The envelope sat unopened for months, quietly tucked away on a desk at Rogers Centre. When John Schneider finally read it, the message inside hit harder than he expected – a note from one championship coach to another, connecting two of the most painful Game 7 losses in sports.
The letter, written by Steve Kerr, offered perspective after the Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a heartbreaking World Series finale.
Steve Kerr’s letter helps Blue Jays manager process World Series heartbreak
John Schneider didn’t see the letter until after spring training, despite it being written the day after Toronto’s Game 7 loss. Once he opened it, the impact was immediate.
“As I read it, I was like, ‘holy s***,'” Schneider said.
Kerr, who led the Golden State Warriors through their own devastating Game 7 loss in the 2016 NBA Finals, reached out after watching Schneider‘s leadership during the World Series. Despite not knowing him personally, Kerr felt compelled to share his experience.
“I don’t know you,” Kerr wrote, “but I felt compelled to reach out after watching your incredible leadership on display during the World Series.”
The connection between the two moments is striking. Kerr referenced the Warriors’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, a series that ended after Golden State surrendered a 3-1 lead. For Kerr, the emotional toll of that defeat became a defining lesson in leadership and resilience.
“The pain [in 2016] was real,” Kerr wrote. “But what always survives through the tough losses is the character and connection of the group. The loss won’t define you, but the way you and your guys carried themselves afterwards will.”
That message resonated deeply with Schneider, who has spent the offseason reinforcing a similar mindset within his clubhouse. Toronto’s World Series run showcased the team’s growth, but the ending left a lingering sense of unfinished business.
Instead of letting the loss define them, Schneider has emphasized response over result.
“It was the message we’ve been preaching all offseason and in spring,” he said. “The run was great, and the heartbreak was real, but it’s not going to define who we are.”
The timing of the letter-discovered months after it was written-added an unexpected layer of meaning. It arrived not in the immediate aftermath of defeat, but during the process of moving forward, when reflection often carries more clarity.
Kerr‘s outreach also highlights a broader dynamic across professional sports. Coaches at the highest level often share a unique understanding of pressure, leadership, and loss-regardless of the sport. Moments like these reveal how those experiences can transcend leagues, offering perspective when it’s needed most.
For Schneider, the validation mattered.
“If he can see the good in what we did, it kind of gives you a little bit of reassurance that you’re preaching the right things,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays enter the new season with both motivation and perspective. The pain of falling short remains, but so does the belief that their identity will be shaped by how they respond.
And thanks to an unexpected letter from a coach who’s been through it before, that path forward feels a little clearer.
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