How Can a Kid Athlete Find Long-Term Success? NFL Star Credits Patience

Terry McLaurin is a two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Washington Commanders, but he wasn't always a star. When he was in ninth grade, he got cut from his baseball team. That moment, he says, helped point him toward football — and taught him one of the most important lessons of his life. He recently shared that story and more with young athletes at a charity event in Maryland.

McLaurin spoke at a Bank of America 'Golf With Us' event where he taught golf and shared life lessons with kids from Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington, D.C. He used the chance to explain what it really takes to find lasting success in sports. His message was simple: hard work, patience, and an open mind matter more than natural talent.

Getting cut from baseball was painful at first, but McLaurin says it pushed him in a better direction. He had always been one of the top players, so hearing 'you're not good enough' came as a shock. Instead of giving up, he channeled that disappointment into football. 'I took it hard at first, but I think it directed me to this path of football where I really took that fire and was able to put it in a singular focus,' he said.

McLaurin encourages young athletes to see tryouts as learning experiences, not failures. If you get cut, it may reveal how much you need to improve — or show you which sport you truly love. His father, Terry Sr., believed baseball was his son's best sport, but McLaurin followed his heart to football. 'I just didn't have the same passion for it as I did football. And I'm thankful that I followed my heart,' he said.

Playing multiple sports helped shape McLaurin into the player he is today. Before high school, he played baseball, football, track, and basketball. He believes that moving between sports teaches athletes skills that carry over to their main sport. 'Cross-training sports helps you in the main sport you may want to play, but it also allows you to learn different concepts and different movements,' he said.

Famous football coach Urban Meyer once chose a player based on how he moved in a gym class dodgeball game. That player was Sam Hubbard, who went on to become an NFL defensive end. McLaurin says this is proof that athletic ability built across many sports can open doors you didn't expect. Stars like Mookie Betts also played multiple sports before focusing on one.

Once high school started, McLaurin began focusing mostly on football. He ran track his sophomore and junior years, but football was his priority. He showed up to every workout, even the ones called 'optional.' He knew that being consistent and working hard — even when others didn't — was a way to stand out to coaches.

McLaurin was only 5 feet 4 inches tall and 125 pounds as a high school sophomore. He wasn't the fastest or biggest player on the field. But he made every workout, did extra training on his own side, and even skipped spring break trips with friends to keep improving. 'I will put my work ethic up against anyone,' he said.

His parents sacrificed a great deal to support his dreams. His mother, Grace, got up at 6 a.m. every day so she could finish work on time to drive him to practices. His father, Terry Sr., almost never missed a game, even though Saturdays were his busiest workday. They also encouraged him to switch from running back to wide receiver before middle school, thinking about his long-term health and career.

McLaurin reminds young athletes that their bodies will keep changing and growing. He grew about eight inches and gained 50 pounds in just a year and a half. The smallest kid on the team today might be the tallest in a few years, and larger kids may quit before they reach their potential. Everyone deserves the chance to grow and find the sport they love without being labeled too early.

Comparing yourself to other athletes can hold you back, McLaurin warns. Watching a teammate succeed before you do can feel unfair or discouraging. But McLaurin says that negative thinking steals your joy and distracts you from your own path. 'Comparison can be the thief of joy,' he said, urging kids to trust their own journey.

McLaurin says the lessons learned through sports go far beyond the playing field. Focus on the process, he says — not just winning or making a team. The hard work, the friendships, and the setbacks along the way prepare you for real life. 'Focusing on your journey and process will allow you to fully embody what your journey means and the lessons that are meant for you to learn along the way.'