Sporting acumen and raw talent aren’t the sole tenets of making it in the NFL! It takes discipline, drive, and a strong support system, along with a generous dose of talent to clinch the impossible dream. Many players enter the league in their early 20s, a time when most young adults are letting loose and enjoying their freedom. However, if you want to succeed in the NFL, that kind of lifestyle simply isn’t an option. So, how do players maintain the discipline needed to stay on course?

For many young athletes, coaches play a pivotal role. In the case of Xavier Hutchinson, a wide receiver for the Houston Texans, his foundation of discipline was instilled in him from an early age by his family. Where does this discipline come from?

Xavier was born in June 2000 in Jacksonville, Florida, to Denise and Trent Hutchinson, both of whom served in the Navy. Trent worked as a chef, while Denise dedicated her career to the medical field. Both parents have athletic backgrounds as well—Trent ran track at Georgia Southern while Denise played basketball at the University of Wisconsin. Their disciplined lifestyles undoubtedly influenced Hutchinson, shaping him into the dedicated athlete he is today.

Hutchinson appreciates his upbringing though. Describing their parenting style, he says “I wouldn’t say strict, but they were very disciplined. They knew what they wanted out of their son. They wanted me to be a well-rounded man, and, you know, someone that can contribute to society.” Xavier’s parents didn’t let him slack off which resulted in him being up bright and early in the morning. It didn’t matter if it was a school morning or not, the NFL player had stuff to do. No slacking off on “Sunday chores” in the Hutchinson household, that’s for sure!

When Hutchinson got to Iowa State, their running backs and wide receivers coach Nate Scheelhaase was all praise. “When he came here, you could see that he was on a mission. And I think that he was comfortable, being in a new environment, pushing himself, you know, allowing himself to just find ways to get better,” the coach said about Hutchinson. In large part, the coach would later attribute this driven yet relaxed attitude to the young man’s upbringing, and his parents’ support.

Does Hutchinson have a good year ahead of him with the Texans?

Hutchinson was a late draft pick in 2023, 205th overall in the 6th round. And Houston Texans already had a settled offense at the time, despite ranking just the 12th best in the league. So Hutchinson got to play in 16 games, though he didn’t start in a single one of them. He caught 8 receptions that season, for 90 yards with no touchdowns, though he did rush 49 yards too. He’s had a similar track record this year, with 5 receptions across 8 games for 64 yards, with a higher completion percentage.

The young man definitely has potential! And now with Stefon Diggs’ knee done in for the rest of the season, there’s a new slot open. Xavier Hutchinson would slot in very satisfactorily alongside Tank Dell and Robert Woods. The Houston Texans have been having a killer season so far, at 6-2. However, an offensive disruption, plugged in by a relatively unproven player, might bring problems. But we can hope that, given this chance to succeed, Hutchinson will grab it with both hands. Fingers are crossed for both Xavier Hutchinson and the Houston Texans campaign!

If you’d like to read more about the growth of young players in the league, and especially the new international outreach of the NFL, be sure to check out our latest think tank exclusive, featuring Emily and Erin Griffin.