say-i-love-you-cause-it-s-been-like-two-months-since-we/) [K.A. Merikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-a-merikan/) > [“You’re not his mentor,” Ryan said. “Morgan is. Why would you need to teach him anything?” Randall cocked his head at Ryan. Ryan blanched.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/you-re-not-his-mentor-ryan-said-morgan-is-why-would-you-need-to-teach/) [T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/) > [“Dagger’s smile was easy, relaxed, sated. “Forever,” Dagger whispered. “Can you give me that?” Ryan leaned forward and caught Dagger’s mouth, deeply tasting him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-lister/dagger-s-smile-was-easy-relaxed-sated-forever-dagger-whispered-can/) [Ann Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-lister/) ## More by Randall Cunningham > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. The people have always been very, very kind to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/the-people-have-always-been-family-to-me-here-in-las-vegas-the-people/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I admit that when I first entered the league I didn't fully understand the enormity of the situation. It's easy to stay self-focused, doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-admit-that-when-i-first-entered-the-league-i-didn-t-fully/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [It's nice to know the impact I had on the game and that someone appreciates that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/it-s-nice-to-know-the-impact-i-had-on-the-game-and-that-someone/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [While growing up, I actually thought people didn't care what color you were. Racism is history, but it's real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/while-growing-up-i-actually-thought-people-didn-t-care-what-color-you/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [In previous years I was so fired up at times I made little mistakes. So I kept telling myself to be patient, relax, play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/in-previous-years-i-was-so-fired-up-at-times-i-made-little-mistakes/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I read the Bible every day and it strengthens me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-read-the-bible-every-day-and-it-strengthens-me/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I was able to do great things, but in no way am I better than any of the other players that played at UNLV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-was-able-to-do-great-things-but-in-no-way-am-i-better-than-any-of/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I wasn't willing to hear too much when I was a rookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-wasn-t-willing-to-hear-too-much-when-i-was-a-rookie/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [Hey, I'm not the typical blue-collar guy, but that doesn't mean I'm not a family man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/hey-i-m-not-the-typical-blue-collar-guy-but-that-doesn-t-mean-i-m-not/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [My favorite quarterback of all time is still Steve Young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/my-favorite-quarterback-of-all-time-is-still-steve-young/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [You set goals in life, and I know that I set many goals, wanted to be in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/you-set-goals-in-life-and-i-know-that-i-set-many-goals-wanted-to-be/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [I'm loyal to Philadelphia. That's where I retired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-m-loyal-to-philadelphia-that-s-where-i-retired/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [When I ran, I jumped, I leaped. Vick doesn't seem to do nearly as much of that. I was a high jumper in high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/when-i-ran-i-jumped-i-leaped-vick-doesn-t-seem-to-do-nearly-as-much/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [Our mentality is known as loving people. We greet with a hug, as the Bible teaches us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/our-mentality-is-known-as-loving-people-we-greet-with-a-hug-as-the/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) [Explore all 103 Randall Cunningham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) ## 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": "In Philadelphia, I was told to use my ability. 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