--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Football should not be your source of…" description: "\"Football should not be your source of identity. This one is important to me because I am much more than the player. My faith, my wife, my family, and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/zach-ertz-6576_faith_football-should-not-be-your-source-of-id_2158041.jpg" --- # Football should not be your source of identity. This one… ![“Football should not be your source of identity. This one is important to me because I am much more than the player. My faith, my wife, my family, and the work I do off the field is paramount to feeling whole.” quote by Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/zach-ertz-6576_faith_football-should-not-be-your-source-of-id_2158041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/zach-ertz-6576_faith_football-should-not-be-your-source-of-id_2158041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/zach-ertz-6576_faith_football-should-not-be-your-source-of-id_2158041.jpg) > “Football should not be your source of identity. This one is important to me because I am much more than the player. My faith, my wife, my family, and the work I do off the field is paramount to feeling whole.” [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity should be rooted in personal values, relationships, and purpose, not solely in athletic performance. **In simple terms:** Your worth isn’t defined by sport alone. Key Takeaway Cultivate life beyond the field. Themes identity selfworth balance Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - family life - career planning - mental health - community involvement Key Concepts psychology values role theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize non‑sport aspects daily? - What boundaries protect your personal identity? A Different Perspective Athletes may still feel pressure from fans and media to define themselves by sport. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [For many of us, football is both a source of frustration and absolute euphoria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/for-many-of-us-football-is-both-a-source-of-frustration-and-absolute/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [When we're growing up and being teenagers, oftentimes you try so hard to define yourself. You try to create an image of yourself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/when-we-re-growing-up-and-being-teenagers-oftentimes-you-try-so-hard/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [It seems to me that Canadian sensibility has been profoundly disturbed, not so much by our famous problem of identity, important as that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/it-seems-to-me-that-canadian-sensibility-has-been-profoundly/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [Young kids don't have their identity, so everything is so important. Now I'm mature. I know who I am and I know what my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/young-kids-don-t-have-their-identity-so-everything-is-so-important/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [I stay close to my identity - that's something I find important - but I don't completely shut myself off from the outside world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/memphis-depay/i-stay-close-to-my-identity-that-s-something-i-find-important-but-i/) [Memphis Depay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/memphis-depay/) > [Being Nigerian is a strong part of my identity. Being American is a strong part of my identity. And there are important parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/being-nigerian-is-a-strong-part-of-my-identity-being-american-is-a/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [My Irish identity is important as it's a part of who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/my-irish-identity-is-important-as-it-s-a-part-of-who-i-am/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) > [Carving out an identity for yourself is important so I'm trying to do that as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lambert/carving-out-an-identity-for-yourself-is-important-so-i-m-trying-to-do/) [Adam Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lambert/) > [You own your identity; it is important to feel that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-own-your-identity-it-is-important-to-feel-that-way/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [As you get older, you realise that your identity becomes more important - the environment in which you have grown is actually part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/as-you-get-older-you-realise-that-your-identity-becomes-more/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [If your company is mostly men, make sure to have women on the interview team. While you don't want to 'tokenize' someone for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/if-your-company-is-mostly-men-make-sure-to-have-women-on-the/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I feel like an important player at world level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/i-feel-like-an-important-player-at-world-level/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [I try to prove that I am an important player every day and game after game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/i-try-to-prove-that-i-am-an-important-player-every-day-and-game-after/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) > [I think it's important as a player every now and again to play something that's influenced you as an artist just to expose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-degraw/i-think-it-s-important-as-a-player-every-now-and-again-to-play/) [Gavin DeGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-degraw/) > [A friendly relationship with the coach is important for each player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-kroos/a-friendly-relationship-with-the-coach-is-important-for-each-player/) [Toni Kroos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-kroos/) ## More by Zach Ertz > [I'm a lot bigger than a lot of these DBs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-m-a-lot-bigger-than-a-lot-of-these-dbs/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I'm not going to be perfect on the field, I'm not going to be perfect in my postgame answers or any media session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-m-not-going-to-be-perfect-on-the-field-i-m-not-going-to-be-perfect/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [My goal definitely isn't to be top five. It's to be the best in the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/my-goal-definitely-isn-t-to-be-top-five-it-s-to-be-the-best-in-the/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I went to Stanford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-went-to-stanford/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [What I've learned, being in this league, is you can't take things personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/what-i-ve-learned-being-in-this-league-is-you-can-t-take-things/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I'm focusing on being the best I can for my teammates - catching as many balls and putting in as many good blocks as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-m-focusing-on-being-the-best-i-can-for-my-teammates-catching-as/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [My wife Julie and I are driven to make positive and enduring change in our beloved city of Philadelphia, in California, in Haiti, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/my-wife-julie-and-i-are-driven-to-make-positive-and-enduring-change/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I think I had a good rookie year, but at the end of the day, I want to be one of the best tight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-think-i-had-a-good-rookie-year-but-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-want-to/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [Just trying not to have a weakness in any part of my game - that's always been the approach in all aspects of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/just-trying-not-to-have-a-weakness-in-any-part-of-my-game-that-s/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I just focus on taking a deep breath, staying calm, and not trying to make the situation bigger than it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-just-focus-on-taking-a-deep-breath-staying-calm-and-not-trying-to/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I don't want to be viewed as a weakness in any means. I don't want to be viewed as a weakness in the passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-don-t-want-to-be-viewed-as-a-weakness-in-any-means-i-don-t-want-to/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [I rarely drop the ball, and hopefully that trend continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-rarely-drop-the-ball-and-hopefully-that-trend-continues/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [If you look at the great tight ends in this league, the first thing that stands out is touchdowns. Just like at fantasy football.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/if-you-look-at-the-great-tight-ends-in-this-league-the-first-thing/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [As an athlete, I feel like I have a little bit of control - or a lot of control - of the situation. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/as-an-athlete-i-feel-like-i-have-a-little-bit-of-control-or-a-lot-of/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [When I was younger, I initially hated football because they put me on the offensive line because I was the biggest kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/when-i-was-younger-i-initially-hated-football-because-they-put-me-on/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) [Explore all 98 Zach Ertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Football should not be your source of identity. This one is important to me because I am much more than the player. 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