The Super Bowl of Leadership Has Already Been Won

This Sunday, millions will tune in to watch Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. However, in a postgame press conference from the AFC Championship Game two weekends ago, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel may have already won the Super Bowl of Leadership.

After the game, a reporter asked Vrabel what it would feel like to become the first person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, both as a player and a head coach, within the same franchise. His response?

"I won't win it. It'll be the players that will win the game."

In one sentence, Vrabel taught a masterclass in servant leadership. Leaders don't win. Teams do.

Too often, we see organizational leaders take credit for victories that belong to the people doing the work. Vrabel embodies humility and reminds leaders our job isn't to score the touchdowns—it's to coach the players who do.

Whether you're leading a sales team, managing a nonprofit, or running a small business, your role is the same as Vrabel's:

• Guide your team with vision and clarity

• Direct with strategy and purpose

• Coach with empathy and expertise

Your frontline workers—the ones answering phones, serving customers, solving problems, and executing your mission—they're the ones who win or lose the game.

Great leaders know that investing in their people is how they build winning organizations.

Training. Development. Encouragement. Trust. Resources. Recognition.

These aren't nice-to-haves. They're the game plan.

When you equip your team with what they need to succeed, they don't just meet expectations, they exceed them. They innovate. They go the extra mile. They win.

So remember, this Super Bowl Sunday, while you're watching the game, the best coaches don't try to be the star. They build stars.