John Layfield Quotes

I got let go at City, but I always believed I could play at the top level.

I was fired at the pinnacle of my career, on my 39th birthday. And in the year that followed, I learned that there are many psychological phases of being 'let go.'

No, I was two years older than the other guys. I was a war baby. My family were a lot poorer than they were. I'd had to fight too hard for anything I had in my life and to smash things up for me.

I interned at the NFL Network while I was in college, but I have not had an internship or another job other than football in a very long time.

Fortune has, in the main, hitherto looked unfavourably upon me since I left home, but I begin to hope for better things. Still, in all my past distresses, one thought has consoled me - I have learned to appreciate a parent's love.

When I go back to NFL functions today, I feel a bit on the outside looking in. I played 13 years in the NFL, and I loved it - made a Pro Bowl and went to the playoffs - but I always felt like I was having to knock the door down to get in.

If you think about it, I've never held a job in my life. I went from being an NFL player to a coach to a broadcaster. I haven't worked a day in my life.

I don't come from money or an educated family background or any sort of supportive family life, so all of my choices are made on my own.

When you get released from the NFL it's not a pleasant experience and I may have sulked for about two or three years. Then I was like, 'You know what? It's time to get back on the wagon.' I have nothing to be ashamed of.

You shouldn't end a band like Westlife and not be financially secure to some extent, but I wasn't at all - it was the complete opposite. But you look at stuff then, 'Well, what do I have? I don't have money but I have a great marriage, three healthy kids, and I have my voice. I'll just start again.'

There was never a point in my life where I gave up. My marriage, as you know, fell apart.

I was an out-of-work actor for 10 years.

When my record company rejected 'Full Moon Fever', I was hurt so bad. I was pretty far along in my career at that point. I'd never had anything rejected; I'd never really even had a comment. So when that happened, it was really just a board to the forehead. But then, finally, I picked myself up.

There's nothing like a little bit of unemployment to kick the stuffing out of you when things are going well.

My parents were dealing with evictions and repossessions and electricity getting shut off, and I just realized that I had to get it together.

I'm grateful I know what it's like to be unemployed for long periods of time.

When you lose your job and it is about football, I can quickly put things in order and move on.

There is no level of professional rejection that can compare to almost dying.

The game shapes you. I played for 20 years at all levels, apart from the Premier League. I had a disaster at Bristol City, where in two years I learnt more about myself, the industry, fans, how you get treated, than I ever learnt in my career.

A lot of stuff's going to happen in a football career that you don't like.

We lived in a hotel for many years as we struggled financially, but I always loved football.

I wanted to be in the situation where I could have a chance to go to the NFL and be a great quarterback and take care of my family.

I had four great years at West Ham. People will always refer to the difficulties at certain times, but you get those everywhere.

If you're in the NFL for more than five minutes you see that you can be here today and gone tomorrow. That's why I played the way I did. I think that's why I worked hard to not miss a game, fight through injuries and all that stuff because when it's gone, it's gone.

Thanks to my mother, I graduated. But then we lost everything, we were homeless.