Football, Family, and Fun
A Tale of Teamwork

At the time of writing this, the Philadelphia Eagles just defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. We had a watch party at my house with family, and it was fun to see how everyone responded to the game. My family members, who were Kansas City fans, did not have much fun. They were a lot more stressed throughout the game and quite miserable, apart from a few brief moments. Those cheering for the Eagles were upbeat and positive, though they still had a little stress because they didn’t want to be the team that gave up a big lead.

One of the benefits of being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys is that I get to sit back and have a stress-free time watching because I really didn’t care who wins. Unfortunately, I have had stress-free viewings of the Super Bowl for the last 30 years. Regardless of who is playing, one of the things I love the most about football is the teamwork that is required to be successful. I know that can be said about most sports, but I think teamwork is vital in football. Very rarely is one person able to impact a game on their own. Success is usually determined by the effort of many, not one.

With the football season over, I started watching some old family videos. That is always better than anything else on TV. As I was watching, I came across a video of my two youngest – TJ and Kenzie. They are twins and in this video they were about 3 or 4 years old. As I watched, I was amazed at the level of teamwork that they showed – almost to the same level that I had just watched in the football game.

We had a black lab named Lucky. He was a big, strong dog weighing just over 100 pounds. TJ and Kenzie were not quite as big as Lucky­—maybe a third of his size. In this clip, they were taking turns trying to “ride” Lucky. I guess they figured he was like a smaller version of a horse. They would take turns climbing on Lucky, grabbing hold of his collar, and then trying to hang on. It was very entertaining to watch, and all three, TJ, Kenzie, and Lucky, were having a great time.

“the essence of teamwork remains the same and can be a key element to obtaining the success we desire. It’s about coming together, supporting one another, and creating memories that last a lifetime.

As they progressed, TJ and Kenzie learned that as they worked together, their experience improved. One would try to distract Lucky while the other climbed on. Once one was “in the saddle,” the other would run, and Lucky would chase—creating the ultimate riding experience. This brief ride was exhilarating, and they laughed as they flew off Lucky’s back.

Eventually, just running around the yard wasn’t challenging enough, so they took it to the next level. One of them would get in Lucky’s kennel, and the other would stand outside by the gate. When the person inside was on Lucky’s back, the person outside would swing the gate open, and Lucky would take off – much like a bull rider in a rodeo.

Reflecting on these moments, I realize whether it’s a high-stakes football game, simple backyard adventure, workplace activities, or any other aspect of our day to day life, the essence of teamwork remains the same and can be a key element to obtaining the success we desire. It’s about coming together, supporting one another, and creating memories that last a lifetime. As we move forward, I look forward to more stress-free Super Bowl viewings and countless more family moments that remind me of the joy and importance of working together.