On this episode of Pro Mindset® Podcast, two-time Super Bowl Champion, Greg Scruggs, shares what it takes to be a Super Bowl winner. Greg was formerly with the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. He is currently working under head coach Luke Fickell as Defensive Line Coach at the University of Cincinnati. Greg talks about how he wished he would have been more intentional about being a pro earlier on in his career. He shares the reality of the NFL and the constant pressure that it places on athletes. Greg explains how a player can be cut any day, and at any time before, during or after practice. He utilizes his past experiences at the collegiate and pro level to coach, mentor and lead the student athletes at the University of Cincinnati.
"When you go to training camp, that rep that you take, that's the only chance you have to take that rep. You won't get that one back. So, you must do it. We only get a certain amount of opportunities and it is within the lifetime of that opportunity that we must make the most of it. We must take advantage of it and we must be most prepared for it.”
Greg explains the importance of not counting your reps but making your reps counts. You only have one chance for each rep, and it is crucial to take advantage of each opportunity. If you are not prepared for it, then the lifespan of that opportunity will end before you have a chance to act. Greg explains that the NFL is very “cut-throat” and you do not have the option to slack off. If you choose to slack off, then you are letting opportunities pass you by. Your only choice is to take advantage of each opportunity that comes your way and make the most out of it.
“It's a lot of pressure to show up every day knowing that you may be the last on the list or you may be the one that gets the ax. You may have just moved your family there, rented an apartment, got a lease, and moved your car. That's pressure. Until you can get comfortable with that pressure, I think you will struggle.”
Greg talks about the pressure that athletes will face in the NFL. He explains that you must become comfortable with that pressure in order to thrive in the environment of the NFL. You must be mentally ready for the challenges and uncertainty that you will be facing each day. To deal with this pressure, he found people he could talk to in order to alleviate some of his stress.“People need those people in their corners to alleviate that pressure,” Greg explains. It’s important to have someone who can bring you back to the reality of the situation and remind you that it’s never as good or as bad as you think.
“I would tell my 22-year- old self to be a little more adamant or a little more intentional about being a pro. The extra film study, asking for the extra work after practice, and taking care of your body…just being a little more intentional about being a pro.”
When Greg was a rookie, he was willing to do whatever he needed to do to make the team. He walked into every practice with determination. However, he feels that he could have been a little more intentional about being a pro. He says that there were small things that he could have done every day that would have made a difference in his career. Going the extra mile and putting in the extra time is what will make you stand out at the professional level.
To listen to more from two-time Super Bowl Champion, Greg Scruggs, click here!