In the world of competitive sports, athletes often turn to unique rituals to prepare for games. For Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, one of the most unconventional pregame traditions comes from none other than his mom.
Before every game, Leonard receives a text message from her that’s far from the usual words of encouragement most athletes might expect. Instead, it’s a blunt and funny insult, often starting with something like, “You suck!”
Why Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard Embraces His Mom’s Brutal Game Day Texts
Before every game, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard gets the same blunt message from his mother, Heather: “You suck.” While it might sound harsh, it’s actually a unique motivational tactic that goes back to his high school days in Fairhope, Ala.
Leonard, a former All-State quarterback and a standout in basketball and track at Fairhope High, revealed the backstory in an ESPN interview and later expanded on it during a chat with Barstool’s Jon Gruden. The tradition started when Leonard got tired of hearing nonstop praise from people around him. Coming from a small town, he was constantly being told how talented he was — and eventually, he needed a different kind of push.
“In high school, right? I come from a small town. Everybody would always tell me how good I was all the time. And I really got tired of it,” Leonard said in his Barstool interview. “I want people to criticize me because it gives me a lot of motivation.”
He even wears a wristband that says “you suck,” a gift from his mom, as a reminder to stay hungry and grounded. According to Leonard, he encouraged his mom to keep the critiques coming. “So I told that to my mom, and she was like, ‘Dude, I’ll tell you, you suck.’”
I had to get to the bottom of these wristbands that Riley Leonard wears… they say ‘You Suck’ on them!
I’ve never seen anything like that before! pic.twitter.com/G4uAaPKGBF
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 9, 2025
What started as a tongue-in-cheek jab quickly turned into a full-blown tradition. Heather Leonard explained her reasoning: “It lets him know, as much as I’m telling him, ‘You suck,’ I’m also kinda telling him that I love you and I’m behind you and I’m supporting you.”
Leonard began his college football career at Duke, where he helped make the Blue Devils competitive in the ACC. After transferring to Notre Dame, he brought his talent and that unmistakable edge. Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman says the now-famous “You suck” texts speak volumes about Leonard’s mindset.
“When I heard that, it’s a reminder to me of why he’s so competitive,” Freeman said. “And whatever it is that she’s doing, and whatever that text means to him, it’s getting him to play at a high level.”
Leonard doesn’t just handle criticism — he thrives on it. “I like to be coached hard,” he said. “Every chance you can, just get after me, dog me on tape. I need to get better.”
What might sound like harsh parenting is actually a form of tough love — and a strategy that’s helped shape one of college football’s most intriguing quarterbacks.