Terrell Owens’ Inspiring Journey from Humble Beginnings to NFL Stardom

The motivation for me is just not being average. If I wanted to be on the level of the peers that were around me, I had to do whatever it took, you know, to get on that level, and that was hard work. The doctor, he didn't medically clear me to play, so I had to sign a waiver to release the Eagles of any liability.

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Grab a snack and chew on today's lessons from a man who went from growing up in a tiny town in Alabama, not being heavily recruited in high school, and not seeing himself as having a successful career as a football player, to becoming an NFL legend and one of the best players of his era. He's Terrell Owens, and here's my take on his top 10 rules for success. Enjoy. Also, if you want to know what another great athlete, Usain Bolt, has to say about building unstoppable confidence, check out my 254 Confidence Series where every day for the next 254 days I will send you a morning video for free to help you build your confidence. The link to join is in the description below.

Where you going to race? You have to go in there always confident.

Okay, let's kick it off with rule number 1: have desire, dedication, and discipline.

You didn't get recruited by the Alabamas, the Auburns, the LSUs either.

Right, right. Yep, I was a late bloomer. My body developed late. My skill set wasn't where it needed to be to even capture the attention of some of those schools of that caliber. So again, you know, when I look back on my whole professional career and even, you know, scholastically, you know, high school, college, Without my desire, yeah, coupled with my dedication and my discipline— those are my 3 D's: desire, dedication, and discipline. Without those 3, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Rule number 2: seize your moment.

The 49ers selected Owens with the 89th pick in the 1996 draft, and he immediately began to emulate one of his teammates.

I was with the best receiver of all time, and I'm sitting right next to him in my locker. I'm breathing the same air he's breathing. I'm sharing the same football field. I was in awe. I was starstruck.

In his third year, Owens followed Jerry Rice and the rest of his teammates into a first-round playoff matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Young gets away from him, gets the ball to Owens. Fumble! The Packers have it. Wide open is Owens and dropped it. That's 7 points. Yes, sir.

I remember at one point Chris Dolman came over and get him out the game. He's blowing the game for us. Dropped a big third down.

Young throws outside and the pass is dropped by Owens. It was right there. I don't know that I've ever seen Terrell Owens play as poorly as he is today.

He came to me and said, please don't give up on me. I, I promise you, I got that. I said, Terrell, he probably said sir, you know, I'm like, Terrell, you're a great player. If you're open, the ball's coming.

8 seconds left, the 49ers trailing by 4.

Got to go to the end zone now.

He caught it! He caught it! He caught it!

And when I hit the ground, I made sure I had the ball secured and I rolled and I thought about my grandmother.

Terrell Owens! He caught the ball and he makes the winning touchdown catch!

I dropped so many passes, but I caught the one that counted.

Niners will win it! Niners will win it!

Steve gave me a chance, and I appreciate every teammate I got in here.

Me saying, "No one's gonna give up on you," and then actually having it come out the way it did, that's when maybe when he understood the impact he had. That catch probably established him as one of the big-time players in the league. You could just see his confidence go through the roof.

Rule number 3, just do your best.

I think a lot of people, you know, they set these goals for themselves, and when they don't reach them, then it's discouraging. And sometimes you need somebody to push themselves. Sometimes, for me, I was self-motivated. And sometimes other people, they need that little oomph. They need that little push. That's the grind of it all. But you have to look at the bigger picture. You have to have belief in yourself, and you have to have faith in yourself. And faith is not really just having or understanding that everything will be okay, but faith is, is, is understanding that if things don't go your way, or if it doesn't turn out the way you want to, it's still gonna be okay. I think it's gonna be okay no matter what, or do you think it's gonna be okay if you put in the hard-ass work? Yeah, you got to put in that work. And gotta understand that it's gonna pay off. It may not pay off when you want it to, but that's the beauty of preparing yourself. And that's what I try to tell my son, and I try to, you know, really emphasize. Don't worry about things that you cannot control, but the things that you can control, that's what you have to manifest. Because when the opportunity is given to you and you don't step up to the plate and you're not prepared, Who's going to be disappointed? Not only your teammates or whoever, whomever gave you that opportunity is going to be disappointed, but it's a big letdown to yourself. And now you're starting to play mind games with yourself. Did I do enough? You know, did I put enough hard work into it? But if you know in your mind that you did everything that you, you could do, or you did, then nothing else, nothing else really matters.

Rule number 4: Outwork everybody.

So the third leading receiver in the history of the NFL isn't starting as a junior in high school until this year.

Nor senior year either.

Are you kidding me?

No.

You didn't start as a senior in high school? That's bananas. So you obviously—

wow.

Like, isn't that a lesson? All you young athletes that follow me, hey, just because it's not where it needs to be right now doesn't mean it can't get there. And you want— you entrepreneurs that are following me, you may not be on the varsity of business yet. This is one of the all-time greats in the history, and you're talking about by that time most guys are being recruited, They got 8, 9, 10 schools coming after them.

Absolutely.

That's crazy.

So what did you do?

Just like every time you get an opportunity, you just took advantage of it. Is that what would happen?

I did. Um, my coach, my head coach at the time, Steve Severese, um, he basically like, during the course of the school year, we have probably like a 30 to 45 minute period, what they call it, enrichment period, where we can either study other, you know, work on other subjects kind of to help get your grades up, things of that nature. I used that time to go down and lift weights. So he basically went around to— again, they sent something around to all the teachers that basically said, yeah, if a player wants to go out, you know, if you guys grant them, let them get a pass to go down to the weight room or what have you. So that's literally what I did. I took that, those moments, those 30, 45 minutes of enrichment period. Yeah. Talked to the teacher, went down to the weight room, And that's where I started to do— put in extra work just to kind of get myself bigger, faster, and stronger.

That always a theme through the whole 15 years in the NFL?

Yes, that was the start of it. I was a kid— that was a kid that really, that really put in hard work. I wasn't the most athletic, I wasn't the most sought-after, I wasn't the most highly recruited coming out of, coming out of high school, going into college. Not only did I work out in my spare time when I in high school, those 30, 45 minutes. Yeah, I didn't go home during the summer after my freshman and sophomore year of school. Okay, so I got the key from the strength and conditioning coach. I did the same thing, got the key to the weight room.

Here we go.

Did the same thing. I would go in. That's how I got stronger, because I was in there by myself. So I had to lift off by myself. Yeah, I had to be careful because I was in there by myself. Nobody spotting me. So that's how I got stronger. So these are some of the things that I did unbeknownst to the world out there in terms of how I, how I made it.

This is so good because you outworked everybody. It's also the things you do when no one's watching. Like when you played, one of the things everyone would say, oh, his physique, his physique. Right now, you know where this comes from.

It doesn't happen overnight.

That's awesome to hear.

Rule number 5, leverage negativity.

And what I love about the things that have really pissed you off or upset you is that you've ended up leveraging it and you've said, you know, look, I've played through pain. I've played through people not believing in me. I've played through hate. When I'm in an In that type of environment, having to sit out a whole week and listen to all the naysayers, the negative things that were being said about me, I didn't allow that to deter who I was and what I could do on the football field. I understood that if I went out week in and week out, no matter whatever the situation or scenario was, if I went out and I played poorly, knowing that all these commentators, these analysts were saying all these things, you know, really, really testing my character, really digging at my character. I knew that if I went out there and I played poorly, that was going to only validate what they were saying about me.

Rule number 6: just be yourself.

We were at Texas Stadium the day before. There was a question that came up: why is the hole in the roof? And the answer was, the cost of the 70s, this was God's team, America's team. And when Dorsett and those guys scored touchdowns, God smiled on them. And the comment was, if you score tomorrow, go to that star and give thanks to God. If you look at the footage, Terrell was not being disrespectful. The Dallas Cowboys.

I wasn't doing it to taunt anybody. I wasn't directing it at anybody.

I think Emmitt Smith and the Cowboys took it a little differently.

Emmitt Smith, touchdown! He's going for the center of the field too and clutches over to the 49ers sideline.

If you want it to be a battle, it's gonna be a battle. Okay, we're at your house. I did it the first time you did it. Okay, well stop me from doing it again. He said, Stokes, meet me back at the original spot. I'm like, oh no, you're not going to do this again.

Terrell Owens, leaping catch, right corner touchdown San Francisco. He's going to the stump. He's going to the stump. He's going to do it again. Oh, he's coming over the tackle. Look at this. Oh, oh my. George Teague goes over 50 headstones.

I don't blame Teague for doing that.

Oh man, I have never seen anything like that.

Right before I had gone the second time, we were on the goal line going up against George Teague, and I literally— I drive him to the back of the end zone and I literally pancaked him. He was so mad. He couldn't get to me. He couldn't stop me. So when I came to the start a second time, you saw the first person out to hit me was George Teague, and that was why.

I was pissed, all right? I chewed him out in the locker room. Front of the team. I said, we will never win like that. And so I acted because I felt like I should.

Steve Mariucci suspended Owens for one week.

Yeah, I felt betrayed behind it because I didn't feel the support of, uh, of the head coach.

It fractured our relationship because he was pissed at me forever. He was the very best receiver in the league for the next year and a half.

He played angry. But he played well.

Owens made 4 straight Pro Bowls from 2000 to 2003, but his antics were garnering more attention than his abilities.

What is— is that a pen? Yeah, he had a pen in his sock and he pulled it out and autographed the ball.

Owens became more boisterous on the sideline. He also battled with quarterback Jeff Garcia. The T.O. persona was growing.

Because I was raised by my grandmother, was to tell the truth. I didn't know anything about being politically correct. And most of the time, if we lost or what have you, if I felt like I didn't get involved enough in the game, then that's what I said.

Rule number 7, turn your struggles into strengths.

I was bullied. I was picked on as a little kid as well. I had self-esteem issues. I didn't like being dark-skinned. I didn't like being skinny. So a lot of these things that I would— that I experienced as a young age, it motivated me as I, as I grew up.

I hope all you young guys out there, or parents who have young kids, I hope you play this part of the segment for them because he turned that into fuel for himself eventually, right?

Rule number 8: Find your why.

When I played at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, that's when I started getting a lot of praise from a lot of the defensive coaches from opposing teams. Some of the players just started getting recognized throughout the conference of my play. I had a guy by the name of Derek Hall. We went to the same high school, and so he was heavily recruited. That's how I got to Chattanooga, because they were recruiting him. And so for me, um, I just basically took advantage of the opportunities that were given to me. Did you recognize that at the time? Like, hey, I, I— they're coming for him, but I'm gonna crush it. I'm gonna put on a show. I did not know at all. Um, I was just there because they offered me a scholarship. My mom, you know, she worked. We came from a low-income family. So for me, that was an opportunity for me is to, you know, gain an education. So football was kind of like, you know, just maybe secondary to me. I'm in this environment where all my teammates, they were better than me. I was like, man, these guys are super fast or super strong. It's like, how am I going to fit in? So I realized at that time that I had to get in the weight room. In order to really feel relevant, I had to get on their level. And so those are some of the things I think outside of everything else that I kind of just prided myself in is just really putting forth the effort. For me, I didn't really realize that I was going to play beyond the collegiate level. I just really had no idea what my future held. And that was just the motivation for me, is just not being average. Understanding that if I wanted to be on the level of the peers that were around me, I had to do whatever it took, you know, to get on that level. And that was hard work.

Rule number 9: Don't let anything stop you.

He fires, and it is complete to Owens at the 50. Owens pulled down at the Cowboys 47.

He's got a problem. It looks like his leg gets caught up underneath him, and that's all Philadelphia needs, right? They start summoning for the cart, and I'm like, nah, I'm not getting on no cart. Now he's slowly getting up and running, trying to run and shake it off, I guess.

I mean, you could hear the air leave the stadium.

Owens had a fractured fibula and a high ankle sprain. His season appeared to be over.

Well, when I talked to the doctors, I figured he was done, but I'm telling you now, that was never in his thinking. For the average person, you know, that's, you know, maybe on some crutches or a boot or something. Um, that's a 10-week process. I did everything under the sun to get myself better. Just having belief in yourself when others don't have belief in you, and I saw myself playing regardless.

Philadelphia was Super Bowl bound, but one question still lingered on everyone's mind.

The doctor, he didn't medically clear me to play, so I had to sign a waiver to release the, the Eagles of any liability. Even during the week when we went to Jacksonville, he was still gimpy. I really— I remember one practice he went out and he tried cutting on it, he kind of tweaked it, he kind of had to come out. So I go, Man, I don't see it.

Good evening everyone and welcome to Jacksonville, Florida on a glorious day just made for football. Super Bowl 39 about to begin.

He's outrunning Rodney Harrison and I remember looking to the defensive players on the sidelines saying, We have a chance to really win this game.

Tell me, is he a factor?

You know, that was the big question coming in, and I think it's been answered already.

They can't stop me, and I'm on half a leg, and they can't stop me. Like that, Mike, he fires, he completes it to Owens. Free at the 40, 45, midfield, 45, 40. Imagine what he'd be doing if he were healthy.

Just to have a guy like that out there, That's a huge boost for you.

He's like, damn, did he, did he break his leg? Was he hurt? Because he was out there clowning.

Owens caught 9 passes for 122 yards.

That's just unfortunate we end up losing by 3 points.

The Eagles' valiant effort falls short. There will be no parade.

That's why Philadelphia to this day loves T.O.

because this dude was hurt and nobody thought he was gonna play.

He went out there and balled out, man. He went out there and balled out.

And rule number 10, the last one before a very special bonus clip, is have fun.

This is what made T.O.

a great player.

He thought long and hard about what he would do in an end zone celebration, which meant he thought long and hard about being in the end zone.

Gotta give T.O.

his props.

Wildly annoying, totally petulant, but makes great end zone celebrations.

And now someone you either love to hate or hate to love. I know you don't want me to shine, but I'm gonna shine anyway because I love me a me. Believe it.

Oh my goodness, he did not just take the pom-poms.

Grabbing the pom-poms and cheerleading— who doesn't laugh when you see that?

Plus Terrell might have been exploring some parts of his personality we didn't know.

Now I've got a really special bonus clip from Terrell Owens on how to add value that I think you're gonna enjoy. But before that, it's time for the 3-point landing questions. Time to move from just watching another video to taking action in your life or business? And if you're feeling bold, leave your answers in the comments below. Here we go. Question number 1: What is your why? Number 2: What struggle can you turn into your strength? And number 3: Where do you need to outwork everyone?

I played sparingly. Yeah, my, my rookie year I played a lot of special teams.

Yes, but you got your couple passes that year, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I think I had my I don't know how many yards I had. No, I think I had like 4 touchdowns my rookie year. But again, I started to kind of just familiarize myself with the playbook. Steve Young, just the culture of professional football in itself. And so I go in my second year again, going into the offseason, I'm preparing myself just to be a vital part of value to the team. And so we go into this my second season, first game, We go down to Tampa, uh, Jerry Rice, I think he runs a reverse or something, and, and Warren Sapp, I think, just beat our defensive end, got him from behind, and he tears his ACL. From that point on, I mean, I get thrown into the fire.

Here we go.

And so that's where that preparation, you know, that I— and, and just me familiarizing everything that I had done my rookie year leading up to my second year, I was preparing myself for this moment.

I love it.

And if I wasn't prepared, then I wouldn't have been able to, to add value to the scene, to the, to the team. You see, I didn't say success because I hadn't—

I hadn't—

there was no level of success at that point. Wow. I was still trying to add value. I was trying to add value to, to the Jerry Rices, to the Steve Youngs, to the J.J. Stokes, to the organization, to the team itself.

Wow.

So I hadn't really experienced any success at this point. I was still trying in that, in that mode of proving myself that I could play at the professional level.

If you want to see Tom Brady's top 10 rules of success, check out the video there right next to me. I think you'll enjoy it. Continue to believe, and I'll see you there.

And, and it was hard.

I remember taking a walk with my dad and mom around the block.

I have a lot of fun. I mean, if you get to play football for a living, I mean, what could be any better than that?