By J.L. Brent

This year, I took a bit of time off for the Thanksgiving holiday. While I relaxed, my husband dove headfirst into his football happy place. He even made up a song to the tune of It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year—all about football. I’ll admit, I’m not as enthusiastic about the sport as he is. But if I want to see him for more than a fleeting moment during this season, football has to be part of the equation. So, there I was, sitting on the couch, observing him juggle multiple games on the TV and his phone.

Last night, as he ate a hefty serving of Thanksgiving leftovers out of a tin serving tray while flipping between games, I had a revelation. Why not use this time to ask questions and dive deeper into the connection between football and one of my passions: learning and development? It might sound random, but bear with me. I started drawing parallels and realized football can teach us some pretty impactful lessons about L&D.

If you’ve ever struggled to get reluctant stakeholders to buy into a learning program or just wanted a relatable metaphor to explain complex processes this might just be the playbook you need. Let’s huddle up and break it down.

A Brief History of Football’s Origins

American football didn’t just spring out of nowhere. It has roots in medieval ball games played in England, chaotic affairs with no referees and few rules, often involving entire villages (Goldblatt, 2006). By the 19th century, clubs and schools began formalizing these games into two distinct sports: football (or soccer) and rugby (Collins, 2006). Rugby eventually made its way to America, where it combined with war-room strategy to evolve into the gridiron game we know today (PBS, n.d.).

It turns out, football is more than just a sport. It’s a masterclass in strategy, teamwork, and adaptability. From meticulously crafted playbooks to post-game analysis, winning football teams offer lessons we can use in learning and development.

1. Setting Clear Goals: New England Patriots

The Patriots are the ultimate example of clear goal setting. Under coach Bill Belichick, they break every game plan into achievable steps, from first downs to touchdowns (Belichick, 2020).

L&D Lesson: Set specific, measurable learning objectives. Whether you’re building a leadership program or upskilling employees, clarity is key. Start with milestones and build toward the larger goal.

2. Role Specialization: San Francisco 49ers

In the 1980s, coach Bill Walsh’s 49ers thrived on players excelling in their specialized roles. Joe Montana’s precision passes paired perfectly with Jerry Rice’s unmatched receiving skills (Walsh, 1986).

L&D Lesson: Success depends on clearly defined roles. Assign responsibilities in your learning programs to subject matter experts, instructional designers, and learners, ensuring everyone contributes to the team’s success.

3. Game Plan Development: Kansas City Chiefs

Under coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs adapt their game plans to match their opponents, a strategy that helped them win the 2020 Super Bowl (NFL, 2020).

L&D Lesson: Tailor your training programs based on your audience. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. Conduct a needs assessment to build a strategy that aligns with learner profiles and organizational goals.

4. Continuous Adaptation: Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl LII saw the Eagles pull off the iconic “Philly Special,” a trick play that showcased their ability to adapt mid-game and outwit the Patriots (ESPN, 2018).

L&D Lesson: Be agile in your approach. Use learner feedback and data to adjust training programs as needed. Flexibility can turn challenges into opportunities for success.

5. Importance of Practice: Green Bay Packers

Vince Lombardi drilled his players to perfection, turning the Packers into a dynasty that dominated the 1960s with five NFL championships (Lombardi, 1965).

L&D Lesson: Reinforce learning through practice. Simulations, role-playing, and on-the-job exercises ensure learners can apply skills confidently.

6. Teamwork and Collaboration: Seattle Seahawks

The Legion of Boom defense led the Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. Their success was rooted in trust and collaboration (Henderson, 2014).

L&D Lesson: Foster a collaborative learning culture. Encourage teams to share knowledge and solve problems together, just as a defense works together to block every pass and rush.

7. Data-Driven Decisions: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens leaned on advanced analytics during their dominant 2019 season, led by MVP Lamar Jackson (Pro Football Focus, 2019).

L&D Lesson: Use data to measure the effectiveness of your programs. Track completion rates, retention, and performance to refine your strategies and maximize ROI.

8. Overcoming Resistance: Chicago Bears

The 1985 Bears faced tough challenges but persevered, embodying resilience as they claimed a Super Bowl victory (Chicago Tribune, 1985).

L&D Lesson: Resistance to change is natural. Address it by showing stakeholders the tangible benefits of training initiatives, from improved performance to employee satisfaction.

9. Celebrating Wins: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After clinching the 2021 Super Bowl, the Bucs celebrated their triumph with Tom Brady at the helm. Recognition boosted team morale and camaraderie (Wexler, 2021).

L&D Lesson: Celebrate learning achievements. Acknowledge milestones like course completions or skill certifications to keep learners motivated and engaged.

10. Long-Term Vision: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers, with their six Super Bowl titles, exemplify consistent success through long-term planning and player development (Rooney, 2005).

L&D Lesson: Think beyond short-term wins. Build programs that prepare employees for future roles and align with organizational goals. Just like the Steelers, focus on sustained success.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing my passion for L&D has taught me, it’s that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. This little research rabbit hole started with me sitting next to my husband, watching him juggle Thanksgiving leftovers and multiple football games. I don’t know much about football (he had to suggest the teams for each of these lessons), but as we talked, I realized how many parallels exist between the sport he loves and the work that fuels me.

After we finished the list, he even pointed out that there are countless teams and stories that could fit these lessons. That got me thinking; what if this could be more than just a fun connection? This could be a tool to use in the early stages of developing an L&D program. Imagine letting team members suggest their favorite teams or stories or having a few examples ready to spark the conversation. It’s a creative way to engage people and help them think more clearly about what goes into building a successful learning strategy.

Honestly, I started this process just wanting to explore the connection, but I stumbled onto something that feels bigger; a way to bring collaborators and leadership together around shared ideals for an L&D program. Just like in football, success in learning and development boils down to the same fundamentals: clear goals, teamwork, adaptability, and celebrating progress.

So, what’s your next play?

Sources

• Belichick, Bill. Patriot Way: The Art of Winning. Boston: Globe Publishing, 2020.
• Chicago Tribune Archives. “Bears Take It All the Way.” Chicago Tribune, 1985.
• Collins, Tony. Rugby and Football: Two Sports from One Root. Routledge, 2006.
• ESPN.com. “Inside the Eagles’ Philly Special.” ESPN, 2018.
• Goldblatt, David. The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football. Penguin Books, 2006.
• Henderson, John. “Seahawks’ Legion of Boom Explained.” Seattle Times, 2014.
• Lombardi, Vince. What It Takes to Win. Green Bay: Packers Press, 1965.
• NFL Network. “Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl Journey.” NFL Network, 2020.
• PBS.org. “The History of American Football.” Accessed at PBS.org.
• Pro Football Focus. “Analytics Behind the Ravens’ Success.” PFF.com, 2019.
• Rooney, Dan. The Steelers Way: A Legacy of Success. Pittsburgh: Steelers Publishing, 2005.
• Samantha Wexler. “Tom Brady & the Bucs celebrate Super Bowl win.” wfuogb.com, 2021.
• Walsh, Bill. Building the Perfect Team. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1986.