Football player shares humor about how his mom's competitive spirit helped shape his own and ultimately led to his success.

As he spoke to reporters on May 10th, rookie player Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions opened up about the unique role his mother, Tamala, played in his football career. In honor of Mother's Day, Arnold shared how their competitive relationship has helped shape him into the athlete he is today.

According to Arnold, his competitive nature stems from his mother and aunt, but it was his mom who really pushed him to be the best. "Even as a kid, when I used to beat my mom at racing, I had to continually beat her," Arnold revealed, as reported by Pride of Detroit. "We used to fight when I was younger, just wrestling and playing around. Like, man, I'll never forget one time my mom kicked my tooth out because we were going at it so hard."

Their competitive dynamic runs deep, as Arnold even joked about how he would "jam" his mom if she lined up as a receiver on the football field. "If my mom was out here right now and lined up across from me as a receiver, I would jam her into the dirt," the 21-year-old admitted. "That's just my mindset. And my mom knows that. Football-wise, that's just the way that I think, and the way that I was brought up."

As Arnold prepares for his first NFL season with the Lions, he hopes to bring that same feistiness and determination to the field. But despite their competitive nature, the love between mother and son remains strong. During the scouting combine earlier this year, Arnold shared a heartfelt message to his mother on the NFL Network, as re-shared by Yahoo Sports.

"Mom, if you're watching this right now, your son just wants to say how proud he is of you," Arnold expressed. "I just want to say, Tamela Arnold, I love you and I'm blessed to have you as a mom. You overcame a lot and with that being said, I'm gonna continue to keep shining. Just how you raised me to be. I'll never forget where I came from."

As the NFL season approaches, Arnold is ready to take on whatever challenges come his way, thanks to the unwavering support and competitive spirit instilled in him by his mother. And as Women Raise The Game celebrates "The Backbone" of the NFL, it's clear that Arnold's mother played a crucial role in shaping him into the player he is today.

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