Can two seconds change the legacies of countless leaders?
This past Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI. The game attracted 112.3 million viewers, a 14% increase over last year.
What they witnessed was a game filled with multiple leadership lessons. The following are my Top 6 Leadership Lessons from Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals:
If You Want To Get Better As An Organization, Get A Better Leader
One year ago, the Los Angeles Rams acquired quarterback Matthew Stafford via trade. Two years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. Now each is in the Super Bowl. The difference between these teams today and what they were previously is their leaders, Stafford and Burrow.
If you have a department in your organization which is underperforming, the answer is likely getting a better leader. Upgrading the leadership position certainly worked for the Rams and Bengals.
How Often Do Great Leaders Come Available?
As Rams head coach pointed out in this interview, they rarely become available. There is a difference between sensing opportunity and seizing it. That’s why when future Hall of Famers Stafford, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and defensive end Von Miller became available, the Rams both sensed and seized the opportunity.
You Can’t Overpay For Great Leaders
Great leaders pay for themselves. Notice this:
- The Rams traded their 2020 and 2021 1st round picks along with their 2021 4th round pick for Jalen Ramsey.
- The Rams traded their 2022 and 2023 1st round picks, a 2021 3rd round pick, and quarterback Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford.
- The Rams traded their 2022 2nd and 3rd round picks for Von Miller.
The NFL Draft is a three-day event. The first round is on a Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday, and rounds four through six on Saturday. With the exception of some potential compensatory picks, the Rams will have nothing to do for the first two days of the Draft.
But would you trade that and four 1st round picks for a Super Bowl championship? Absolutely!!! Any day of the week and twice on Sunday!!! Whatever price the Rams paid for their three star players was worth it. So would whatever price you would pay for the right leader.
What Separates Good Players From Great Players Is The Ability To Execute Under Pressure
Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the Super Bowl’s final two minutes. Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp literally put the franchise on their shoulders and drove the team down the field for the winning touchdown. Their best play was this remarkable no-look pass. Eli Apple never stood a chance.
This angle of Matthew Stafford's no-look pass. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/vwWRUsMekn
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 14, 2022
Then in the Bengals’ final drive, the Rams’ best player, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, made two plays which secured the team’s victory.
The Rams’ three best players made big-time plays in the biggest game of the year.
When your organization faces high pressure situations, it is your top leaders who have the responsibility to lead your team through challenging times. It’s why they are in leadership positions in the first place.
Hard Work + Efficiency > Volume
The game’s unsung heroes were Duke Tobin, the Bengals Director of Football Operations, and Steve Radicevic, the team’s Director of Pro Scouting. They put together a championship-worthy defense. Seven of the team’s 11 defensive starters were signed in the last two years as free agents.
In addition, the team drafted the best offensive players in the last two NFL Drafts – Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The team also drafted wide receiver Tee Higgins in the 2nd round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Higgins caught two touchdown passes in the game. Also, the Bengals drafted kicker Evan McPherson in the 5th round of this past Draft. McPherson became the best kicker in this year’s playoffs.
What makes this so impressive is the small size of the Bengals scouting staff. The team, which has been accused of being cheap, only has 8 staffers. No other NFL team has less than 15. In fact, 17 teams have more than 20. The Cleveland Browns have 30 and the Baltimore Ravens lead the league with 35.
What the Bengals scouting staff has done is simply astonishing. Now they just need to get to work on the offensive line.
The Difference Between Success And Failure Is Tissue Paper Thin
A day after the game, the following picture was released. On the Bengals final play of the game, Ja’Marr Chase had Jalen Ramsey on the ground and was WIDE OPEN for what could have been a game-winning TD.
On the final play of the game for the Bengals, Ja'Marr Chase had Jalen Ramsey on the ground and was WIDE OPEN for what could have been a game-winning TD.
If only Burrow had more time.. pic.twitter.com/IdiViB4CXc
— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) February 15, 2022
If Joe Burrow would have just had two more seconds… If the Bengals’ offensive line would have just held their block on Aaron Donald for two more seconds… If Donald would have slipped coming out of his stance…
If any of this would have happened, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase would have gone down in NFL lore for one of the most miraculous last-second victories in NFL history. Matthew Stafford may not make the Hall of Fame when his career is over. Jalen Ramsey would have been the goat rather than a hero because he was actually outplayed by the much-aligned Eli Apple during the game. And rather than being the boy genius, Sean McVay might well be considered as the coach who can’t win the Big One.
It is amazing what a difference two seconds can make in a leader’s legacy.
Those are my leadership lessons. What did you take from the game?
The Top 75 Leadership Quotes From 2021 Part 2 is my latest ebook. For many entering a post-pandemic environment, leadership looks completely different than the pre-pandemic world. People are more broken now. They are more uncertain. Fear and anxiousness are unwelcome constant companions. Cultures are more unhealthy. Relationships are more dysfunctional. Hope seems to be in short supply. Every day seems to bring a new hacking, natural disaster, or unexpected calamity.
Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership. If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource. The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.