Darren Woodson’s Super Bowl 2017 Predictions & Top 3 Components of a Championship Culture

As an ESPN analyst and commentator, it's Darren Woodson's job to weigh in on all things football. But, as one of the most respected players in recent history, it's become self-evident that his wealth of knowledge about fostering a winning culture has application far beyond the field.

"Having played on three Super Bowl Championship teams, I personally know the commitment and sacrifice involved in establishing a winning culture. In order to win as a team it starts with buying into team goals, having the passion to work hard and finally the willingness to give your time and resources to the cause."

This three-time Super Bowl Champion knows a thing or two about success, and he's got the culture code to prove it. Here are his 3 secret-sauce approaches to gaining success:

Think beyond yourself

The Make-a-Wish Foundation was Woodson's first foray into giving back to charity, and he was drawn to it because "...you put yourself in those situations and think, 'Hey, anything can happen. That can be my child.' That's why you want to help. It makes a huge difference to sit and spend time with kids and help them." That's why he joined the board of directors this year. He's since founded a company in partnership with the NFL Players Association called Fanprint to create licensed apparel that would directly benefit former players. Knowing that "licensed sports gear is an $18 billion a year business...there had to be a way to put some of those dollars to good use through charity." He was motivated to create a company mission around a cause that was close to his heart, and he builds those values into every position with the company. It's about rallying your people around a shared goal - keeping your collective focus, and building momentum behind it.

"Both teams have had to overcome many obstacles throughout the season but they've stayed true to the "Team First" mentality. These two teams are mentally tough and the veteran leadership has been instrumental in their success."

Embrace change, and pivot on a dime

Woodson is the only Cowboys player to take the field for both Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells, playing under a total of 5 coaches for the Cowboys. He saw major changes in leadership in his 12-year career - and he saw a lot of players struggle to adapt.  

"The Patriots started the season without Tom Brady... lost arguably their best offensive player Rob Gronkowski and traded away their best defensive player Jamie Collins. This team went 14-2 and did an excellent job of adapting to the circumstances. Patriots!"

Woodson recently talked about the importance of adapting and being receptive to feedback. "You must be able to take honest confrontation, and you must be coachable. It's about trying to share yourself and having someone that's going to hold you accountable for your actions - and not only that, but changing from within, looking at yourself in the mirror and being able to accept criticism from yourself and from others," he explained.

"In the past Falcons QB Matt Ryan has been labeled as a good but never an elite QB. This year he's proven the naysayers wrong with 38 TD's and 7 int's and led his team to the Super Bowl."

Same goes for business. In the digital age, everything is moving at the speed of light, so it's critical that you can adapt. When Woodson started FanTree in 2012, he had a different vision for the company. They were working one-on-one with athletes, creating products using social media to market back to their fan base. But for them to win big, they had to think how they could replicate the business on a bigger scale. So Woodson got the ball rolling with the NFL Players Association, and now they're poised to scale - while keeping with the original company mission.

Be yourself, and go all in

"You have to stay true to who you are and never doubt your capabilities. Preparation and being mentally tough is the key to success."

During his long and successful career as a safety with the NFL Dallas Cowboys from '92 to 2004, Woodson registered career totals of 11 sacks, 23 interceptions and 1,350 tackles, still the most in Cowboys history - a record that still stands more than a decade since his retirement.

"My versatility as a player - my ability to play multiple positions safety, slot corner and linebacker - have served me well in my career."

During his retirement press conference, Woodson said, "When I put that helmet on, I laid it on the line. Not just for this team, but for everyone here. I laid it on the line every time I put that helmet on. I wanted to win so bad, that nothing else really mattered. The most important thing was giving everything I had each time I stepped out on the field. And I think I did that."

ESPN for the win

Be like Darren Woodson. Own it - all of it. Live, sleep and breathe your mission. Get YOUR message in front of people by embodying what you want to see happen. That kind of transparency is how you'll make sure your company culture is available for people to see. It's a simple strategy of playing to your strengths. It's one that Woodson has exemplified, and - perhaps it's no accident - it's one that ESPN embodies on the daily by actively shaping their company culture, building their employer brand, and attracting the very best talent by using Glassdoor to post jobs in front of all the right people.  

Conclusion, aka game day advice

"The game is won through your preparation and ability to overcome obstacles. Believe in YOU and never doubt your capabilities."