Real-life resilience - Super Bowl XXII

Happy Sunday friends! Today is Super Bowl LIX. If my knowledge of Roman numerals serves me correctly, it means it’s the 59th. There have been some classic games over the years, and today I want to tell the incredible tale of the 22nd Super Bowl. The one where a ‘backup quarterback’, with a twisted knee and a root canal played the best second quarter of football. Ever.

Unless you are a devout NFL fan, you’ve likely never heard of Doug Williams, but he has one of the greatest stories in Super Bowl history. It was 1988 in Super Bowl XXII. He was the first black quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, and the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. But it’s his journey to that moment that made it even more special.

Overcoming the odds

Doug Williams’ football career was a testament to resilience long before he ever stepped onto the field for the biggest game of his life. A standout quarterback at college, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1978, becoming one of the few black quarterbacks in the NFL at the time. However, he was the lowest paid QB in the league, with even his backup making more than he did. But despite leading the team to the playoffs, he faced racism, a contract dispute, and a lack of support from management. Having enough, Williams left the NFL to play in the USFL (United States Football League) which was a short-lived rival league.

After the USFL collapsed, Williams returned to the NFL, this time with the Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders). He rejoined the league not as a starter, but as a backup. However, by the end of the 1987 season, he had fought his way into the starting role just in time for the playoffs. Still, not many people believed he could lead Washington to a championship, but the Redskins made it all the way to the big game!

Bring on the Super Bowl!

“It’s a performance you could make a movie about and nobody would believe it.” Charley Casserly (GM Washington Redskins)

On January 31, 1988, Williams and the Redskins faced of against the Denver Broncos. The Broncos were favourites and the pressure was already on, but fate decided to throw a few more curveballs at Williams. The day before the big game, Williams had to have a root canal for an emergency dental situation. As if that wasn’t enough, he twisted his knee badly in the first quarter and had to leave the field.

Denver shot out to a 10-0 lead and it looked as though Williams was about to suffer another heartbreaking setback in his career.

But then….. resilience kicked in!

Williams returned to the game and delivered one of the most dominant performances in Super Bowl history. In the second quarter alone, he threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns, leading Washington to an incredible 35-point explosion in just 15 minutes! 4 TDs in a quarter had never been done before in a Super Bowl. And has never been done since.

The game finished with a 42-10 victory to the Redskins and Williams won the Super Bowl MVP. In one night, he shattered stereotypes and redefined what was possible.

Doug Williams' story is widely regarded as one of (if not the) best performances in Super Bowl history. Not just for the success on the field, but the determination and resilience that led Williams to that moment. Here are a few ideas I take from his journey.

1. Advancing despite adversity – Williams faced discrimination, career setbacks, and injuries, and yet he continued playing and working toward his goals. In our professional world, we must understand that not all projects are going to succeed and not everyone is going to support our career journey. When goals seem out of reach, or setbacks hit, we can only remember that success is focusing on what we can control to push forward in any way we can.

2. Self-belief when everyone else is doubting – despite being underestimated, Williams trusted his abilities and proved the doubters wrong. The same is true in our world - doubters will always exist. The key is to do the work, trust in our skills and experience, even when others don’t see our potential.

3. Adaptability – when the NFL didn’t work out initially, he found another path to keep pushing forward. It wasn’t the end solution, but it kept him moving with momentum. Career paths are rarely linear, and we need to stay open to new pathways. Curiosity helps us see new perspectives.

4. Staying ready for the moment – even as a backup, Williams prepared like a starter. When his opportunity came, he was ready to take the field and wasn’t going to let anyone replace him. Even when we’re not in the spotlight, we can do the work. That is our best chance of being ready when our moment comes.

Doug Williams’ resilience didn’t just win him a Super Bowl - it changed perceptions, broke barriers, and inspired generations to come. I love this story so much because it reminds me that no setback is final, and with the right mindset, we can turn adversity into our greatest victory.

Enjoy the game (and the ads) today and, as always, stay resilient!

Carre @ Resilient Minds