I do think when I see kids playing football, that some of them are going to wind up in the NFL. All of them are already learning plays, developing coordination and pushing themselves physically. Some of them are probably in camps or working with coaches outside of school. If they stay healthy and continue to improve, a handful might even get scholarships and pass through college programs. The system is long and arduous, but it begins early.

At the same time, I’m sitting there wondering, what would it require for someone to support a child through that whole thing? It’s about more than time and money. It is also observing them get hit, heal from injuries, respond to pressure and manage wins and losses in public. I don’t think I can do that. I can see how a parent might want to support it, but I don’t know if I could take on that much risk and stress. Competition is fiercer at every level and there’s more of a likelihood that you can get hurt. There are very few kids who make it to the top. It will be played for another 60 minutes and 11 seconds.