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The Most Inspirational Football Quotes of All-Time

It’s a punishing contact sport requiring strength – both physical and mental – to succeed. From pee-wee football to the NFL, any player will tell you there’s always more to learn.

43 most inspirational football quotes ever, by Joker Mag – the home of the underdog
Credit-Joker Mag

These inspirational football quotes will prepare you for the next time you step on the gridiron.

It’s a punishing contact sport requiring strength – both physical and mental – to succeed. From pee-wee football to the NFL, any player will tell you there’s always more to learn.

Luckily, these inspiring quotes are packed with insights from athletes and coaches that will help you navigate the ups and downs of the season.

Table of Contents

Inspirational Football Quotes

An inspiring quote from Darren Sproles that says: "I heard I was too small to play in high school, in college, in the NFL. It just made me work harder."

1.) “I heard I was too small to play in high school, in college, in the NFL. It just made me work harder.” – Darren Sproles

2.) “If you work hard and you play well, all those critics quiet themselves pretty quickly.” – Peyton Manning

3.) “Success doesn’t come from pie-in-the-sky thinking. It’s the result of consciously doing something each day that will add to your overall excellence.” – Nick Saban

4.) “Winning isn’t getting ahead of others. It’s getting ahead of yourself.” – Roger Staubach

5.) “The hardest thing to do is work hard when no one is watching.” – Ray Lewis

6.) “Do you want to know what my favorite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” – Mike Singletary

7.) “Stay hungry, remain humble, and get better today.” – Pete Carroll

​8.) “When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.” – Walter Payton

9.) “I want to thank my haters. I want to thank the people that told me through other people that I wouldn’t be where I am today…My haters became by elevators, they helped me out so thank you.” – Brian Dawkins

10.) “When people told me I wasn’t going to make it, I listened to the one person who told me I was: me.” Shannon Sharpe

11.) “If you do the bare minimum, expect bare minimum results. You want to be great, work to be great.” – J.J. Watt

12.) “Never get too high, never get too low. Take it day by day, and just continue to learn.” – Jalen Hurts

13.) “It doesn’t matter what people say about me. I weather the storm.” – Terrell Owens

14.) “How great a life is this? To get to knock guys’ heads off for 60 minutes and not get thrown in jail?” – Brian Urlacher

15.) “I am going to outwork everybody because no one was going to give me anything.” Dawson Knox

Football Quotes About Life

A quote about life from QB Alex Smith that reads: "Embrace the new, no matter how uncomfortable, and make it work for you."

16.) “Embrace the new, no matter how uncomfortable, and make it work for you.” Alex Smith

17.) “Football is like life. It requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.” – Vince Lombardi

18.) “Respect is not given, it’s earned.” – Brian Dawkins

19.) “Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life.” – Walter Payton

20.) “Success isn’t measured by money or power or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.” – Mike Ditka

21.) “To the young: work, work, work, and then work some more.” – Ed Reed

22.) “Respecting people is an important part of life, whether it’s the person doing janitorial work or the person above you. It doesn’t matter who you are: I’m going to respect you.” – Andy Reid

23.) “I always want to be the first person to know how bad I am, and the last person to know how good I am. And as long as I can live by that, I will continue to strive to be better.” Sam Mills

24.) “Winners, I am convinced, imagine their dreams first. They want it with all their heart and expect it to come true. There is, I believe, no other way to live.” – Joe Montana

25.) “Every day is an opportunity disguised as a challenge.” – Tiki Barber

Lamar Jackson: You've gotta have confidence within yourself. Some people might say it's cocky. But you know what you're capable of. And the sky's the limit.

26.) “You’ve gotta have confidence within yourself. Some people might say it’s cocky, but you know what you’re capable of. And the sky’s the limit.” Lamar Jackson

27.) “Trust that you can get back up and not give in. Ever.” – Patrick Willis

28.) “Everything about the game is hard and tests your will. It compels every man who puts on a uniform to not only do their best but to be their best.” – John Lynch

29.) “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” – Lou Holtz

RELATED: The Most Inspiring Basketball Quotes Ever

Teamwork Quotes

Super Bowl Champion Nick Foles quote about teamwork that reads: "You're never more dangerous than when everyone's counting on you. You just have to believe."

30.) “You’re never more dangerous than when everyone’s counting on you. You just have to believe.” Nick Foles

31.) “You can’t win together if you don’t work together.” – Nick Saban

32.) “No one has ever drowned in sweat.” – Lou Holtz

33.) “To me, football is so much about mental toughness, it’s digging deep, it’s doing whatever you need to do to help a team win and that comes in a lot of shapes and forms.” – Tom Brady

34.) “On a team, it’s not the strength of the individual players, but it is the strength of the unit and how they all function together.” Bill Belichick

35.) “Whenever you go on the field, you need to rule as a unit.” – Aaron Donald

36.) “Passion is kind of an important word for me. Whether it’s playing sports or whether it’s just living. Whatever you’re gonna do, in my opinion, you should be passionate about it, or else why do it?” Pat Tillman

37.) “It’s the name on the front of the jersey that matters most, not the one on the back.” – Joe Paterno

38.) “Teammates are there for each other even after the noise of the crowd is gone.” – Jim Brown

39.) “If I had one message of encouragement to the people in my city, my country, and all across the world, it would be to remember who you are.” Darren Waller

Short Football Quotes

Russell Wilson motivational quote that reads: "Separation comes from preparation."

40.) “Separation comes from preparation.” – Russell Wilson

41.) “When you don’t give up, you cannot fail.” – Adrian Peterson

42.) “Heart can’t be measured!” – Boston Scott

43.) “When you win, nothing hurts.” – Joe Namath

44.) “I can honestly tell you that I would play this game for free.” – Troy Polamalu

45.) “Football is a game of controlled anger. It is a game of retribution. It’s about will.” – Brian Dawkins

46.) “Effort will never be questioned.” Jalen Hurts

47.) “You cannot make progress with excuses.” – Cam Newton

48.) “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.” – George Halas

49.) “Every experience, good or bad, you have to learn from.” – Patrick Mahomes

50.) “When you lose, talk little. When you win, talk less.” – Tom Brady

51.) “A winner never stops trying.” – Tom Landry

52.) “Good things come to those who work!” – Greg Dortch

53.) “Don’t hope someone gives you an opportunity. Create one for yourself.” – Shannon Sharpe

54.) “The night is darkest before the dawn and we’re gonna rise again.” Aaron Rodgers

What’s your favorite inspirational football quote or saying? Let us know in the comments below!

Written By

Division III baseball alum (McDaniel College) and founder of Joker Mag. Being cut from my baseball team in 7th grade could have ended my athletic journey. Instead, I found hope in stories of undersized athletes who defied expectations. I ultimately played baseball through college, earning Honorable Mention on the All-Centennial Conference team in my senior season. This experience inspired me to create the world's first digital media platform dedicated to inspiring underdog stories. Since launching in November 2017, my work has been featured on platforms such as FOX Sports, SB Nation, and The Sporting News, reaching over 1.5 million readers world wide.

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