
EP79: Confidence, Not Arrogance
From Music Life and Times by Kevin Bales
May 1, 2026 · 18 min · Episode 80
About this episode
Sam Darnold discusses the importance of confidence over arrogance in both sports and music.
2026 Super Bowl winning quarterback Sam Darnold was once considered a “draft bust.” Interviewed after his Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots, Darnold told reporters, “As long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible.” Music is analogous to sports in many ways: performers can't hide; it's live; it takes years of hard work to become accomplished and failure along the way is inevitable; confidence is essential. Confidence but not arrogance. When players, musicians as well as athletes, are arrogant, all about themselves as opposed to working with and respecting their other band or team members, they misfire. When musicians fail to understand their calling, to work with each other for the pleasure of their audience, the night is a bust, the game is lost.
People in this episode
Host: Kevin Bales
Guest: Sam Darnold
Topics covered
- confidence
- arrogance
- sports
- music
- teamwork
- performance
Keywords
- confidence
- arrogance
- Sam Darnold
- Super Bowl
- music
- performance
- teamwork
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: New England Patriots
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