Football season is here, and whether you’re tailgating at the stadium or watching from your backyard, the food and the fun go hand in hand. At Backyard Texas Grill we’re here to make sure you have everything you need.
To get you hyped for kickoff, we’ve rounded up 75 of the best football quotes—funny, inspirational, and perfect for sharing. You can share these when you’ve hovering over that Trager grill, keeping on eye on thse brisket or ribs.
And speaking of great food: because game day isn’t complete without great eats, we’ve paired each section with one of our favorite recipes sure to make your game day guests happy.
Legendary Coaches & Motivation
Every team needs a good pep talk—these quotes bring the energy before kickoff.
- “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get back up.” — Vince Lombardi
- “A champion is simply someone who did not give up when they wanted to.” — Tom Landry
- “Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.” — Vince Lombardi
- “You can’t win together if you don’t work together.” — Joe Paterno
- “When you don’t give up, you cannot fail.” — Adrian Peterson
- “Success isn’t owned. It’s leased. And rent is due every day.” — J.J. Watt
- “Don’t give up at half time. Concentrate on winning the second half.” — Bear Bryant
- “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” — Vince Lombardi
- “The harder the battle, the bigger the victory.”
- “Do your job and trust the guy next to you to do his.”
Let’s Eat! Just like a great coach keeps his team on the ball, we’re here to make sure you’ve got great recipes on the big day. We’re sure you’re going to love our Texas-Style Smoked Beef Brisket, perfect for a football-themed party.
Game Day Spirit
From tailgates to touchdowns, these sayings capture the heart of game day.
- “It’s a great day for football.”
- “New season. New team. One dream.”
- “Play like a champion today.”
- “Every day is game day.”
- “Tailgate to touchdown: the perfect day.”
- “Football is not just a game, it’s an attitude.”
- “The roar of the crowd is the best soundtrack.”
- “Gotta stay in to win.”
- “Keep calm and tackle on.”
- “Game day vibes only.”
Let’s Eat! You know how it is. Game Day wouldn’t be game day without all of that food. While your guests are hollering at the TV, you can pass off these delicious Butter Burgers, sure to make everyone happy, no matter which team wins!
Tailgating Fun
Football may be the main event, but tailgating is half the fun—food, friends, and plenty of cheer.
- “Good friends, cold drinks, hot grill—perfect tailgate.”
- “Tailgating is my cardio.”
- “Kickoff is just the appetizer.”
- “Grill, chill, and cheer.”
- “Eat, drink, and cheer loud.”
- “Happiness is a full plate and a fourth quarter lead.”
- “Life needs more tailgates and touchdowns.”
- “You had me at kickoff snacks.”
- “Some go for the game, I go for the food.”
- “Tailgate now, nap later.”
Let’s Eat! When you’re tailgating, food needs to be easy to handle, which is why we love this Smoked Brisket Queso. Prep it in advance and take it with you, then pull out that bag of chips for everyone to enjoy. (Yum!)
Winning Mindset
When the pressure is on, these quotes remind us what it takes to fight for the win.
- “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
- “Work hard, hit hard, play hard, win easy.”
- “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.” — Joe Paterno
- “The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.” — Bear Bryant
- “You learn a line from a win and a book from a defeat.” — Paul Brown
- “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.” — Vince Lombardi
- “Don’t let the scoreboard define you.”
- “Every yard counts.”
- “Focus on the goal line, not the sidelines.”
- “Defeat is temporary, pride is forever.”
Let’s Eat! Always a crowd pleaser, these St. Louis Style Pork Ribs are going to be perfect for your next game day gathering. Better buy extra, because folks are going to keep coming back for more.
Lighthearted & Funny Football Quotes
Because game day isn’t all serious—sometimes the laughs are the best plays of all.
- “Football is like life—it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.” — Vince Lombardi
- “Fantasy football: where my coaching career begins and ends.”
- “Sundays are for football and food.”
- “The only running I do is to the snack table at halftime.”
- “Football without tailgating is like a burger without cheese.”
- “A balanced diet is a burger in each hand on game day.”
- “There are two seasons: football season and waiting for football season.”
- “My favorite football position? Reclined with nachos.”
- “Some watch for the plays, I’m here for the trays.”
- “Win or lose, we still booze.”
Let’s Eat! Your guests are going to go crazy over this Smoked Candied Bacon. Is it an appetizer? Is it a dessert? Trust me when I say no one will care. It’s perfect, any time of day.
Team Spirit & Togetherness
Football is about more than points—it’s about teamwork, unity, and cheering together.
- “One team, one heartbeat.” — Nick Saban
- “Great teams are built on trust.”
- “Together, everyone achieves more.”
- “No player is greater than the team.”
- “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
- “We rise by lifting others.”
- “Play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.”
- “The team that blocks together, rocks together.”
- “We’re not just teammates, we’re family.”
- “Leave it all on the field.”
Let’s Eat! Bring bold flavor to the table with Cheesy Potatoes and Bacon! This rich, creamy casserole bakes up golden and bubbly—an irresistible side for backyard BBQs or game day feasts.
Sweet Victory & Celebration
- “Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” — Vince Lombardi
- “Act like you’ve been there before.” — Barry Sanders
- “Celebrate every win, big or small.”
- “Victory tastes sweeter with friends.”
- “Score first, snack second.”
- “The party doesn’t end at the final whistle.”
- “Championships are won one play at a time.”
- “The scoreboard tells the story, but the tailgate writes the legend.”
- “Good games end with great food.”
- “Touchdowns & desserts make the sweetest endings.”
- “Winning is the only thing!” — Red Sanders
- “Raise your glass, the team kicked … class.”
- “A win on the field, a win at the grill.”
- “Scoreboards fade, memories last forever.”
- “Every game ends in a victory when the food is this good.”
Let’s Eat! A cast-iron skillet, a few simple ingredients, and the heat from your grill come together for a Cast Iron Peach Dump Cake with a golden crust, bubbling fruit, and just a hint of smoke. It’s proof that the best desserts don’t have to come out of an oven.
Thanks for joining us for a little football fun! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just here for the tailgate, these quotes (and our favorite game day recipes) are sure to be a touchdown. Fire up the grill, gather your crew, and let’s make this football season one to remember!
Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?
About the Pit Master
About the Pit Master
Zach is the pit master behind Backyard Texas Grill and a lifelong football fan who believes game day is as much about the food as it is about the score. When he’s not tending the smoker or pulling a cast-iron dessert off the fire, you’ll find him cheering for his favorite team with a plate full of BBQ in hand. For Zach, every great game deserves great food—and every recipe should be a touchdown.