These kids should be our role models, not the other way around

My son’s football team held their senior dinner this week to honor the dozen players who will graduate this spring.

James is a senior and this was his first year on the team. He earned a starting linebacker spot and was a second-string running back.

This 2025 edition of the Justice Wolves has not had a great year so far. With just two games left -- against the two best teams in the district -- the Wolves have yet to win a game.

They’ve had a couple of heartbreakers. A double-overtime loss, and a 2-0 loss in a defensive battle.

But the entire team, and the seniors in particular, have fought hard all year through a lot of adversity. There has never been a lack of enthusiasm.

So, this senior dinner was still a celebration. Good food and plenty of laughs.

What I did not expect was a lesson.

The boys were asked to speak and share three words that the football season meant to them.

I’m not sure what I expected, but the words these young men spoke moved the parents gathered for the meal. They deserve to be called men because of the message they sent.

They spoke about adversity, toughness, and hard work. But they also used words like love, gratitude, privilege and brotherhood.

They talked about their love of the game, but talked about their love for each other even more and how they hoped these relationships lasted the rest of their lives.

The word empathy came up, especially in relation to helping younger players on the team and lifting each other up. They talked about how others encouraged them when they were down and how that led them to encourage others in turn.

“We care about each other,” one said.

They talked about how it was an honor and privilege to play football and the value of commitment – to the team, their fellow players and improving themselves.

“What am I doing wrong and how can I do it better,” another player said.

James admitted that he was behind the other seniors because he had not played since flag football when he was in the 8th grade. He said he studied YouTube videos on how to play linebacker and how to tackle, something his mother and I didn’t know.

One player talked about how he learned to adapt.

“Open your mind to whatever it takes,” he said.

To a man, they returned to themes of caring, camaraderie, and gratitude.

“The people I’ve met is what has meant the most,” one said.

That sentiment was repeated often in different ways by all the players.

In interviews I’ve had with executives, they talk about these values. These young men actually live them out.

I felt proud of the moment and optimistic for the future. These young men and others like them will do great things. Maybe they won’t make headlines or be world leaders.

But they’ll continue to be good friends, good employees and coworkers, and maybe good husbands and fathers. Those are all so important.

The players’ comments stood in stark contrast to the divisiveness and dysfunction we see around us. Too many of our national leaders are not showing the same kind of leadership that these high school football players exhibit.

The nasty memes that get passed around. The name calling and slurs. The shouting and lies.

These football players – and the cheerleaders and the marching band – are out there every week playing, creating, and expressing themselves.

They are making – and I believe will make – the world a better place. It’s the adults who keep falling short, our so-called leaders.

For me, these Justice Wolves are the role models we need. We could all use more gratitude, brotherhood and love.