--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some of the great John Wayne hero things…" description: "\"Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever happened in football happened because people play hurt.\" — Steve Young" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png" --- # Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever… ![“Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever happened in football happened because people play hurt.” quote by Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png) > “Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever happened in football happened because people play hurt.” [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievements in football often arise from playing through pain, showing toughness and sacrifice. **In simple terms:** Painful effort leads to heroic moments. Key Takeaway Embrace perseverance despite hardship. Themes sportsmanship determination heroism Mood determined inspirational Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - injury recovery - high‑stakes games - training camps Key Concepts physical endurance mental grit Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to push through pain? - How do you balance risk and reward? A Different Perspective Playing hurt can cause long‑term health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [My dad was a football player - a soccer player - for Manchester United, and I loved playing football, but I also happened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcshane/my-dad-was-a-football-player-a-soccer-player-for-manchester-united/) [Ian McShane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcshane/) > [I don't take a whole lot of damage as a fighter, but it happened in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/i-don-t-take-a-whole-lot-of-damage-as-a-fighter-but-it-happened-in/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [The source of wealth is from individuals with little or no history of interest in the game, who have happened upon football as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sepp-blatter/the-source-of-wealth-is-from-individuals-with-little-or-no-history-of/) [Sepp Blatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sepp-blatter/) > [“This is a touch game. There are times when you've got to play hurt when you've got to block out the pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/this-is-a-touch-game-there-are-times-when-you-ve-got-to-play-hurt/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [The athlete knows the day will never come when he wakes up pain-free. He has to play hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-athlete-knows-the-day-will-never-come-when-he-wakes-up-pain-free/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [One thing I learned is that people don't care if you go out there and play hurt. They're always going to talk about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/one-thing-i-learned-is-that-people-don-t-care-if-you-go-out-there-and/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [Some guys play not to get hurt, and they're never really as good as they can be. That's not the way I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kent/some-guys-play-not-to-get-hurt-and-they-re-never-really-as-good-as/) [Jeff Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kent/) > [The difference between pros and amateurs is that pros play hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ailes/the-difference-between-pros-and-amateurs-is-that-pros-play-hurt/) [Roger Ailes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ailes/) > [This game is more than just a check to me. That's why you play hurt. You play tired. You go through all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/this-game-is-more-than-just-a-check-to-me-that-s-why-you-play-hurt/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [It's a risk-reward thing. If I do go out and try and play and get hurt again, then I'm definitely out. I've got no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ralston/it-s-a-risk-reward-thing-if-i-do-go-out-and-try-and-play-and-get-hurt/) Steve Ralston > [Dont play with me coz I play back.Nobody can hurt me without my permission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/admin-darkangel/dont-play-with-me-coz-i-play-back-nobody-can-hurt-me-without-my/) Admin Darkangel > [Of the two 'True Grits,' the John Wayne version one is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/of-the-two-true-grits-the-john-wayne-version-one-is-better/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [“Your father should have pulled out. —JOHN WAYNE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-grzymkowski/your-father-should-have-pulled-out-john-wayne/) [Eric Grzymkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-grzymkowski/) > [John Wayne represents more force, more power than anyone else on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/john-wayne-represents-more-force-more-power-than-anyone-else-on-the/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [John Wayne never wore Lycra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kauk/john-wayne-never-wore-lycra/) [Ron Kauk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kauk/) ## More by Steve Young > [People don't remember that Sid Gillman was my coach. He was an old crotchety guy, but he was the first one to basically say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/people-don-t-remember-that-sid-gillman-was-my-coach-he-was-an-old/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [My wife hates football, and my kids don't really care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/my-wife-hates-football-and-my-kids-don-t-really-care/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I think I always wanted to be quarterback so I could call the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-think-i-always-wanted-to-be-quarterback-so-i-could-call-the-play/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [ I may yet move \[from Nashville\], and where would I move if not Texas or New Mexico? I couldn't afford a home in California.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-may-yet-move-from-nashville-and-where-would-i-move-if-not-texas-or/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Brett Favre plays for championships. That's the only reason he puts up with all of this stuff. He's going to start to figure out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/brett-favre-plays-for-championships-that-s-the-only-reason-he-puts-up/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [ All I cared about was the music, like hearing Townes \[ Van Zandt\] talking about "For the sake of the song"; it's all that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/all-i-cared-about-was-the-music-like-hearing-townes-van-zandt-talking/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [The demands of excellent NFL quarterbacking I always said took every piece of me, emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. It was like it just took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/the-demands-of-excellent-nfl-quarterbacking-i-always-said-took-every/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [My generation, people who played with me, they're suffering from football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/my-generation-people-who-played-with-me-they-re-suffering-from/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [When you play quarterback in San Francisco, not much goes under the radar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/when-you-play-quarterback-in-san-francisco-not-much-goes-under-the/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [If I could have my kids be great when the lights are on, whatever the moment is, to be accountable and then fix it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/if-i-could-have-my-kids-be-great-when-the-lights-are-on-whatever-the/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [I always likened retirement to falling off a cliff, and then you have to kind of brush yourself off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-always-likened-retirement-to-falling-off-a-cliff-and-then-you-have/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [ I had admired Waylon \[ Jennings\], but I never expected to meet him and get to know him. When I finally moved to Nashville… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-had-admired-waylon-jennings-but-i-never-expected-to-meet-him-and/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Music saved my life a few times because I could play the stuff rednecks loved. They thought I was great and they wondered why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/music-saved-my-life-a-few-times-because-i-could-play-the-stuff/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Scrambling, when no one's around, getting down, getting out of bounds, taking a glancing blow, those are all fine. 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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": "Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever happened in football happened because people play hurt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Young" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things-that-have-ever-happened-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things-that-have-ever-happened-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70b/steve-young-2710_football_some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things_393927.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some of the great John Wayne hero things that have ever happened in football happened because people play…” — Steve Young", "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": "Steve Young", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Some of the great John Wayne...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things-that-have-ever-happened-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/some-of-the-great-john-wayne-hero-things-that-have-ever-happened-in/#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 } } ] } ```