5 Faith-Filled Athletes To Keep An Eye On In The Upcoming Super Bowl
By Movieguide® Staff
One of the most-watched events of the year is the annual NFL Super Bowl, which pits the league’s two best teams against each other to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Los Angeles Rams will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI this year. Despite the world stage, many players use the time in the national spotlight to glorify God and credit their success to their Christian faith.
Although many play and coach for more than just a trophy, here is a list of five NFL players vocal about their gratitude to God.
1. Cooper Kupp – LA Rams
At 28 years old, Kupp won the triple crown for receivers and led the NFL in total receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns during the regular season. The Rams finished the regular season atop the NFC West with a 12-5 record.
Despite his NFL resume, Kupp’s outlook on football and life comes from his faith in God. After defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend, Kupp wore a hat from his clothing line that read: “Do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
The phrase is inspired by 1 Corinthians 9:25, that reads: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Kupp referenced Proverbs 16:9 in a post-game press conference early in the season.
“The verse that was on my mind was, ‘The heart of man chooses his path but the Lord establishes his steps,’” he said. “It just gave me so much freedom to go out there and play free, give everything I had [and] know the results rested in Him.”
2. Trey Hendrickson – Cincinnati Bengals
Hendrickson, who had a career season this year, hopes to mitigate the Rams’ high-octane offense and bring the Bengals the victory.
Hendrickson earned his first Pro-Bowl selection, and he thanked Christ for his success this season.
“It’s a tremendous achievement,” he told the Dayton Daily News. “I’ve worked very hard for it, but I mean, feel like I’m just really thankful and I give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. … It’s an emotional experience. You sacrifice a lot to play the game and to get recognition like that means a lot to me.”
“Through adversity, inactive, dealing with injuries, you have to keep that faith,” Hendrickson told WAFB 9. “… Good things happen when you keep the faith. Keep moving forward. You never doubt yourself. For one, everything I do, my wife is behind the scenes doing a great job supporting me. Together it’s faith. I’m telling you, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. Everything is coming together off the field, so it’s coming together on it.”
3. Evan McPherson – Cincinnati Bengals
In his rookie year in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson has four game-winning field goals.
However, none were more important than his 52-yard boot as time expired, which lifted the Bengals past the top-seeded Titans in a 19-16 victory.
McPherson’s field goal earned the Bengals organization their first-ever road playoff win and first trip to the AFC championship since 1988.
Despite his late-game heroics, McPherson donned a “God is good” T-shirt after the win.
On Instagram, McPherson often posts scripture. After the Bengals’ win on Saturday, he posted Psalm 34:8, which reads, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Before his senior year, the former Florida Gator entered the 2021 NFL draft.
“For Him, Through Him, Because of Him!” McPherson tweeted. “‘Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.’ Proverbs 16:3 || I’m excited for the next chapter of my life! Go Gators!!”
4. Johnny Hekker – LA Rams
Team captain and leader of the Rams’ special teams, John Hekkar, brings veteran prowess to the young team.
Hekkar suited up in 2018 for the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, but his team lost 13-3. Despite the loss, Hekkar turned toward scripture and his faith in God.
“The depth of knowledge that you get from actually opening up the Word and reading it, and just the experience that you get the more you sit down and really practice that [is amazing],” he said. “Praying at night with my wife [Makayla], and we have a son now, so just kind of the perspective of a Father’s love that you get from having your own children is incredible to see. I could just sit there and stare at him all day, and that’s how God the Creator sees us, so it’s a very moving perspective to have.”
5. Michael Thomas – Cincinnati Bengals
At the start of the season, defensive end Michael Thomas did not have a team. However, the Bengals picked up Thomas on Oct. 5, midway through the season.
Now, the nine-year NFL vet expressed his thankfulness to God and the organization for the opportunity to play.
“God’s plans are far greater than ours, man … I wasn’t signed anywhere but I wasn’t stressing,” Thomas said on an episode of the Sports Spectrum Podcast to be released this week. “I knew God had a plan for me regardless of what that is, but I was very content and ready to transition if I needed to.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
