For Larson, the experience was unexpectedly enlightening. Speaking after the meeting, he admitted his perception of football players had changed completely after witnessing the sheer depth of preparation involved.
“Well, I think what I didn’t quite realise,” said Larson. “Just being a casual fan of football was how much work it actually is. Like, I just look at big buff football players and I’m like, oh, they just have a couple meetings during the week of practices and just lift.”
Instead, Larson found a culture built on structure, discipline, and hours of mental preparation.
“So that was really need to see and just, you know, how much effort goes into you’re prepping for a single game. You know, that was, like I said, that was just eye-opening and really cool scene. You need to see the culture and leadership that goes on there. And it makes sense why they’re so successful,” explained Larson.
Larson’s visit to the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback meeting offered him a profound new perspective on professional football. The immense mental preparation and strategic depth required particularly struck the NASCAR champion, dispelling his previous notion that the sport was solely about physical strength.