Faced with the temptation that comes with NFL stardom, Chad Lewis ─ a former BYU standout ─ turned to the music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for strength.
As an NFL all-pro playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Lewis blasted the sounds of the choir each day on his way to practice and games. His goal was to surround himself with a positive influence to help him thwart off the bad.
“I believe that if you put yourself in an environment of great things it will have a powerful and positive effect on you,” Lewis said. “Throughout my life I’ve made it a goal to surround myself with great music, friends, family, teammates, and coaches.”
Lewis has chronicled what he’s learned from some of football’s greatest in his new book ─ Surround Yourself With Greatness. The book takes readers inside the life of a BYU football player and NFL star. It includes lessons Lewis learned from other BYU greats, like head coach LaVell Edwards, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, as well as other NFL stars including Donovan McNabb, Jon Gruden, and Andy Reid.
Lewis had the opportunity to play for BYU coach LaVell Edwards after making the team as a walk on after serving a two year mission in Taiwan.
"I’ve never heard LaVell speak of another person with disparaging words,” Lewis said. “His genius was loving people.”
After four successful seasons as a BYU tight end, Lewis sought to make the NFL. Steve Young, coming off a season as the NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, took Lewis under his wing and taught him the importance of preparation.
Those valuable lessons paid off at the professional level with Lewis making the NFL pro bowl three consecutive seasons and while helping the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl.
“We live in a world of relationships that are dynamic,” Lewis said. “We need each other. We need to choose, with conscious awareness, to open our eyes, heart, and mind to the great people who elevate life that are all around us.”
Surround Yourself With Greatness is available at Deseret Book, and at bookstores nationwide.