When it comes to football greatness, Bruce Arians knows a thing or two—and that’s what sets him apart from others. From his humble beginnings as a quarterback at Virginia Tech to coaching some of the NFL’s biggest stars, Arians has spent decades discovering what separates the good from the great.
Now retired from coaching, Arians is opening up about the one mental trait that, in his eyes, can predict future stars before a player even hits the big leagues. It’s not speed. It’s not strength. It’s something deeper—because for him, football has always been about more than just physical skill.
Former Virginia Tech Coach Bruce Arians Shares Key to Football Greatness
Recently, Arians has shared the one mental trait he believes is key to football stardom: the ability to handle failure. With decades of coaching experience, Bruce believes mental resilience is what sets future stars apart from others.
Arians’ career started at Virginia Tech, where he played quarterback and set a record for most rushing touchdowns in a season. His coaching career took off shortly after, eventually leading him to the NFL, where he worked with legendary quarterbacks like Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning.
He recounted a pivotal moment with Andrew Luck during a pre-draft workout. He tested Luck’s mental toughness during a workout, challenging him on a play they had just gone over.
While the Super Bowl-winning coach said, “That’s not what I said,” Andrew confidently defended his understanding, showing he could stay calm under pressure.
“I just wanted to test him, to see if he had the fortitude to know he was right and stick up for himself. He put a fork in that real quick,” the former Buccaneers head coach recalled.
He saw the same thing in a young Peyton Manning. Even after a rough start to his NFL career with multiple picks, Manning never got discouraged. Instead, he kept working to get better.
“My point is: You never, ever saw him down on himself. It was always: How am I going to get better? Let’s get better. Let’s work, work, work,” the veteran NFL mentor said, emphasizing the mindset that made Manning one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Coach Arians’ philosophy is simple but powerful. He believes anyone can learn to handle failure by understanding why it happened and working to improve. He believes that handling failure is a skill anyone can learn. It’s not about avoiding mistakes—it’s about learning from them. He encourages players to ask the right questions.
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“Was it a lack of preparation, or did I over prepare? Was it technique? Was it execution?” Arians said.
With a career spanning over four decades, including head coaching stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bruce Arians has consistently championed the importance of mental toughness. Hopefully, these insights rooted in his experiences will truly help current NFL stars build it within themselves
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