To believe in oneself is a powerful thought.
We've seen it drive elite athletes for centuries.
It's been the foundation of one of the most successful shows in recent history, Ted Lasso. And for over 25 years, I’ve heard quarterbacks use that word - belief - time and time again.
At my core, I trust that the best coaches, players, and performers must face moments of adversity. Hundreds of them. They must stare it in the eye, welcome it, and compete through it. We all have our own moments to reference. And if you’re a quarterback, you likely have a few that stand out. It’s such a defining trait that we use it as a core pillar at the Elite 11 when evaluating QBs. Every single NFL coach or GM I’ve ever spoken with about a prospect asks about it.
Bottom line: If you want to elevate in life - or under center - when adversity shows up, you better believe you can find a way through it.
Former Minnesota Golden Gopher quarterback Max Brosmer is a blueprint of that mindset. He joined the latest episode of Y-Option, presented by founding partner 76, to break down the ‘why’ behind his success.
I was introduced to Max through Seth Makowsky, an elite mindset coach and the founder of Poison Pawn. Seth has trained some of the top quarterbacks in the nation through chess, using a unique approach to developing their mental game.
After visiting with Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck and co-offensive coordinator/QB coach Greg Harbaugh Jr. this past fall, it was clear that Max was a special soul. A player whose work ethic stood out in my 25 years around the quarterback position and in the lengthy coaching careers of both Fleck and Harbaugh Jr.
He’s also a gamer.
I was on the call for back-to-back wins for Minnesota this season against USC and UCLA. In both games, with the outcome on the line, Max met the moment. After you listen to our conversation, it won’t surprise you why he delivered when his best was needed.
Now, Max is on his path toward the NFL Draft. Ahead of his Pro Day this week, he took time to share some of his core principles as a competitor, the impact of the Minnesota coaching staff on his development, and his experience in the draft process. He also gave some insight into his former team’s QB room as spring ball in Minneapolis kicks off this week. (Spoiler: He did the interview from Drake Lindsey’s apartment.)
If you’re unfamiliar with Max’s journey, here’s the quick version: He was a 2-star recruit out of Georgia who’s only offer was to New Hampshire, ranked the 255th overall QB prospect in the Class of 2019—the same class that produced Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels. Think about that for a second. Max was ranked 255th at his position in the entire country, and in six weeks, he’ll be on an NFL roster! Safe to say that Ted Lasso would be impressed with his personal belief.
Max went on to star at New Hampshire, overcoming injuries and adversity along the way. Through it all, Max never flinched. His maturity and discipline became defining traits. Once his football acumen caught up to his work ethic, he made his dream a reality - playing college football in the Big Ten.
For high school quarterbacks and college players chasing a dream, this is a must-listen conversation. And if you’re curious about what it’s like to play for Coach Fleck and Coach Harbaugh, our discussion paints a vivid picture that might just inspire you to visit their facility.
Speaking of learning, today’s Y-Option discussion before our interview with Max focused on the quarterback position in the Big Ten for 2025. After diving into depth charts, film on new transfers, and incoming freshmen, my focus settled on the returners in the deepest league in the nation. What should Year 2 look like in the same system with the same staff?
If you’re on the QB path, be sure to check out our conversation with Mark Sanchez on what allows a quarterback to succeed in the NFL. It’s one of my favorite episodes from Season 1 of Y-Option.
I’m on my way to Boulder for the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic, and I’ll be sharing insights on the Buffs, Elite 11 in LA, and spring ball as it ramps up nationwide. Be sure to subscribe to Y-Option’s newsletter for all our content this spring.
Much love and stay steady.
Yogi
This episode is executive produced by Jim Thornby and edited by Victor Ren
This podcast is a Best Coast Media production
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