I got a little emotional as I watched the 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony on TV. Colorado standout Travis Hunter won the award and spoke from the heart in his acceptance speech. He spoke straight to his father, praising him for all he’d done in his life. It got to me. Dads matter so much in the lives of their kids, and the entire college football fanbase got to hear it directly from the nation’s best player. I posted on X, “Sometimes circumstances will prevent you from being present the way you desire but always fight fight fight to be in your children’s lives.”

If you haven’t heard it lately, you matter as a dad. Nobody can fill your shoes. Nobody will have the kind of influence you can have on your kids. You matter. There are seemingly endless reasons why fathers are important, but let’s focus on the big ones. Here are 5 reasons you matter as a dad.

1. No one can replace you.

I have played for some legendary coaches in my life. Mark Richt, Bill Belichick, Sean Payton, and John Harbaugh just to name a few. But none of them compares to my dad. He taught me what it means to be a man who prioritizes faith and family. We’ve taken mission trips together. He cares for my kids. I look to him for guidance in all areas of life. If he hadn’t been around, I have no idea what my life would look like today. Yes, my coaches taught me a lot about football, but my dad taught me everything about life. You have the chance to make this same impact on your kids because all dads matter.

2. Your kids look up to you, like it or not.

The world is eager to influence your kids. Beat the world to the punch and set the bar high for your family. Whatever matters to you will probably matter to your kids. So, take your role as a family leader seriously. Live with integrity. Model maturity. Be honest, caring, and generous. They are watching the way you treat and speak to others and taking note of the places you go and ways you spend your money. Envision what you’d like your kids to look like, act like, and live like in the future, and then be that person today.

3. They may be married one day.

Kirsten and I have been married for over two decades. We don’t always get it right, but we try to love each other well every day. I want my kids to see that I care about my wife, lead her, love her, and would do anything for her. My sons may be husbands one day. My daughters may be wives. Showing them how to act as a husband and what to expect from a husband is the ultimate gift. Like I said, I’m not perfect, but my kids are always watching, and I want the lessons they learn from my relationship with Kirsten to be encouraging examples.

4. They’ll act like you.

Coach Belichick was big on discipline. He was always focused on eliminating mistakes and minimizing penalties. We were with him so much that we began adopting that mindset. Likewise, kids tend to act like their dads. It’s likely they will spend more time with you than any other man in their lifetime. So, set the bar high for yourself, for your kids’ sake. Don’t lie or cheat. Be teachable. Don’t live in a way that would call your character into question. If you wouldn’t want your kids behaving a certain way, don’t do it yourself.

5. It’s one of your highest callings.

I’ve done plenty of interviews, played in the Super Bowl, and signed plenty of autographs. None of those things top my calling to be an attentive husband and father. There is nothing in your life that can outweigh your role with your kids. Dads matter more to families than CEOs matter to companies. When we get our priorities out of order, we risk neglecting our role as a dad. Making money is great. We all want to be successful in our jobs. But your highest calling is to take care of your wife and kids.

Sound off: What has been your best fatherhood-related memory so far?

Source: All Pro Dad here