A great leader has passed, Chuck Noll, Hall of Fame coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Noll impacted the lives of many, many people. Chuck Noll is the only NFL head coach to win four Super Bowls and may be the greatest NFL coach ever. Noll never received the credit he truly deserved but those closest to him realized that he had exceptional leadership qualities.
In local press coverage, former players and those from the Steelers’ front office knew how focused and businesslike Chuck Noll could be. He never held on to the past for very long – be it success or failure. He quickly moved to the next challenge through hard work, preparation, and planning.
Chuck Noll was also recognized as brilliant in ways outside of football and had a penchant for learning. He was often asking, probing, and absorbing more. His predilection for learning as a teacher made him a better coach and leader of young men. He also knew that success could be the great enemy – it brought about complacency and comfort. Not good in the NFL. Not good when it comes to ongoing safety improvement.
We can learn a great deal from leaders like Chuck Noll.