Today the ESPN ticker stated that Brett Favre would listen if the Chicago Bears wanted to talk football. The Bears are without starting QB Jay Cutler and they need help.  Could the NFL’s Iron Man, Hall of Fame bound, 42 year old retired Brett Favre be considering football again? Maybe that’s no surprise to sports fans. It seems like Brett Favre can’t do anything else.

I wonder why he can’t leave it alone.

I remember when Aaron Rodgers was sitting in a holding pattern. As long as Favre was still playing with the Packers, backup QB Rodgers was never going to get any playing time. Skeptics said that Rodgers would never measure up. “He’ll forever live in Favre’s shadow” they declared. As long as Rodgers was the second string QB we would never know.

Currently Rodgers is leading the Packers on a run to NFL playoffs. Rodgers is great. Rodgers is awesome. Rodgers is….the list goes on and on. The Packers are undefeated and no one is talking about Favre.

That is until the ESPN ticker.

Sometimes as leaders we don’t know when to let it go. When elected to positions or given certain responsibilities we take it as a life long appointment. We’ve been successful, we reaped accolades, everyone knows we’re good – but we still can’t let go.

Waiting in the wings is another leader. Maybe someone younger, someone stronger, someone faster, someone better. Someone who will never get a chance as long as we’re in the way.

I’m learning that it’s ok if you step away.

Your legacy will remain in tact.

Your contributions will continue to be noted.

Everyone will remember the difference you made.

But maybe its time to let go.

Consider the areas when you can stop taking the lead and start cheering on the next leader.