Drew Brees: Embracing Failure as the Springboard to Success

Drew Brees doesn’t shy away from failure—in fact, he sees it as a crucial mechanism for growth. Through a powerful analogy, the NFL legend shares how failure fuels confidence, progress, and ultimate success in life.

When asked about his biggest failure, Drew Brees smiled—not with regret, but with a deep appreciation for the role failure has played in his journey. For the former NFL quarterback, failure isn't a setback but a mechanism for growth, learning, and ultimately success. His perspective offers a profound lesson: failing isn't just a part of life; it's essential to progress.

Brees shared a recent personal story highlighting his philosophy on failure, using a simple but powerful analogy: skimboarding with his kids. "My kids have gotten into skimboarding," he said. "I've probably spent no less than ten hours over the last three days at the beach just watching them skimboard.”

The activity itself is an exercise in failure. “You fall just about every time you skimboard," Brees explained. "If you don't catch it quite right, if the sand catches the board, or you hit the wave, you're going to fall. It's this constant process of fall, get back up, fall, get back up."

The Essential Role of Failure in Growth

As a parent, Brees admitted that his instinct is to shield his kids from failure and make things easier for them. But he recognized the value in letting them struggle. "At times, it's hard. It's counterintuitive, but you have to sit back and just let them fail. Let them fail, fail, fail, and get back up.”

Through hours of trial and error, he witnessed his kids’ progression. “You watch their progression get better and better and better, and then the confidence grows. Confidence grows," he said. The act of failing and trying again not only improved their skills but also built resilience and self-belief—a cycle that mirrors life itself.

“They’re feeding off each other, competing with each other,” Brees added. “Man, that’s a kind of microcosm for life. It’s a great life analogy.”

Failure Fuels Confidence

Brees' story reminds us that failure is a critical part of success, not an obstacle to avoid. Each fall during skimboarding wasn't a defeat; it was an opportunity to learn and try again. This process, repeated over time, led to measurable growth—not just in ability but in confidence.

This lesson isn’t just for children or sports. Whether you’re leading a team, launching a business, or pursuing a personal goal, failure is inevitable. What matters is how you respond: Do you get back up, reflect, and try again? Or do you let the fall define you?

A Universal Lesson

For Brees, the analogy extends beyond his kids and skimboarding. It reflects how he approached his NFL career and life in general. "I learned as much from my kids each and every day," he said, emphasizing the importance of staying in positions where failure is possible and growth is inevitable.

In life, as on the beach or the football field, progress comes through repetition, persistence, and the courage to fail and try again. Brees’ story is a powerful reminder that failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s a crucial step toward achieving it.

The Takeaway

Drew Brees’ perspective on failure offers an invaluable lesson: the path to success is paved with moments of falling and getting back up. Whether in parenting, professional endeavors, or personal growth, failure is the mechanism that propels progress. As Brees puts it, “You have to let them fail. Fail, fail, fail, and get back up.”

By embracing failure, you embrace growth. Confidence doesn't come from avoiding falls; it comes from rising every time you hit the ground. This is not just a great life analogy—it's a blueprint for success.