--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had my family before I played football." description: "\"I had my family before I played football.\" — Terrell Owens" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png" --- # I had my family before I played football. ![“I had my family before I played football.” quote by Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png) > “I had my family before I played football.” [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes that family came first, suggesting personal values outweigh professional pursuits. **In simple terms:** Family prioritized over football. Key Takeaway Place family before career ambitions. Themes family priorities career values balance Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - family gatherings - career decisions - public speaking - mentoring Key Concepts work‑life integration personal identity legacy planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success beyond sport? - What sacrifices support family values? A Different Perspective Balancing both can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [I come from a little town of 7,000 people, and everyone in my family played football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-hegerberg/i-come-from-a-little-town-of-7-000-people-and-everyone-in-my-family/) [Ada Hegerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-hegerberg/) > [One time my whole family played hide and seek. They found my mother in Pittsburgh!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/one-time-my-whole-family-played-hide-and-seek-they-found-my-mother-in/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [I've always had darts around me growing up because my family has always played it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-sherrock/i-ve-always-had-darts-around-me-growing-up-because-my-family-has/) [Fallon Sherrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-sherrock/) > [I come from a very sporting family and played many sports as a lad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-come-from-a-very-sporting-family-and-played-many-sports-as-a-lad/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [So today, while my whole family was with, we played mini golf, and I spent time with my dad. We had fun together, playing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hope/so-today-while-my-whole-family-was-with-we-played-mini-golf-and-i/) [Amber Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hope/) > [I wasn't an only child, but I was the youngest, and no one else in my family played music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-olsen/i-wasn-t-an-only-child-but-i-was-the-youngest-and-no-one-else-in-my/) [Angel Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-olsen/) > [I started playing baseball at age 4 because my family has always played baseball and I always wanted be like my brother and my cousin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-lindor/i-started-playing-baseball-at-age-4-because-my-family-has-always/) [Francisco Lindor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-lindor/) > [My family played a big part of my success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-payton/my-family-played-a-big-part-of-my-success/) [Gary Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-payton/) > [I've always felt that people put me down, and I'd fight back. I played football 15 years, and nobody gave me any credit, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-jones/i-ve-always-felt-that-people-put-me-down-and-i-d-fight-back-i-played/) [Vinnie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-jones/) > [My dad played in the National Soccer League in Australia and also played football in Malaysia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montaigne/my-dad-played-in-the-national-soccer-league-in-australia-and-also/) [Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montaigne/) > [I played football for Leeds United under-18s, but at 17 my eyes started to go and I had to wear glasses. The football had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-boycott/i-played-football-for-leeds-united-under-18s-but-at-17-my-eyes/) [Geoffrey Boycott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-boycott/) > [I played football in eighth grade, and even though I had a passion for it, it turned out I'm no good at playing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-played-football-in-eighth-grade-and-even-though-i-had-a-passion-for/) [Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/) > [I always played football as a kid and never really thought about anything else. I always wanted to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-always-played-football-as-a-kid-and-never-really-thought-about/) [Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/) > [All that matters to me now is my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/all-that-matters-to-me-now-is-my-family/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [Music was the one thing I could control. It was the one world that offered me freedom. When I played music, my nightmares ended.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/music-was-the-one-thing-i-could-control-it-was-the-one-world-that/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) ## More by Terrell Owens > [Right is right and wrong is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/right-is-right-and-wrong-is-wrong/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I've never really thought of myself as having an ego. I've always found myself as having a lot of confidence. I know I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-ve-never-really-thought-of-myself-as-having-an-ego-i-ve-always/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [As you get to know me, you kind of figure me out, that I'm not as probably as bad of a guy that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/as-you-get-to-know-me-you-kind-of-figure-me-out-that-i-m-not-as/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [Jerry (Rice) played until he was 42. At 39, I ran a 4.43 40-yard dash. You look at the number of dropped balls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/jerry-rice-played-until-he-was-42-at-39-i-ran-a-4-43-40-yard-dash-you/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I may be a public figure, but really, I'm just like a guy who could be in your family and have some difficult things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-may-be-a-public-figure-but-really-i-m-just-like-a-guy-who-could-be/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [But I know in my heart what I'm doing is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/but-i-know-in-my-heart-what-i-m-doing-is-right/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I feel like it was a little disrespectful but you know what I feel like, I have been successful, blessed and I keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-feel-like-it-was-a-little-disrespectful-but-you-know-what-i-feel/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I left a lot - a lot - of touchdowns on the field throughout the last two or three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-left-a-lot-a-lot-of-touchdowns-on-the-field-throughout-the-last-two/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [A lot of people expect to see the same type of character that they see on the field off the field, and that throws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/a-lot-of-people-expect-to-see-the-same-type-of-character-that-they/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [It doesn't matter what any of my teammates have said about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/it-doesn-t-matter-what-any-of-my-teammates-have-said-about-me/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [All that matters to me now is my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/all-that-matters-to-me-now-is-my-family/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [When I step on the field, you know what you gonna get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/when-i-step-on-the-field-you-know-what-you-gonna-get/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [Like my boy tells me; if it looks like a rat and smells like a rat, by golly, it is a rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/like-my-boy-tells-me-if-it-looks-like-a-rat-and-smells-like-a-rat-by/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I don't have no friends. I don't want no friends. That's how I feel,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-have-no-friends-i-don-t-want-no-friends-that-s-how-i-feel/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) > [I don't have to play for the Eagles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-don-t-have-to-play-for-the-eagles/) [Terrell Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) [Explore all 107 Terrell Owens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [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/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 36,913 Family quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had my family before I played football.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terrell Owens" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Family" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/terrell-owens-4743_family_i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football_2869808.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had my family before I played football.” — Terrell Owens", "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": "Terrell Owens", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-owens/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had my family before I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-owens/i-had-my-family-before-i-played-football/#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 } } ] } ```