One of my favorite plays throughout my career happened in 2014… and I wasn’t even the quarterback on the field.
I was the backup at the time, and a lot of my evenings were spent sitting in Coach Leach’s side office watching film and preparing for the upcoming opponent.
That week we were playing Cal, and while watching tape I noticed a look in their coverage that I thought we could attack with a certain concept. I mentioned it to Coach Mele and he then passed it along to Coach Leach.
To my surprise… the play made it into our condensed game plan for the week.
During the game, I noticed Cal giving us the exact coverage we had talked about. I got on the headset and told the coaches upstairs we needed to get to that play.
The next drive, Connor Halliday hit River Cracraft for an 86-yard touchdown.
My play suggestion.
Sure, I didn’t throw the touchdown or get the spotlight.
But I got something better… trust from my coaches.
It was one of my first “play calls” or audibles… one of the first moments that eventually turned into hundreds throughout my career.
And looking back now, I’m reminded that being a good steward of my current role at the time led to more trust, more responsibility, and more opportunities throughout my career.
So if you aren’t currently in the position you desire… that doesn’t mean you can’t still add value.
You can still contribute, prepare, and start earning the trust of those around you while positioning yourself for bigger moments ahead.
#MindStrength
@DangeRussWilson@NFLonCBS@CBSSports@NFL@ciara As a Seahawk fan I loved you in the beginning and middle but towards the end….. that being said I feel like Russell at the core is good people.
Im per personally grateful for the memories.
All the best 3.
Pete from bham
🙏💛🙏
Most people who watched that episode of Friends never noticed it-and honestly, I didn't either the first time.
Season 8, Episode 13. Just another night, familiar faces, a few good laughs. But in the background, almost easy to miss, Joey is wearing an FDNY shirt. Printed across it:
Captain Billy Burke.
Just a name on a shirt... until you realize it isn't.
Captain William Burke led Engine 21 in Midtown Manhattan. On September 11, 2001, when everything changed, he did what firefighters do—he showed up. He ran straight toward the danger, into the smoke and chaos most of us can't even imagine.
And when the moment came to leave, he stayed.
He stayed behind in the North Tower with injured civilians, making sure others could get out. That part hits me the hardest.
Because that wasn't just duty-that was a choice. A human moment where he put others ahead of himself, knowing full well what it might cost.
It's strange how something so small—a shirt in the background of a sitcom-can carry something so heavy. You watch a show for laughs, for comfort, and there it is... a quiet reminder of real courage, real sacrifice.
I think about how many names like his we've never heard. How many stories live just beneath the surtace, waiting for someone to notice.
I won't miss it again.
Captain Billy Burke.
A name worth remembering. 💛
@kat_maryb I hate those people who love to tell you that money is the root of all that kills they have never been poor, no theyve never had the joy of a wellfare Christmas.