Hard on Listening

Jeff Fisher shared a story at the 2026 Soldiers to Sidelines Summit about a cornerback who cost his Titans a football game. The player heard his assignment, said "I gotcha, coach," and got it completely wrong. That gap, between hearing and listening, is the subject of this episode.

Tex breaks down what actually separates the two, why "got it" from a captain is a reflex and not proof of anything, and what to do instead. That includes a teach-back method for high-pressure moments, a framework for building shared language with your leaders before the season starts, and a story Tex heard Jeff Fisher tell live, about a group of hearing-impaired kids who never missed a word.

Most people aren't hard of hearing. They're hard of listening. This episode is about closing that gap before it costs you a game, or a season.

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