Every talented quarterback shares this essential quality.
Bruce Arians, a highly respected figure in the world of football, has firsthand experience with some of the greatest quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Andrew Luck during his esteemed NFL coaching career — a journey that boasts three Super Bowl victories: two with the Pittsburgh Steelers and another as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 season.
Arians emphasizes that, while each quarterback possesses unique skills, there is one quality that distinguishes the exceptional from the average. “After all my years in the NFL, I believe the primary determinant of success or failure for players, especially quarterbacks, is their ability to cope with failure,” Arians expressed in a narrative for The Athletic.
He noted two notable instances featuring his former quarterbacks, Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning, illustrating how they faced challenges head-on.
In the case of Luck, Arians recalled a pre-draft meeting in which Luck demonstrated his ability to assert himself during a discussion. “Andrew was the top draft pick, but I wanted to evaluate his character, so we set up some plays and critiqued them afterward. I asked him, ‘What did I tell you to put on the board?’ After he began discussing the play, I interrupted, ‘That’s not what I said.’ Andrew confidently replied, ‘That’s exactly what you said.’ He was correct, and I respected his contention. I needed to know he had the confidence and strength to stand up for himself. He impressed me immensely.”
Arians felt certain that when difficulties arose — and they inevitably will for young quarterbacks — Luck had the resilience to persist without collapsing under pressure.
Reflecting on Manning, who faced difficult circumstances as a rookie — a record-setting number of interceptions in his debut season — Arians praised Manning’s capacity to extract learnings from adversity. He recounted a moment during a beating by the New England Patriots, where Arians encouraged Manning to persist in the game, stating, “We are going to practice our two-minute offense. Let’s learn something from this.” In the end, Manning managed to lead the team downfield and score a touchdown, demonstrating his never-give-up attitude despite the loss.
Arians highlighted that the real measure of a quarterback extends beyond physical parameters such as height or arm strength. What truly counts is how one copes with setbacks when they arise.
Although this may not guarantee a winning career in the NFL, the determination Will Howard displayed during his challenging closing games at Ohio State certainly attracted the Steelers’ attention, who selected him in the sixth round of this year’s draft. Following a subpar performance against Michigan, Howard rebounded exceptionally during the College Football Playoff, playing a crucial role in leading Ohio State to a national championship.
“His reaction to adversity and the leadership qualities he exhibited were integral and embody the essence of NFL football,” reflected Mike Tomlin post-selection, stressing, “How a player rebounds from setbacks defines him or her and the team, especially at the quarterback position.”
