--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play for the guy next to you…" description: "\"When you play for the guy next to you, that's when you win championships.\" — Tom Herman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg" --- # When you play for the guy next to you, that's when you win… ![“When you play for the guy next to you, that's when you win championships.” quote by Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg) > “When you play for the guy next to you, that's when you win championships.” [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Team success comes from selfless play and supporting teammates, not individual glory. **In simple terms:** Play for others to win together Key Takeaway Focus on teamwork over personal stats Themes teamwork selflessness leadership Mood motivational energetic Type sports leadership When to use this quote - sports drills - team meetings - leadership training Key Concepts Collective effort shared victory Questions to Reflect On - How do you encourage selfless play in competitive environments? - What rewards reinforce teamwork? A Different Perspective Individual talent can dominate if not balanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Championships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/championships/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-guy-297939/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) [Win Championships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-championships/) ## Related quotes > [You can't win championships without playing great defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/you-can-t-win-championships-without-playing-great-defense/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [We will win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/we-will-win-championships/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I want to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-want-to-win-championships/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [I'm not here to finish last, I'm here to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-m-not-here-to-finish-last-i-m-here-to-win-championships/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [There's efforts to win games and there's efforts to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/there-s-efforts-to-win-games-and-there-s-efforts-to-win-championships/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) > [This era is like, 'Oh, I want to win championships, and how many rings do you have?' I've said that's what I play for:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lillard/this-era-is-like-oh-i-want-to-win-championships-and-how-many-rings-do/) [Damian Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lillard/) > [You don't win championships by having the cheapest budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-kiffin/you-don-t-win-championships-by-having-the-cheapest-budget/) [Lane Kiffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-kiffin/) > [It never bothered me when people would say, 'You only win championships because you're playing with Shaq.' It bothered me when he said it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/it-never-bothered-me-when-people-would-say-you-only-win-championships/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [Probably the No. 1 characteristic, if you want win championships, you've got to be great competitors. It's got to come naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-budenholzer/probably-the-no-1-characteristic-if-you-want-win-championships-you-ve/) [Mike Budenholzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-budenholzer/) > [I think you play this game to be remembered, to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesean-mccoy/i-think-you-play-this-game-to-be-remembered-to-win-championships/) [LeSean McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesean-mccoy/) > [Going out there and losing is so easy. I want stuff to be hard - that's why I want to win championships, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jameis-winston/going-out-there-and-losing-is-so-easy-i-want-stuff-to-be-hard-that-s/) [Jameis Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jameis-winston/) > [There are only two types of player-those who keep their nerves under control and win championships, and those who do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-vardon/there-are-only-two-types-of-player-those-who-keep-their-nerves-under/) [Harry Vardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-vardon/) > [You don't have to find out what someone's mechanical abilities are. All those factors are already a known commodity. I've seen teams win championships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-dixon/you-don-t-have-to-find-out-what-someone-s-mechanical-abilities-are/) [Larry Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-dixon/) > [It used to be you a needed a true center to win championships, but now the point guard position holds just as much weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/it-used-to-be-you-a-needed-a-true-center-to-win-championships-but-now/) [Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/) > [I tell people to look at me and understand that everybody first told me that I couldn't be a 6-foot, 9-inch point guard, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/i-tell-people-to-look-at-me-and-understand-that-everybody-first-told/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) ## More by Tom Herman > [Players will get you above average. To get to the elite, you need culture and leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/players-will-get-you-above-average-to-get-to-the-elite-you-need/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [For me, nobody's re-inventing football. We just have to do it better than everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/for-me-nobody-s-re-inventing-football-we-just-have-to-do-it-better/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [My wife and I made a pact a long time ago we really don't give gifts on holidays. We figure if it's coming from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/my-wife-and-i-made-a-pact-a-long-time-ago-we-really-don-t-give-gifts/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Once you coach football in Texas, you fall in love with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/once-you-coach-football-in-texas-you-fall-in-love-with-it/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [You need explosive plays to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/you-need-explosive-plays-to-win/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [One of the neatest things I saw with the team at Ohio State - and we preach about it all the time as coaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/one-of-the-neatest-things-i-saw-with-the-team-at-ohio-state-and-we/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Twitter gives you a forum to let loose a little bit and have fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/twitter-gives-you-a-forum-to-let-loose-a-little-bit-and-have-fun/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I delete the Twitter app during the season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-delete-the-twitter-app-during-the-season/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Losing has to be awful. You can never get used to losing. That's one of the biggest downfalls to a lot of teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/losing-has-to-be-awful-you-can-never-get-used-to-losing-that-s-one-of/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [The price of championships will never change. It's been set long before me. It will be the same long after me. That price is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/the-price-of-championships-will-never-change-it-s-been-set-long/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I think first and foremost, you've got to be able to run the football to be successful in college football. Some teams have thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-think-first-and-foremost-you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-run-the-football/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I was a highlight coordinator. My job was to go in and watch games, watch and type. Basically every time the camera frame changed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-was-a-highlight-coordinator-my-job-was-to-go-in-and-watch-games/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Bankers don't get to do this. For all the hours, the late nights, lack of sleep and hours of pulling your hair out from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/bankers-don-t-get-to-do-this-for-all-the-hours-the-late-nights-lack/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [I've never met a successful person in any walk of life - from Michael Dell to Peyton Manning to Barack Obama - that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/i-ve-never-met-a-successful-person-in-any-walk-of-life-from-michael/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [Phenomenal people in Ames and throughout the state of Iowa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/phenomenal-people-in-ames-and-throughout-the-state-of-iowa/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) [Explore all 74 Tom Herman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) ## More Championships quotes > [I have wrestled in almost every tournament in the world. I've won the Olympics, NCAAs, and World Championships, but none of those can truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-have-wrestled-in-almost-every-tournament-in-the-world-i-ve-won-the/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [Nick Saban's legacy is already cemented. He's won six national championships and seven if you include the one in LSU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/nick-saban-s-legacy-is-already-cemented-he-s-won-six-national/) [Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/) > [To me, it's all about winning championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/to-me-it-s-all-about-winning-championships/) [Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/) > [The Champs-Elysees is like the world championships for sprinters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bennett/the-champs-elysees-is-like-the-world-championships-for-sprinters/) [Sam Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bennett/) > [He's got everything. He' not a great player yet because he hasn't won any major championships, but it's a matter of time. He's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-price/he-s-got-everything-he-not-a-great-player-yet-because-he-hasn-t-won/) [Nick Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-price/) > [I can say when it comes to championships it's a tactical race and normally you don't have a pacesetter who can set a pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rudisha/i-can-say-when-it-comes-to-championships-it-s-a-tactical-race-and/) [David Rudisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rudisha/) > [I want to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cruz/i-want-to-win-championships/) [Victor Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cruz/) > [I want to be M.V.P. one day. But for me, it's all about championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonzo-ball/i-want-to-be-m-v-p-one-day-but-for-me-it-s-all-about-championships/) [Lonzo Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonzo-ball/) > [You don't win championships by having the cheapest budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-kiffin/you-don-t-win-championships-by-having-the-cheapest-budget/) [Lane Kiffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-kiffin/) > [Having the chance to be able to fight for something really meaningful - races, championships - that's the absolute priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ricciardo/having-the-chance-to-be-able-to-fight-for-something-really-meaningful/) [Daniel Ricciardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ricciardo/) > [Wrestling is a business, it is show business and wrestling championships are props.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/wrestling-is-a-business-it-is-show-business-and-wrestling/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [This era is like, 'Oh, I want to win championships, and how many rings do you have?' I've said that's what I play for:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lillard/this-era-is-like-oh-i-want-to-win-championships-and-how-many-rings-do/) [Damian Lillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lillard/) > [In the state of Kentucky, all they know is Kentucky basketball. It's the same thing in L.A. They love the Lakers and they expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-randle/in-the-state-of-kentucky-all-they-know-is-kentucky-basketball-it-s/) [Julius Randle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-randle/) > [Rebounding wins championships, you need to emphasize it and work with kids on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/rebounding-wins-championships-you-need-to-emphasize-it-and-work-with/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [There's efforts to win games and there's efforts to win championships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-izzo/there-s-efforts-to-win-games-and-there-s-efforts-to-win-championships/) [Tom Izzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-izzo/) [Browse all 225 Championships quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/championships/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you play for the guy next to you, that's when you win championships.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Herman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-that-s-when-you-win/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Championships" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-that-s-when-you-win/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/tom-herman-9281_championships_when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-th_2489216.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you play for the guy next to you, that's when you win championships.” — Tom Herman", "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": "Tom Herman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you play for the guy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-that-s-when-you-win/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/when-you-play-for-the-guy-next-to-you-that-s-when-you-win/#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 } } ] } ```