--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We believed it was not our formations…" description: "\"We believed it was not our formations that made us good, but rather how we played.\" — Tony Dungy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png" --- # We believed it was not our formations that made us good… ![“We believed it was not our formations that made us good, but rather how we played.” quote by Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png) > “We believed it was not our formations that made us good, but rather how we played.” [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends more on execution and teamwork than on the specific tactics or formations used. **In simple terms:** How we play matters more than the playbook. Key Takeaway Focus on execution and teamwork. Themes teamwork execution strategy Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - coaching - sports teams - business projects - military units Key Concepts leadership performance culture Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve execution in your current role? - What habits foster better teamwork? A Different Perspective Good formations alone cannot guarantee success without effective play. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspiring football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring-football/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [The successive series of stratified formations are piled on one another, almost like courses of masonry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-buckland/the-successive-series-of-stratified-formations-are-piled-on-one/) [William Buckland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-buckland/) > [Ramones' songs are too good not to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/ramones-songs-are-too-good-not-to-be-played/) [Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/) > [I think I always play good, always played solid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/i-think-i-always-play-good-always-played-solid/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [Being single is good because you cant get played or cheated on!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayj/being-single-is-good-because-you-cant-get-played-or-cheated-on/) Jayj > [I think it's nice to have a variety of lineups and formations to use against different opponents, depending on what they bring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/i-think-it-s-nice-to-have-a-variety-of-lineups-and-formations-to-use/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [I'm always learning, especially with the different formations. It will help me in the long run to maybe become a forward player - on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-shaw/i-m-always-learning-especially-with-the-different-formations-it-will/) [Luke Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-shaw/) > [As a youngster in South America, there is more chance to express your talent, without thinking too much about formations and tactics. Football over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-lamela/as-a-youngster-in-south-america-there-is-more-chance-to-express-your/) [Erik Lamela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-lamela/) > [I don't rule out 3-4-3 or other formations depending on the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/i-don-t-rule-out-3-4-3-or-other-formations-depending-on-the-game/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [I do not think about formations too often. It is the easiest thing to recognize and to see on the pitch, but when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-nagelsmann/i-do-not-think-about-formations-too-often-it-is-the-easiest-thing-to/) [Julian Nagelsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-nagelsmann/) > [All of the usual formations have advantages and disadvantages, but none would work without the magic of the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/all-of-the-usual-formations-have-advantages-and-disadvantages-but/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [We wanted guys who had been productive in college, and we made it a point to pick performance over potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-wanted-guys-who-had-been-productive-in-college-and-we-made-it-a/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [They were unwillingly to give 100 percent if they didn't personally think it was important. What you don't understand is the champions know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/they-were-unwillingly-to-give-100-percent-if-they-didn-t-personally/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [I need to treat everybody fairly, but fair doesn't always mean equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/i-need-to-treat-everybody-fairly-but-fair-doesn-t-always-mean-equal/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Change isn't always bad; we should always be learning and improving. But the change I was seeing involved principles, not procedures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/change-isn-t-always-bad-we-should-always-be-learning-and-improving/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [We only wanted to pay significant sums to keep truly special players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-only-wanted-to-pay-significant-sums-to-keep-truly-special-players/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) ## More by Tony Dungy > [We only wanted to pay significant sums to keep truly special players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-only-wanted-to-pay-significant-sums-to-keep-truly-special-players/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [They were unwillingly to give 100 percent if they didn't personally think it was important. What you don't understand is the champions know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/they-were-unwillingly-to-give-100-percent-if-they-didn-t-personally/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [I need to treat everybody fairly, but fair doesn't always mean equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/i-need-to-treat-everybody-fairly-but-fair-doesn-t-always-mean-equal/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Change isn't always bad; we should always be learning and improving. But the change I was seeing involved principles, not procedures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/change-isn-t-always-bad-we-should-always-be-learning-and-improving/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [We wanted guys who had been productive in college, and we made it a point to pick performance over potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-wanted-guys-who-had-been-productive-in-college-and-we-made-it-a/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Hard work and togetherness. They go hand in hand. You need the hard work because it's such a tough atmosphere... to win week in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/hard-work-and-togetherness-they-go-hand-in-hand-you-need-the-hard/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Character is the glue that bonds solid and meaningful relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/character-is-the-glue-that-bonds-solid-and-meaningful-relationships/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [As a father of seven kids, and been a kid myself at one point, I realize you don't always make the best decisions every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/as-a-father-of-seven-kids-and-been-a-kid-myself-at-one-point-i/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [What's important is not the uniform or the number, and it's not what team you play for or whether anyone else sees your value;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/what-s-important-is-not-the-uniform-or-the-number-and-it-s-not-what/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Engage, educate, equip, encourage, empower, energize, and elevate. Those are the methods for maximizing the potential of any individual, team, organization, or institution for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/engage-educate-equip-encourage-empower-energize-and-elevate-those-are/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [There are weaknesses that you have to understand and it takes a lot of discipline for the players to be able to play it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/there-are-weaknesses-that-you-have-to-understand-and-it-takes-a-lot/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Integrity is what you do when no one is watching; its doing the right thing all the time, even when it may work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/integrity-is-what-you-do-when-no-one-is-watching-its-doing-the-right/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [Courage is the ability to do the right thing, all the time, no matter how painful or uncomfortable it might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/courage-is-the-ability-to-do-the-right-thing-all-the-time-no-matter/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [I would want America to know our kids need us. Spend as much time with your kids as you can. Enjoy them. Be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/i-would-want-america-to-know-our-kids-need-us-spend-as-much-time-with/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [“Without Peyton, there would be no Lucas Oil Stadium. This team would be playing in L.A. right now. I don't understand Jim saying this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/without-peyton-there-would-be-no-lucas-oil-stadium-this-team-would-be/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) [Explore all 171 Tony Dungy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. 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": "We believed it was not our formations that made us good, but rather how we played.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Dungy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-that-made-us-good-but-rather/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-that-made-us-good-but-rather/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d75/tony-dungy-2343_football_we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-th_3232860.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We believed it was not our formations that made us good, but rather how we played.” — Tony Dungy", "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": "Tony Dungy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We believed it was not our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-that-made-us-good-but-rather/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/we-believed-it-was-not-our-formations-that-made-us-good-but-rather/#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 } } ] } ```