A Quarterback's Apology: What Are We Teaching Our Children

Apologies are in the air these days—but not like this one: Tennessee Titans quarterback (and former Oregon Duck!) Marcus Mariota recently gave a mea culpa that made headlines. In it, he apologized for the way he treated the media at his press conference.

“Real quick, I want to say I am sorry for the way I handled the press conference," Mariota said, via the team's official website. “…I was rude and inappropriate, and I just want to say I apologize for it… I got an earful from my mom. That's how I was raised and I appreciate you guys for understanding."

In the grand scheme of things, no one (other than Marcus’s mom) had deemed his prior behavior shocking. Upset after a loss, he had used the term “pissed off.” But Inc columnist Justin Bariso says this apology is noteworthy “because manners like this simply aren't as common as they used to be (http://on.inc.com/2FCXs4Y).”

Barios gave a shout out to Mariota for authenticity, for humility, and for demonstrating respect. We agree with his summation:  “True leadership requires that you practice what you preach and set the example: You can talk about respect and integrity until you're blue in the face, but it won't mean anything when you curse out a family member, friend, or colleague. By showing respect first, Mariota commands respect from others--his teammates, the media, his children, and pretty much everyone else.“  Long after we forget the winner of this year’s Super Bowl, many will remember Marcus Mariota and his act of emotional intelligence and accountability (Tweet it!).

When was the last time you witnessed an apology you found authentic and impactful? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

If you would like to read more about creating a habit around masterful communication, check out our book: Be Quiet, Be Heard: The Paradox of Persuasion

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