SSH and the NFL
How behavioral profiles affect performance in sports
A reader comments upon how SSH consulting would likely be a very successful business and shares a few of his observations of NFL coaches and players.
The pair of Tom Brady with Bill Belichick is a quintessential example. Both no-doubt High Alphas. Belichick filled the coaching staff and rosters with Deltas. The famous "Do Your Job" slogan set the expectations that everyone who entered the building, no matter who you are, will act as a Delta. Competence above all. Brady, in his wisdom or competitiveness, acted as a Bravo to Belichick's Alpha. He epitomized Do Your Job and ruthlessly held everyone to account for executing Bill's vision.
Peyton Manning, Alpha. No one dared touch his offense, whether in Indy or Denver. The coaching staff would fall in line underneath him. He worked exceptionally well with coaches that were functional Deltas. Tony Dungy and John Fox are soft-spoken, respectable, honorable Delta family men.
The quotes about Mega Alpha Steelers owner Art Rooney are pure Alpha praise. He set the Steelers up so well that they're the most consistent organization in professional sports. Generations later, and after his death, his heirs still seek his approval. Three head coaches since 1969. The current Steelers coach, Mike Tomlin, is such an effective Alpha that he turned Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and LeVeon Bell into a winning core despite their well-noted personal shortcomings.
Sean McVay is Alpha. McVay said he wanted a "partner" in the offense. Exit Delta (maybe Bravo) Jared Goff, enter Bravo (maybe Alpha) Matt Stafford. Alpha Sean Payton worked famously well with likely Delta Drew Brees and poorly with likely Gamma Russell Wilson.
The interesting cases are when QB or Coach are not Alpha. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are both jovial, life-of-the-party types that suggest Bravo. Reid is unthreatened by others' personalities and runs a loose ship. Reid's coaching tree is filled with Deltas who have been good coordinators and mediocre-to-bad HCs.(1) Mahomes doesn't impose his will on the team. Travis Kelce is an Alpha personality. That locker room is an interesting dynamic.
On the Chiefs, Delta Alex Smith was helpful with the highly-drafted and ascending Mahomes. Contrast to Brett Favre and Joe Montana, who were threatened by and antagonistic to heir apparents; Aaron Rodgers and Steve Young, respectively. Montana was probably Alpha, but Bravo to Bill Walsh. Went on a revenge tour and tried to prove he could do it alone in Kansas City. Similar story with Favre, but his personal life is all over the place.
(1) Very similar to Belichick’s coaching tree. Note also that like many self-reliant Alphas, Belichick didn’t have a succession plan.
Not knowing absolutely anything about American Football, and for those that don't know this particular story, I will mention Michael Schumacher.
Absolute unit of an Alpha, you could almost say he owned the Scuderia at his time there since he built the team around himself and for himself, from mechanics and engineers to top management of the racing team (not the business part of the car brand of course).
Ferrari accepted his conditions of carrying his entire team with him because he looked like the strongest driver after Ayrton Senna's death and they really needed to turn things around after 20 years of not winning a championship. It turned out to be one of the strongest partnerships in the history of motorsports.
I've been thinking about this one a lot after becoming SSH aware because people here especially the ones that only watch the sport when there are Brazilians winning hold a grudge against Michael for his relationship on track with Rubens Barrichelo, the second driver of the team during the golden years with Schumi.
Brazilians wanted him to face off and win against his teammate, disobey team orders like some of our past great drivers would have, but it would ABSOLUTELY NEVER HAPPEN because Rubens is a Delta.
Extremely talented, it is confirmed that for most races he would even setup the suspension, aerodynamics, brakes and differential on the car for Michael (Michael was usually faster using Ruben's setups than his own), but he does not have the personality of a champion. Understanding this was a great journey for me in the appreciation of the sport and the drivers.
What makes Belichick an Alpha over a Sigma? He seemed indifferent to the praise and accolades of others and was committed to the objective of winning and not overly concerned if his players liked him (he was famous for jettisoning star players in favor of cheaper contracts). If Belichick is a Sigma it could also explain the tension with his owner Robert Kraft (strikes me as a Gamma) and Tom Brady (Alpha).