As the Seattle Seahawks prep for Super Bowl LX, one story capturing national attention isn’t just about athletic performance – it focuses on leadership, resilience and character. At the center of that story is Jake Bobo, a 2023 Transformative Coaching and Leadership (TCL) program graduate whose journey from UCLA scholar-athlete to NFL wide receiver embodies the TCL mission: helping individuals lead with integrity, purpose and community impact.
A Journey of Perseverance and Principle
Bobo’s path to the NFL wasn’t the traditional highly-touted route. After playing at Duke, he transferred to Westwood, where he starred on the Bruins’ football team and completed his master’s degree – a moment few future NFL players prioritize amid the pressure of the sport. Even more surprisingly, in the 2023 NFL Draft, Bobo went unselected. Yet, his performance (and maturity) impressed Seattle’s coaches enough to earn him a roster invite that fall.
Bobo’s mindset – shaped in part by his leadership studies at UCLA – has translated into tangible success. His effort and preparation earned praise from teammates, and the phrase “More Bobo” has become a rallying cry of sorts in Seattle. The expression alludes to the energy, detail and reliability he’s known for.
Football on the Biggest Stage
In the 2025 NFC Championship Game, with a trip to this year’s Super Bowl berth on the line, Bobo made one of the most critical plays of his young career. On national television, quarterback Sam Darnold found the 27-year-old Bobo for a pivotal 17-yard touchdown pass, helping the Seahawks outlast the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, to advance to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara.
Leadership Beyond the Game
What sets Jake Bobo apart isn’t just his on-field versatility; it’s how he lives his values – a hallmark of TCL’s leadership focus.
In a heartfelt profile by The Boston Globe, Bobo shared how the lessons from his late father, Mike Bobo, inform the way he approaches football and life. The elder Bobo – a former Dartmouth receiver, coach and leader in youth sports – often told his son, “It’s bigger than ball.” That phrase has since become the guiding ethos of the Bigger Than Ball foundation, created by his family in his honor to support young athletes.
“We all loved football,” Jake Bobo told The Globe, “but he made sure we knew that football is what you do, not who you are.” That perspective – valuing character over scoreboard – resonates deeply with the principles cultivated in TCL, where leadership is defined not just by performance, but by how one treats others, overcomes adversity, and contributes to community.