Professional Sports

New York Giants

Summit Performance Strategies
"Mission First, Team Always"
2025-2026 Season

The Challenge

Breaking the cycle of defeat

The New York Giants faced a critical culture challenge during the 2025-2026 season. When games began slipping out of reach, the team felt the creeping mentality of "here we go again"—a mindset that threatened performance, unity, and resilience.

Veteran players and newly added experienced leaders recognized the need for a stronger cultural foundation and established a Leadership Council to unify the team's voice and set the tone across the roster.

  • !
    Unified Messaging Ensuring every player—from seasoned veterans to rookies—received and lived the same cultural expectations.
  • !
    Moment-to-Moment Resilience Needing a single, powerful keyword that athletes could call on to mentally, physically, and emotionally re-engage during high-pressure moments.
  • !
    Rookie Integration Getting first-year players to not only understand but fully buy into the Giants' mission of competing for a Super Bowl by aligning their behaviors, communication, and responses.

Our Solution

Building championship culture from within

Establish a Cultural Anchor

Work with the Leadership Council to identify a keyword serving as the team's mental reset—something short, actionable, and universally understood on and off the field.

Leadership Council Empowerment

Train veteran leaders to deliver consistent messaging, model desired behaviors, and hold teammates accountable in real time.

Rookie Buy-In Framework

Implement onboarding sessions connecting rookies to the Giants' mission, values, and cultural non-negotiables—tying daily actions to the ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.

Mission Alignment Under Stress

Run situational drills and experiential leadership exercises designed to simulate high-pressure scenarios and reinforce the use of the keyword to lock in mentally, physically, and emotionally.

The Results

From "here we go again" to "we're not done yet"

🎯
Unified Language
Every player could immediately recall and act on the team's keyword during moments of adversity, leading to faster emotional recovery and sharper execution.
🤝
Stronger Cohesion
First-year players demonstrated improved discipline, communication, and resilience, matching veteran standards earlier in the season.
⬆️
Elevated Accountability
The Leadership Council became a trusted driver of culture, allowing the coaching staff to focus more on strategy while players policed standards.
💪
Culture Shift in Action
In late-game scenarios that previously led to collapse, the Giants maintained composure, fought back, and competed until the final whistle.
"

Summit Performance Strategies helped us transform our mindset from accepting defeat to expecting excellence. The culture shift was immediate and measurable.

— Giants Leadership Council

The Bottom Line

The New York Giants proved that championship culture isn't built on talent alone—it's forged through unified language, empowered leadership, and the unwavering belief that no game is over until the clock hits zero. By transforming "here we go again" into "we're not done yet," they created a resilient culture ready to compete at the highest level.

Build Your Championship Culture

Transform your team's mindset with Mission First, Team Always