My years in the NFL have served as a foundation as to what I model other areas of my life. I have learned to become a man of integrity on the field and in the business world. I have learned to push past personal obstacles when others are depending on me both in a game and in life. In short, the NFL taught me to wake up every morning to show up ready to put 110% into everything I do. And this applies to everything from how I conduct my business to how I cherish my marriage. Read on to find out the 3 most important things the NFL taught me about marriage.

Honor your commitments

Commitment is without a doubt one of the most integral aspects of success in any relationship or endeavor in your life. If you put in the work every day despite the hardships that come your way, you will eventually see results. It’s not rocket science. In fact, I’m not even sure the NFL taught me this lesson. I have valued commitment since day one. I have always been a man of dedication, and that is what got me to the NFL in the first place.

However, what I know the NFL did teach me is to honor these commitments. It taught me to do everything I can to keep my commitments to myself, to my team, and to other people. Playing on a team that depended on me taught me that keeping my commitments determined the kind of team player I was. Likewise, keeping my commitments in life determines the kind of man I am. More than anything, the NFL taught me to treat my commitments with honor––to cherish my commitment to a team because that means I am an integral part of something. And that is exactly how I treat my commitment in marriage. I wake up everyday feeling honored to commit myself to Kimberly and our two-person team.  

Share a common vision

In order for any team to succeed, every player has to share the same goal. The desired end result must be the same––whether that’s taking home a win with your sports team, sealing the deal on a client with your business department, or becoming successful entrepreneurs with your spouse. In fact, your level of success cannot be measured unless you have a pre-established vision.

This is exactly why Kimberly and I have established a shared vision for life and in our marriage. We both want the same things and are willing to wake up every day to put in the same level of work, time, and effort to get there.

Keep a united front

What’s the point of working as a team if you don’t keep a united front? Sticking to the same playbook doesn’t only make it easier to succeed, but it also helps keep teammates accountable. So whether you’re playing for a team in the NFL or just a touch-football team in your neighborhood, you need to have a gameplan to have a shot at success.

Likewise, in marriage, it’s important to keep a united front in every single area of life. Whether you’re dealing with an argument with your children, a disagreement with friends, or a hardship in finances, working together as a team using the same plan of action is the only way to get through it together.

The lessons I learned in the NFL have made me into the man I have become and have influenced how I have learned to honor, cherish, and work on my marriage day in and day out.