Written by Tom Brady had a tough game this past Sunday. Teammates, coaches, analysts, and fans can all speculate what happened on Sunday, but Tom Brady is the only one who truly knows what he was going through mentally, physically, and emotionally. Being an athlete at such high level is difficult enough. Being a distracted athlete impacts teammates and the team. Distraction can actually help other teams win or even play poorly.
An athlete who has been playing football as long as Brady has understands the importance of mental performance, clarity, and focus. He understood that he was not mentally prepared for Sunday’s game and stated so in his recent podcast. His emotions got the best of him and he was not the best player he could be. As the captain of his team, he has a leading role. As a player on the team, he can influence or distract others.
Some athletes are the pulse of the team. This athlete may be a bench player, starter, or GOAT. If that player is off of their game or distracted, the whole team may not perform at their highest level. Contrarily, if that player is laser focused, it normally brings the team together and swings the momentum of any practice or game. It does not matter what level or age of the athlete, they could be on their 40s playing professional football or a 10 year old playing soccer, the focus of one athlete may influence team performance and outcome of the competition. Same concept with coaches. And it applies to areas outside of sports: Family, office, classroom, and military unit, among many other settings.
Tom Brady was not focused and distracted with something else. He was not the best that he could be for his team. Brady recognizes this and will most likely adjust his mental and emotional focus for future practices and games. Tom Brady is human, can make mistakes, and have an off day. This happened on Sunday for Brady. With a positive organizational culture and team leadership, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can support Brady, help him through this tough period, and remove distractions for Tom Brady, the whole team, and the organization.