The Daily Stoic The Heaviest Crown in America: The Quarterback’s Throne | Seth Wickersham (PT. 1)
19 snips
Sep 17, 2025 
Seth Wickersham, a senior writer at ESPN and bestselling author, joins to unveil the weighty responsibilities of NFL quarterbacks. They discuss the allure and idolization of these athletes, along with the intense loneliness and pressure that come with the position. Wickersham reflects on Andrew Luck's surprising retirement as a lens to explore ambition versus personal fulfillment. The conversation also touches on the emotional toll of high expectations and the struggle for identity that encapsulates the quarterback's journey in the high-stakes world of football.
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Quarterback As American Crown
- Quarterback is America's ultimate sporting aspiration and cultural touchstone.
- Kids imagine the game-winning quarterback moment more than other sports roles.
Persist Through The Trough Of Despair
- Accept that long creative projects include a prolonged trough of doubt and self-critique.
- Keep working through the trough because breakthrough often follows sustained effort.
Spending Time With Andrew Luck
- Seth Wickersham spent months with Andrew Luck in 2022, his first long interview since retirement.
- Luck replayed his decision over and over, sure it was right but still uneasy about leaving the game.
