relationships | Nathan Whitaker

Fired Into the Great Wide Open

by Nathan Whitaker | Jan 17, 2023 | Blog, football, relationships, Resilience

This week in 2004, I was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Allen had just replaced Rich McKay as General Manager, and I was a “McKay Guy,” weary from two years of internal battles between head coach Jon Gruden and Rich (as well as the rest of us in...

Backdating Goals

by Nathan Whitaker | Dec 26, 2022 | leadership, relationships, Resilience

I’m sure Tony Robbins might not approve, but I’ve been known to backdate my goals. Yes, backdate. (Yes, having actual, forward-looking goals or a “One Word” is good, but stick with me – this is different.) At the end of December,...

Gratitude Builds Resilience

by Nathan Whitaker | Nov 23, 2022 | relationships, Resilience

Want more energy? Want to feel more upbeat? Want to experience a release from the challenges of the day? Find things to be grateful for. Robert Emmons, professor at the University of California at Davis, has found that practicing gratitude not only affects our...

Twists and Turns of the UNCommon Variety

by Nathan Whitaker | Aug 20, 2022 | Blog, football, leadership, relationships, teamwork

I’m sure my Duke Football teammates will think I’m nuts. (I probably am, but I’d argue for other reasons.) A week ago, I found myself on the practice field at the University of North Carolina, where my daughter is starting graduate school. We visited...

Coach Cutcliffe

by Nathan Whitaker | Nov 29, 2021 | football, leadership, relationships, teambuilding, teamwork, writing

Even hanging in my closet, relationships are what matter. I’ve got an eclectic closet, with shirts, shorts and hats sporting logos ranging from the University of Maine’s hockey team to Colorado State, Virginia Tech, Maine and Florida Atlantic’s basketball teams, the...

Cut Day

by Nathan Whitaker | Aug 31, 2021 | football, leadership, relationships, Resilience, teambuilding, teamwork, Uncategorized

The six years that I worked in the NFL, this was the most dreadful day, when rosters had to be trimmed from 80 players to 53. So many dreams crushed, or at least momentarily sidelined. And not the dreams of people who had no business being there…these were the...