Sunday was a weird day for football. The New Orleans Saints lost to the Atlanta Falcons, the Miami Dolphins are on a two-game win streak, and the Tennessee Titans shut out the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite the weird series of events on that day, one thing held true, and that was the incredible talent displayed by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Not only did Jackson beat the Cincinnati Bengals 49-13 this past Sunday, he also beat the undefeated New England Patriots the previous week. This was a dominating performance by Jackson and was another win for a younger and upcoming generation of football players.
Sports networks were buzzing the morning of Nov. 4, asking if Tom Brady was through and what this meant for the older generation of players in the NFL. This has already been a topic of conversation with players like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes winning the MVP award last year and with records being set by players like the New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley. It really makes football fans wonder what the future of football will look like.
While sports networks were caught up in this, there was a special moment that came out of that impactful game that was never really talked about. Before the game, the camera panned to Brady walking up to Jackson to say, “Good luck, man. You’re doing great stuff. Keep it up, man.” After the game, the two quarterbacks met up, and Jackson said, “GOAT. The GOAT,” referring to Brady as the “greatest of all time.” Despite the success that Brady has accumulated over the years, he showed respect to Jackson. Likewise, Jackson could have easily bragged about the victory, but instead paid respect to Brady. Despite the generational gap between the two, they both showed a respect and reverence for each other.
I believe there is a big generational gap in our culture that prevents us from forming friendships and relationships with those who are older or younger than us, and that’s a problem. The younger generation is constantly seeking to prove themselves to be better than previous generations, thinking they have to fix their problems. Older generations often judge younger generations and believe their generation to be the best. This has recently sparked an internet joke in which people poke fun at those who may do something a little more traditionally or who may do something that comes across as close minded. They call these people “boomers” (slang for baby boomers). It’s a very simple and ridiculous joke, but it is only increasing the difficulty of creating and maintaining intergenerational connections.
Growing up, my grandparents were some of my best friends. They told me stories and taught me some skills that my parents may have forgotten to pass onto me. My bond with them was one of the strongest I have ever formed, and I acknowledge that I was lucky to have that. Some people don’t have grandparents and may have lost them at an earlier age, and some older people may have never had children, let alone a family.
To the “non-boomers,” I would say try to form relationships with someone older than you, whether it be a neighbor or professor. These people are full of knowledge and experience, and they want to share it with you. Some of them may share a common interest with you — you just have to invest time with them. Be slow to speak and eager to listen, because who knows what you’ll learn.
To the “boomers,” instead of saying, “When I was your age…” ask how you can help. Be open minded to new ideas and styles. Seek out these relationships as well, because there are a lot of lonely people in this world who could use a friend. Teach someone a skill, or share what you wish you had known earlier in life.
There’s a new generation of players on the rise, coming to meet the older players who paved the way. So with this new uprising of players, let’s embrace the new and respect the old.