NFL Report:  The Commissioner's View  --  Spring 2000
REFLECTIONS ON THREE LEGENDS

The NFL recently lost three legends in less than four months. The deaths of Walter Payton, Derrick Thomas, and Tom Landry inspired deep reflection on the meaning of their lives. These were three extraordinary individuals whose legacy will serve as inspiration to future generations of NFL players, coaches, and fans.

Beyond his record-setting achievements as a ProFootball Hall of Fame running back with the Chicago Bears, Walter Payton understood that athletes could be leaders not just on the football field but also in their neighborhoods. He understood that the values he cherished–teamwork, respect for the adversary, and perseverance in the fact of adversity–could inspire and unify millions of people from diverse walks of life.

Payton took his responsibility as a role model very seriously. He believed it and preached it in the best sense of the word to other athletes, even those who did not want to hear about athletes being role models.

Another player who, like Payton, heeded the call to community service was Derrick Thomas. His impact was extraordinary, both on the field as a star linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs and off the field as a servant of his fellow citizens. Thomas and good deeds grew to be synonymous in the Kansas City community during the 1990s.

Many people knew of the Derrick Thomas Third-and-Long Foundation, the inspirational program aimed at stamping out illiteracy. Thomas probably never knew it, but he also inspired a nationwide NFL program that began in 1991 that provides NFL players the opportunity to recognize classroom teachers who helped them during their early years.

I had the opportunity to hear Thomas speak at a Kansas City sports banquet about the special relationship that he had with his middle school teacher, Miriam Williams of Palmetto, Florida, Middle School. His remarks were so sensitive, positive and inspiring that we in the NFL began the national NFL teacher recognition program the following year.

Another great gift to the NFL was the life of Tom Landry, the Dallas Cowboys’ legendary coach, who forged his values and character as a product of the World War II generation. In describing that generation as “the greatest generation any society has ever produced,” author Tom Brokaw of NBCNews could well have been describing Tom Landry when he wrote:

“They were mature beyond their years, tempered by what they had been through, disciplined by their military training and sacrifices. They stayed true to their values of personal responsibility, duty, honor and faith...It was a generation of towering achievement and modest demeanor, a legacy of their formative years.”

Landry’s legacy is far greater than the Cowboys’ 20 consecutive winning seasons and five Super Bowl appearances during his tenure. His legacy is one of towering achievement, modest demeanor, discipline, teamwork, straight talk, loyalty, commitment, and faith. It is a legacy that disdains ego, instant gratification, wasted talent, opportunism, shortcuts, and, yes, taunting and silly end-zone dances.

What is the NFL? There is no better answer than this: The NFL is Walter Payton, Derrick Thomas, and Tom Landry.