Narrative Around Carson Wentz Leadership Impact
June 3, 2022
by David Earl
What Makes an Affective Leader?
This is an interesting topic as leadership comes in a variety of definitions. Leadership is anything from a corporate focus on team strategies towards product development and management or a military approach in exhibiting high moral character and service above self. Regardless of the walk of life, a few key leadership traits remain constant, such as strong character, team relationship building, conflict resolution, and effective communication skills. The NFL is no different regarding team captains, especially from the quarterback. Many think Carson Wentz lacks leadership ability. So what exactly has caused Wentz to be labeled a bad Leader? Let’s break down some of the important leadership traits for an NFL quarterback.
Building Relationships
It’s important for a new incumbent leader to start off immediately attempting to create an open line of communication and get to understand his team. Whether he can get to know as many individual personalities and their respective walks of life as he builds up from the foundation can truly be vital. What did Carson Wentz do on day one after the trade was made official to the Colts? He immediately reached out to many of his new teammates like Kenny Moore, Julian Blackmon, and Michael Pittman Jr. Although maligned by some for being a selfish teammate in Philadelphia, some players such as Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce, and others came to his defense. Wentz displayed just the opposite in behavior day one for the Colts. Whether it was bad information from Philadelphia journalists or he grew as a leader is unclear, but Wentz was building lasting bonds on the team like his relationship with Jonathan Taylor. After he was traded again other Colts teammates like Michael Pittman Jr. and Darius Leonard immediately came out in appreciation towards Wentz the teammate. So in terms of building comradery within the locker room, Carson Wentz did as well as any quarterback could have accomplished.
Making Those Around You Better
Another key to leadership, particularly on a sports team, is the ability to make those around you better. While talent level is key to any contender, it’s the backup role players trusted into starting duty who are relying upon the team leaders for guidance. The responsibility of from the most important position in sports, the quarterback, is absolutely vital. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers are recent examples of quarterback leaders who elevated players around them to achieve ultimate success. Now in no way is Carson Wentz on their level but, in terms of elevating his team, in the 2019 season in Philadelphia, you saw him do just that in December. Despite losing his top wide receivers and dealing with other lingering offensive injuries, Wentz performed exceptionally well down the stretch with unheralded receivers Greg Ward and Boston Scott. The Eagles’ path to the playoffs was clear and Wentz needed to step up, as every game in the month of December was essentially a playoff game, and he did. Yes, he appeared to fold under the pressure in the final 2 weeks of last season for the Colts but he proved before he can lead those when required and he can certainly do this again. The confidence may not be as high as one would like here for Wentz but his capabilities in this regard are undeniable.
Selfless Demeanor
As a quarterback in the NFL, it’s important to both share in success and shoulder all the blame. The position can be a thankless job unless you are one of the game’s greatest and even in that scenario the road there still can be a volatile experience. Peyton Manning drew harsh criticism and doubts when he threw 27 interceptions during his rookie season. It wasn’t until several years into his career that Manning began to garner a reputation that later would help define him as a great selfless player who was easily regarded as one of the greats of all time. While sometimes there is that one moment that fairly or unfairly defines you in this area, Wentz certainly had his tarnishing moment. Back in the 2017 season, his expressing displeasure about the Eagles winning the Super Bowl without him did not go over well in the locker room. Yes, he was a young kid in his second season while having an MVP caliber season but, fair or not, that’s a statement which will tarnish the perception of a player’s character. In that instance, timing was the biggest issue. Some will defend his position and claim that youth and inexperience as the problem but maturity is almost an immediately required trait for an NFL quarterback. However, today Carson Wentz seems to have learned a valuable lesson by taking more of the high road and assessing past failures to more of what he could have done better. Even as Jim Irsay continues to pile on his indirect critics of Carson Wentz, he has refused to counter Irsay’s statements regarding the bonds he created in Indianapolis. Has he matured into a more selfless leader? We are all about to find out, but he has started on the right foot thus far.
Mindset
This concept is separate from the previously discussed selfless demeanor that were based on reported issues in Philadelphia and Indianapolis regarding Wentz’s complete player mentality. Whether these claims are legitimate or it’s a result of a few teammates just not liking him (you can’t make everyone happy, right?), Wentz will have to show Ron Rivera and his new teammates that he’s a strong leader. He must be willing to accept harsh coaching, strict criticisms, and show a willful engagement in any conflict resolutions within the locker room. He cannot simply shrivel into a corner quietly or allow other captains to constantly resolve internal locker room issues. The previous example of his displeasure over the Eagles winning a Super Bowl without him certainly plays into this discussion too but, going deeper, it’s making decisions based on reading situations. There is a level of vision and an open mind required to work with such a diverse group of players in reaching an agreeable consensus. That’s not to say he needs to be without flaws and that he shouldn’t utilize assistance from other team leaders but Wentz needs to be part of the solution and not the problem. Today, on the surface, he appears to be a completely different player and leader as described prior to this trade. As the saying goes, “with a new environment comes a fresh start.” Carson will and should be afforded to opportunity to prove he’s mentally strong enough to lead Washington; however, the past cannot be ignored. Reports came from a single team may not have credibility, but similar reports from a new team raise fair questions on his mentality as a leader.
Final Thoughts
I won’t pretend to know what happens in the locker room and the dynamics around each situation but I can speak towards leadership. In the military, we look to our leaders to have a strong moral compass and the ability to adapt to diverse situations in resolving internal conflicts. This aspect should be similar to requirements in an NFL locker room and Carson has certainly shown to have a great moral character. Everywhere he’s been, Wentz has left a positive impression in assessing individual needs and building strong bonds like with Zach Ertz and Jonathan Taylor. Unfortunately, that just is not enough, especially in today’s society, and that can bleed into the locker room. Whatever aspect of his mental approach to the game he needs to address, which he only truly knows. This may very well be his last chance. Carson is not the “cancer” of a team by any means but keeping low on many issues that arise among his teammates will only hurt relationships and create a level of distrust. Once a quarterback loses trust among any of his teammates, he’s lost the locker room and possibly the faith of the coaching staff. He is not expected to be a saint nor will everyone like him but he can earn the respect needed through his voice and actions. This is very well his last and final ride as a viable franchise quarterback. I have full confidence he can turn around a tarnished image in many eyes around the league. It is up to him and only him to take that next step in maturity as a leader in Washington’s locker room.