Are You Setting Yourself Up for Success? Lessons from the Quarterback Carousel around the NFL.

The NFL quarterback carousel is a fascinating spectacle. Every year, teams shuffle quarterbacks, hoping to find the missing piece to their championship puzzle. But what if the key to success isn't just about the quarterback's talent? What if it's about the system they're in? Just like in football, businesses need the right systems in place to succeed. The purpose of this article is to explore the parallels between the NFL's quarterback carousel and the business world, highlighting how effective systems and leadership can unlock potential and drive results that lead to success.

Lets take a look at a few examples to further illustrate my point.

• Caleb Williams: Showed immense promise in college, but has struggled since joining the Chicago Bears. This raises questions about whether the Bears system is hindering his development. If we remember, the Bears certainly didn't do Justin Fields any favors.
• Alex Smith: Struggled with the 49ers under several coaches until Jim Harbaugh arrived on the scene and completely transformed the team. With Harbaugh, Smith led the 49ers to their first division title and playoff win since 2002, along with their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1997.
• Jared Goff: Looked like a bust with the Rams until Sean McVay was hired as the head coach. With McVay at the helm, Jared Goff led the Rams to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the New England Patriots . Goff has continued to find success after being traded to the Detroit Lions. With the Lions, Goff even managed to win a playoff game against the Rams, the team that traded him away! In fact, he led the Lions to their first playoff win in 32 years!
• Matthew Stafford: After struggling to find playoff success with the Lions, where he went 0-3 in the postseason , Matthew Stafford's game reached new heights after he was traded to the Rams and began playing under Sean McVay. He finally earned his first Super Bowl ring with the Rams in Super Bowl LVI.
• Sam Darnold: Floundered with the Jets, but now he has seemed to revitalize his career with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to a 12-2 record thus far with three games left.
• Russell Wilson: Excelled with the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Carroll, even leading them to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XLVIII and losing Super Bowl XLIX. Despite his success in Seattle, he really struggled in Denver and was ultimately released. However, he is now thriving with the Pittsburgh Steelers under the leadership of Mike Tomlin.
• Justin Herbert: Already talented when he came into the league, Justin Herbert has truly excelled this year under coach Jim Harbaugh.
• Aaron Rodgers: Was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league during his time with the Green Bay Packers. However, he has struggled since joining the New York Jets. In contrast, his replacement in Green Bay, Jordan Love, is thriving in the same system under Matt Lafleur.

These examples highlight a crucial truth: Some coaches, like Sean McVay and Jim Harbaugh, have a knack for maximizing the potential of their quarterback. Sean McVay helped Goff reach the Super Bowl and led Stafford to his first Super Bowl victory. Jim Harbaugh transformed Alex Smiths career with the 49ers and helped him achieve significant playoff success . Andy Reid led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Superbowl and is now having massive success with the Kansas City Chiefs. These coaches seem to possess a unique ability to create systems and environments that allow quarterbacks to thrive. Their leadership, offensive schemes, and ability to foster a winning culture contribute significantly to the success of their quarterback's. Furthermore, these examples demonstrate that a change of scenery and a fresh start with a new team can often revitalize a quarterbacks career. Goff, Stafford, Darnold, and Wilson all experienced renewed success after moving to different teams with new coaching staffs and systems. This suggests that sometimes, a quarterbacks struggles may not be solely due to their individual abilities, but rather a mismatch with their environment or a lack of proper support. These insights from the NFL extend far beyond the football field.

In the world of business and entrepreneurship, we see similar patterns. The best ideas and the most talented people can flounder in the wrong environment, but with the right support, they can thrive. Often, a coaching change in the business world, such as bringing in a new CEO or restructuring leadership, can lead to necessary system overhauls that allow talent to truly flourish. This brings us to another interesting observation: the power of systems. In analyzing trending hashtags related to business, we see recurring themes of systems, optimization, and growth. Whether its football or business, the underlying principle remains the same: success isn't just about individual talent; its about the environment we're in and the systems we create. So I ask you to consider, what does building a Winning System for Your Business look like in 2025 and beyond?

The examples of NFL quarterbacks demonstrate the significant impact of coaching, systems, and environment on a players success. While individual talent is essential, the right support and structure can be the difference between a struggling player and a thriving one. This principle applies beyond the football field. In any area of life, the systems we create and the environments we choose, play a crucial role in our success. Whether its business, sports, or personal life, having the right support and structure can make all the difference in the world. Think about your own team and the systems you have in place. Are you surrounding yourself with the right people and creating an environment that fosters growth and success? Are your systems optimized for efficiency and productivity? By consciously evaluating and improving our systems and environments, we can create a better foundation for achieving our goals, just like a well-designed offensive system can help a quarterback reach their full potential. Take a moment to reflect on your own situation. Are you in the right environment? Are your systems setting you up for success? Perhaps its time for a coaching change or a system overhaul to unlock the true potential of your business.