NFL Coach Troy Walters Says Faith In God Was Instrumental In Bengals’ 2021 Super Bowl Run

Published: July 19, 2022

NFL Coach Troy Walters Says Faith In God Was Instrumental In Bengals’ 2021 Super Bowl Run

By Movieguide® Staff

The Cincinnati Bengals shocked the NFL after their 2021 run to Super Bowl LVI. Despite their loss to the LA Rams, the Bengals’ wide receivers coach, Troy Walters, said that he felt blessed by God for the opportunity.

“Last year was a phenomenal season. It was truly a blessing. The journey, the process, I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Troy Walters said on a recent episode of the Sports Spectrum podcast. “It’s truly a blessing if you get to the Super Bowl. It’s really God’s hand involved in it. To stay healthy the entire year, it was a blessing and a great opportunity to play in the biggest game in the world.”

Troy, who played college at Stanford University and later in the NFL for four different teams, pointed out how lessons in football reflect some of the lessons of faith.

“I’m blessed to be a coach. I kind of equate coaching to faith, in that, once you go out onto the field, it’s out of my hands. Some things you gotta let go, leave it up to God, it’s in his hands. Do what God has called you to do, and just have faith, understanding that God is in the midst, and he’s working it all out.”

The Bengals coach is vocal about his faith and credited God for their 2021 run, despite the ups and downs of the season.

“Don’t ever limit God, don’t ever put Him in a box. Expect more. God can blow our minds, but we gotta have that attitude,” he said. “But sometimes I think we limit God, we put him in a box. Our God is a big God, and he can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or think. And that’s what he did. Not only on the field but off the field.”

“My son was born, lost oxygen during birth and he was in the children’s hospital for ten days. He’s four months old now, fine no issues. God just blew our mind even in that situation. That is the expectancy that I have, that we serve an awesome God, we serve a big God, and He’s able to do things that we can’t even imagine.”

However, Walters said that faith was not always the top priority in his life.

“I grew up in a football family. I also grew up in the Church. In highschool I knew a lot about God, I knew a lot about religion, but I didn’t have a personal relationship,” he recalled. “I didn’t put him first. For me it was all about being the best football player, or the most popular guy, see how many girls I could have, that was my focus.”

“It’s funny how God’s hand, and his protection, and his favor, led me to Stanford, because I didn’t have very many offers coming out of High School,” he continued. “When I went to Stanford, now I’m on my own, I didn’t have to go to Church, my parents didn’t force me to do anything. So Sundays I am sleeping in, I am watching the NFL on TV. But there was a big void.”

However, God used Walter’s first year of independence to teach him that dependence on Christ is the only thing that matters.

“The things that I put first God began to take those away. It was empty. Freshman year there was a void, emptiness. [But] I started meeting with Jim Stump, our spiritual chaplain at the time, and we just started getting in the word and he showed me what a true, personal relationship with Jesus Christ meant, what it looked like,” he said. “In my freshman year that’s when I rededicated my life to Christ. It’s been a journey ever since.”

Over the course of his sanctification process, Walters said that he became more aware of God’s grace throughout his life.

“He always wanted me to have Him first, put Him first, and make sure I had the right priorities in place. Faith is a journey. There are ups and downs, there’s struggles, you fall, but you get up and God provides that grace for you to get up,” he said. “That is what you learn in a relationship, it’s a relationship. And now that I have kids, looking back, God is so gracious. When we do fall, when we do turn our backs, just like a loving father, He’s right there to welcome us back. It’s been a tremendous journey.”

Now, faith is his number one, even over football.

“It’s number one,” Walters said. “My faith is my foundation. Without my faith in Jesus Christ, then I’m nothing. I can do nothing without him. So that’s what fuels me andI really see coaching as a calling, as a gift from God. He’s put me in a great opportunity, he put people around me to touch, to speak life into, to nurture and so that’s what I see this as. He’s been good to me and I wouldn’t be here without him. So it’s number one in my life and I want people to know that and I try to live my life reflective of that.”

Still remember like it was yesterday…4 vertical hole shot vs cover 2. Safety couldn’t get over in time #ToeTap #MyLastNFLTD #GBR🔴🌽 pic.twitter.com/H6fy2KjMci

— Troy Walters® (@CoachWalters1) May 17, 2018

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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.