Looking for some inspiration from one of the most successful NFL coaches of all time? A collection of the best George Halas quotes for football fans and athletes alike. From his famous Nobody’s perfect quote to his thoughts on winning and losing.
George Halas Quotes
A good football coach must be a man of system, but a great football coach must also be a man of spontaneous imagination. ― George Halas
The ability to succeed is nothing more than a strong desire to succeed. ― George Halas
I like to call it coaching rather than managing because managing makes it sound like you are running things and coaching makes it sound more than you are guiding things. ― George Halas
Football is a great game. Every time I think of it, I get excited all over again. It is touching to me that Americans love it so much. It is a shortcut to the best in you. — George Halas
The measure of a man is what he does with power. ― George Halas
It isn’t necessary to see things as hopeless to find them tragic. ― George Halas
Football is a great game. Every time I think of it, I get excited. It is touching to me that Americans love it so much. It is a shortcut to the best in you. – George Halas
If you live long enough, lots of nice things happen. – George Halas
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. – George Halas
The ability to succeed is nothing more than a strong desire to succeed. – George Halas
The measure of a man is what he does with power. – George Halas
There is a lot to be said for not being around when the results come in. ― George Halas
You can achieve only that which you will do. ― George Halas
For you to win, you have to play fairly and square. You cannot cheat. ― George Halas
When I see young people playing the game properly instead of their own way of doing things, I think it is wonderful. They are playing pretty football. ― George Halas
You win with team play. You lose when you make poor decisions. ― George Halas
Television is a great tool if you do not let it be one. It is also an inferior tool if you let it be one. ― George Halas
It is hard to beat a person who never gives up. ― George Halas
There is nothing you can do that hasn’t been done before. You are going to unleash something bad on the world if you decide to make exceptions to rules. ― George Halas
Plan your work, then work your plan. ― George Halas
You win with team play. You lose when you make poor decisions. If you do the things that you’d do in the game, you will win more often than not. ― George Halas
Every coach is a teacher on the field, and every player is a student in his or her thinking. ― George Halas
You cannot fake it. It is not possible. You can fool yourself, but you cannot fool anyone else. If you are doing the right thing, you cannot help but be successful. ― George Halas
The first loss is the worst loss. ― George Halas
If you want to change your life and win more games, change how you think and act. If you do that, it will change your life and improve your performance. ― George Halas
To be a great football player, you must have the courage to run a blocked punt into your own goal if necessary. It may work. It may be a good idea. But it will not work on first or second down, and your chances of winning the game will be greatly altered. ― George Halas
Never give up on a player who is having a bad day. Give him time to get his mind to his best. If you have enough respect for the player, give him some time. ― George Halas
Don’t let anything stand in your way except yourself. If you do, you will be gone – quickly. ― George Halas
The most important thing about this game is what happens between the sidelines. It is not the physical part of the game, although that is important. It is more important to win on this field between these sidelines. ― George Halas
If I had all the players and coaches who agreed, I’d be much better off. But it is good that there are a lot of people who disagree with me because they make you think. ― George Halas
Football is a game of mistakes. The team that makes the least mistakes wins. ― George Halas
It will be difficult to get the team together, but it is essential. ― George Halas
You cannot win a football game unless you play fairly and square. You cannot cheat. ― George Halas
You can change your life by changing how you think and act. If you do, it will change your life and improve your performance. Remember that this is the greatest gift you can give yourself. ― George Halas
Famous George Halas Quotes
You can only be defeated if you give up or if you cheat. ― George Halas
If you live long enough, lots of nice things happen. ― George Halas
I believe in a philosophy that success is most important for the players who do their jobs well and contribute to winning. I prefer a team that plays as a unit. I cannot postpone a game longer than I can play it. ― George Halas
You can only be defeated if you give up or cheat. I prefer to teach. ― George Halas
Work on a plan and execute it. Don’t try to do everything at once. You cannot do everything at once anyway. If you wait, you will be prepared for everything that comes up. ― George Halas
You can only be defeated if you give up or cheat. I prefer to teach. I am proud to be old-fashioned. I believe in being a gentleman. ― George Halas
Player motivation is the biggest single factor in winning. If you can get a player motivated, it is as good as having a brand new team. ― George Halas
I believe that great teams win because they play with team spirit; they do the right things and they do them together. ― George Halas
Football players need to be made of stronger stuff than people give them credit. Take a licking and keep on ticking. Never quit. The man who quits isn’t in there. ― George Halas
I have always felt that if you made a mistake, you should correct it. If you cannot correct it, then like Harry Truman, I do not give them hell – I tell the truth. ― George Halas
I believe that you win with your team – that is the key thing; you win with your team and make sure they know it. ― George Halas
Never give up on a play until it is over. The play is never dead until the whistle blows. You can always try it again. ― George Halas
The game goes bad if you are not working with team spirit. ― George Halas
If you live long enough, lots of nice things happen. So what if you do not win a championship? You cannot expect it to happen every year. ― George Halas
You must have the will to win before you can have the will to train. You must have the will to train before you can have the will to win. ― George Halas
It takes a long time to build up trust, and it takes only a second to destroy it. ― George Halas
Teamwork is what makes an organization successful. Individual effort is worthless. ― George Halas
I would like to be remembered as a fair person. I would like to be remembered as a person who respected human beings. ― George Halas
When you get knocked down in life, get up without excuses or explanations. The only difference between a winner and a loser is how one reacts to a setback. ― George Halas
A cool head never loses a football game. A hot head is like a needle in a balloon. The game goes bad if you are not working with team spirit. ― George Halas
Never give up on a player who is having a bad day. Give him time to get his mind to his best. If you have enough respect for the player, give him some time. ― George Halas
Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized. ― George Halas
You win with your team – that is the key thing; you win with your team and make sure they know it. ― George Halas
The most important thing for a coach is to make friends. You are bound to make mistakes, but it is better if your players like you. ― George Halas