The Coaching Revolution: What NFL’s New Wave Can Learn from Andy Reid
On Power Athlete Radio, John Welbourn and Derin McMains delved into the evolving dynamics of coaching in professional sports. The discussion centered around the shift from traditional coaching methods to a new wave of younger, innovative coaches and what it truly takes to succeed in this ever-changing landscape.
Welbourn began by highlighting the influx of young, ambitious coaches into the NFL, a trend that’s reshaping the sport. These new faces, like Mike McDaniel in Miami, Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, and Kyle Shanahan with the 49ers, are replacing the old guard with fresh ideas and strategies. ""This is a different game than what these guys [the traditional coaches] were talking about,"" Welbourn noted. This shift represents a broader evolution in professional sports, where innovation and adaptability are increasingly prized over legacy and tradition.
Despite this changing tide, Welbourn was quick to point out the enduring success of Andy Reid. Affectionately nicknamed ""Big Red"" Reid has proven that experience and adaptability can coexist. Reid is the only coach in NFL history to lead two teams to over 100 wins and six championship game appearances, a feat that underscores his ability to thrive in both the old and new eras of the game.
Welbourn pivoted to an intriguing point: ex-players, despite their knowledge of the game, often struggle as coaches. ""Their skillset is such that it’s not replicatable,"" he explained. The unique talents that make someone an elite athlete often can’t be distilled into a teachable formula for others. Coaching, at its core, requires methods and strategies that can be replicated consistently, regardless of who implements them.
McMains echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that true success in coaching, and business, depends on scalability. ""For something to work, it has to be repeatable and replicatable,"" Welbourn elaborated. Whether it’s a playbook in football or a business model for a gym, the same principle applies: If the results can’t be consistently replicated by others, the system itself is flawed.
Welbourn tied these insights to the Power Athlete mission. At its heart, Power Athlete focuses on creating systems and programs that deliver results across a diverse range of athletes. By working with countless individuals, the Power Athlete team has honed training programs that are both effective and scalable.
""If I have a Power Athlete franchise of gyms, and mine’s the only successful one, then I’ve failed,"" Welbourn stated. ""The recipe has to be something you can hand off to someone else and get the same results."" This replicability is the foundation of their success, enabling Power Athlete to make a widespread impact in the fitness and athletic performance space.
The conversation between Welbourn and McMains underscores a universal truth about coaching and leadership: innovation must be paired with scalability. Whether you’re revolutionizing NFL playbooks or building a gym franchise, the ability to replicate success is the hallmark of a truly effective system. As the coaching landscape continues to evolve, one thing remains clear - those who can adapt and create replicable systems will always have the edge.
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John Welbourn is Founder/CEO of Power Athlete Inc and former NFL player. John was drafted with the 97th pick in 1999 NFL Draft and went on to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, and started for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In 2008, he played with the New England Patriots until an injury ended his season early with him retiring in 2009. Over the course of his NFL career, John started over 100 games regular season games with 10 play-off appearances. He was a four-year letterman while playing football at the University of California at Berkeley. He graduated from the college of letters and sciences with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric in 1998. And did his Masters work at the UC Berkeley School of Education in 1999. Since retiring from the NFL, John has worked extensively with the NFL, NHL, MLB, Olympic athletes, the US Army and Naval Special Warfare. He works as a consultant and advisor for several companies focused on improving human performance through training, nutrition and fitness-based technologies. John provides daily coaching and mentorship to over 5000 athletes around the world through his Power Athlete Coaches Network and training program delivery platform. Since in 2013, John has hosted a weekly podcast, Power Athlete Radio; a podcast dedicated to improving performance and connecting with some of the smartest people on the planet. With more than 700 episodes Power Athlete Radio has proven to be on the top podcasts in the strength and conditioning realm. John travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition for Power Athlete and as a keynote speaker. John is a married father of three and resides in Austin, Texas. You can catch up with him at his personal blog, “Talk To Me Johnnie”, at Power Athlete or on social media @johnwelbourn.