From Depressed to NFL MVP in 1 Year — Steve Young

TL;DR

Steve Young went from suicidal depression to NFL MVP after a chance plane conversation forced him to realize he was victimizing himself.

Key Points

• 1.Young was so depressed backing up Joe Montana on the 49ers that he told his brother he didn't know how he'd make it to Christmas.
• 2.On a Tuesday night flight to Salt Lake City, he sat next to Stephen Covey, who asked how he was doing — and Young unloaded everything.
• 3.Covey reframed Young's situation: rather than a miserable trap, he said the 49ers platform (owner Eddie DeBartolo, coach Bill Walsh, teammate Joe Montana) was the greatest he'd ever seen for human development.
• 4.The gut-punch moment came when Covey said "Then be about it" — Young instantly realized he had dug his own hole, played the victim, and authored his own misery.
• 5.The following season, Young sought out the Cowboys' Troy Aikman before their game to tell him he was glad the best team showed up — and went on to win NFL MVP that year.