This year’s Super Bowl gave us so many exciting moments and it was definitely a game for the ages. Patrick Mahomes played an incredible game on an injured ankle, Nick Bolton played out of his mind on defense, and Kadarius Toney broke the record for the longest punt return in Super Bowl history leading the Chiefs to their 2 championships in 3 years.
In the end, though, there was one play that stood out to me more than any other. With under two minutes to go, the Chiefs have the ball and they are inside the 10-yard line getting ready to score. Andy Reid draws up another masterful play and Mahomes passes to McKinnon, who could have easily scored yet another touchdown for the Chiefs but instead slides at the 1-yard line to keep the clock moving.
Why didn’t he score?
Seems counterintuitive at the time, but because of McKinnon’s team-first mentality, he realized that keeping the ball and running out the clock was best for the team, and passed up the chance to score a touchdown in the super bowl which could have been the game-winning score and something he could have reminisced on for the rest of his life. However, McKinnon’s mindset was “WE before me” and because of that the Chiefs were able to run down the clock and Butker kicked the game-winning field goal.
There is an incredible lesson here for all of us regardless of age. A champion’s mindset thinks more about what’s best for the team and less about what’s best for the individual.
What a great lesson on humility and having the ability to think about yourself less and do what is best which leads not only to success but also happiness.
Jerick McKinnon- Thank you for being an example of what it means to be a great teammate and put others first.
A question I will start asking myself is “How can I be a better teammate like McKinnon in my personal and professional life”. I invite you to do the same and watch the magic happen…