Spiritual Growth: Bear Bryant Was A Secret Agent

Books written about Coach Bear Bryant of Alabama always pack a punch. 

It is a testament to his impact, that decades after his death, new books are still coming that probe his leadership style, techniques and principles.

Obviously there were many layers to the man. The more you study his impact the more you find—so thankfully, this is not a rehash of material found in other books. This book is full of of great new insights and information, mainly due to extensive research and interviews with hundreds of his players, coaches and friends. 

But the biggest punch comes right at the end—and that’s why I’m featuring it as a Spiritual Growth post.

It seems that although Bear was a Christian, he never made it known to anyone, especially his coaches and players.

At the end of his life it became a tremendous source of disappointment to him. At the 1983 National Coaches Clinic in Los Angeles, he told Coach Grant Teaff the one thing he would have done differently was to tell everyone he was a Christian.

As he said, ”I am one, and I didn’t tell them.”
Three weeks later, he was dead.

He lived his entire life a secret agent. Who knows why?

He certainly wasn’t afraid of anyone’s opinion. Maybe he thought it would weaken his image. Only he knows why. It doesn’t really matter why. 

What matters is that at the end of his life, a life of staggering success and triumph, this was his biggest regret.

Maybe that can be his last lesson, his last coaching tip on winning:

If you are a Christian, let people know, don’t hide it.

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Read more about this book on Amazon: Bear Bryant On Leadership: Life Lessons from a Six-Time National Championship Coach