Heck, I've had similar circumstances in my own career where some situations are set up for a role to succeed and others would require almost a miracle for someone in a given role to succeed. It happens all the time. People give way more credit to themselves and way too little credit to good fortune.

Talent and work can overcome some circumstances, but many circumstances are virtually no-win situations. In pro sports those no-win situations can doom a short, hyper competitive, highly political job opportunity.