Day 1 - Thou Shalt Have No Gods Before Me

Pete Carroll brainwashed me.

His vibrant energy, surprisingly vibrant for a 70-year-old, along with his rapid-fire speech and constant gum-chewing, intrigued me.

As a 21 years rookie, I was just beginning to understand the breadth of his legacy—his storied success at USC, his mentorship of players like Reggie Bush, his historic Rose Bowl victories. The NFL was such a new experience and felt like a dream come true, a goal I had poured my heart and soul into achieving. And I was Pete’s first draft choice in making his statement as the Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

My inaugural day 'on the job' was a revelation. As the day commenced in the meeting room, the energy of a seasoned college coach taking on his second NFL tenure filled the space–you could feel it. The room was alive with activity, a juxtaposition of disgruntled veterans weary of anticipated infantilization and young rookies, eyes gleaming with ambition, ready to mark their presence in the sports arena.

I found myself seated next to future Hall of Famers, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. Typically, Pete would be the last one to stroll into the meeting room, cradling a cherished football as though it were his most valuable possession. As he made his entrance, the room hushed. His presence demanded the attention of all present - coaches and players alike. With the spotlight on him, he raised the football high above us on stage and uttered these memorable words that will forever echo in my mind:

'It's all about the ball.'

"From then on, I committed every detail of every meeting to a notebook. Pete was shaping the enduring culture of the Seattle Seahawks - a collective focused on making 'the football' their utmost priority. This ball would determine victories and defeats, forge or fracture careers.

In that transformative moment, I understood that someday, I would be the one defining the culture for my family and the teams I would eventually lead. That day has come. And while I don't elevate a metaphorical football, I uplift a concept of more lasting significance. A truth that binds countless generations, asserting the existence of the God who created all things, and, importantly, crafted men and women to assume their divine roles as caretakers of the world. This is my first defining principle, to set our way of life for those who will someday be my teammates:

"Thou shalt have no gods before me."