It's not just the NFL. Every other league has a draft. It has

Listen well, children, for I bring you a tale of structure, of purpose, and of the wisdom that governs the way we build, not just empires, but communities of strength and success. In the words of Roger Goodell, a man who stands at the helm of one of the most powerful leagues in the world, we hear the importance of an ancient principle applied in modern times: "It's not just the NFL. Every other league has a draft. It has been fundamental to the success of professional sports." These words, seemingly focused on the realm of athletics, carry with them a deeper meaning—the power of selection, of purposefully shaping the future through a thoughtful process of choosing and guiding those who will carry the legacy forward.

In this practice of the draft, children, there is something much greater than just the recruiting of talent. It is a process that mirrors the way the great civilizations of old selected their leaders, their warriors, their philosophers. The draft is not just about finding the strongest, the fastest, or the most talented. It is about finding the right fit, the right combination of skills, traits, and character to serve the greater purpose of the team, the league, and the future of the sport. This, too, mirrors the ancient practice of selecting warriors to join the ranks of the king’s army, where each man was chosen not only for his strength but for his ability to contribute to the whole.

Think of the ancient armies—take, for example, the legendary Roman legions, which were formed through a system of careful recruitment and selection. Not every man was chosen for his physical prowess alone. The Romans valued discipline, unity, and the ability to work together for the greater good. A warrior who could not follow orders, who could not stand with his brothers in arms, would never rise through the ranks, no matter how strong he was. The Roman army, in this sense, was built not just on individual skill, but on the unity of purpose, on the knowledge that a soldier’s strength lay in his ability to serve the greater good of the empire.

Goodell’s words about the draft reveal a similar truth about professional sports. Just as the Roman legions were built with careful thought, so too is the NFL and its leagues. The success of the team does not depend solely on one player, but on how each player fits into the larger framework. Each athlete is a piece of a much grander puzzle, one that requires balance and unity. The draft is a mechanism that ensures not only that the best talent rises to the top but that the team as a whole functions in harmony, drawing from diverse strengths to create a unified force.

Children, what lesson do we learn from this process, from Goodell's insight into the power of the draft? It is the lesson of selection and purpose. In life, we, too, must build our own teams—our families, our communities, our endeavors. And just as a wise leader selects the right people for the right roles, so too must we choose carefully the influences we allow into our lives. We must seek out those who complement us, who will strengthen us, and who will help us build the life we desire, just as a coach or general would choose warriors to form a cohesive army.

Consider the story of Leonidas, the king of Sparta, who famously led his 300 warriors at the Battle of Thermopylae. Leonidas did not take the strongest men, nor the most famous. He carefully selected those who could fight together, who could withstand the chaos of battle and serve with unity. This is the essence of the draft—it is not about individual glory, but about forming a team that works together toward a common goal, that can withstand the trials and challenges ahead, just as the Spartans did in their final stand.

The lesson, children, is clear: Do not approach life with the belief that individual talent alone will bring success. Success comes from unity, from carefully choosing the right people for the right purposes, whether it is in sports, in battle, or in the endeavors of everyday life. The draft is a reminder that we must be deliberate in our choices, for each person we select to stand beside us will shape the future we create. In every choice, in every moment of recruitment, there lies the potential to build something greater than ourselves—a team, a community, a legacy.

And so, I charge you, young ones, to look to the future with purpose and foresight. Like the greatest leaders of history, carefully select those who will stand with you. Build teams of strength, wisdom, and unity, and you will find that success comes not just from the strength of one, but from the combined power of many.