When the Pittsburgh Steelers from the ’70s were winning Super Bowls, it was because each team member bought into the fact that it would take each member changing his mindset. They drank the Kool-Aid, so to speak. They put the team ahead of themselves. They got rid of the “I am going to get mine” attitude. They checked their egos at the door. They had a high sense of pride putting on that Pittsburgh Steelers uniform.

I know a good many of the players today were not even born then and feel that it was the past. But they had pride, character and integrity. They changed their attitude to “gratitude” for God allowing them to play in the NFL, never taking it for granted. They embraced a synergy mindset — the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. You are not bigger than the team! The word “team” means (T)ogether (E)veryone (A)chieves (M)ore.

It even has to start with the player personnel staff when drafting or signing free agents. For every player, they need to seek candidates who can work well in a team environment. Each player and organizational staff member, including the owner, has to promise to give 110%, putting the team above themselves.

Put this on your bulletin board — talent wins divisions, but teams win championships!

Ed Heintz

Vandergrift

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