How Faith Relieved NFL Pressure for This Jaguars Chaplain

Published: June 3, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

For Maurice Williams, a former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman and current Jaguars chaplain, his life changed when he began to serve God and not man.

“It’s like everything you do, do it as unto the Lord, not as unto men. Like, men will let you down all the time. And so I learned that in my playing career, it’s like, you know what, I can’t please this coach, man. He got a standard that is probably not pleasable,” Williams told Matt Forte on the “Sports Spectrum” podcast.

“So I’m gonna give everything I have, and I’m gonna leave all the stuff that could worry me. Is he gonna bring it back next year? Was that good enough to make it to the Pros, all those Pro Bowls. All those different thoughts that I may have, and I just throw them to the side and say, ‘You know what, Lord, I’m playing for an audience of one,'” the chaplain continued.

Williams preaches the same thing he learned in the NFL to all the players he currently shepherds.

“And then when I talk to the guys, I’m like, you’re worshiping, you’re playing for an audience of one, and that’s where we keep the focus, because trying to focus on all the guys in the barbershop, all the guys on TikTok, it brings almost a heaviness trying to please all these different people,” he explained. “You’ll never do it, and it’s even for me as a preacher, missionary, coach — I gotta recognize this: all I can do is give my best, like, ‘God, I’ll give my best, and I trust you to help bless that, and if that’s not enough, then I’m okay with it.'”

In February, Williams released a new book, When the Game is Gone: Transitioning to Life after Sports with Faith, Purpose, and Identity, which became a “#1 New Release in Religious Leadership on Amazon,” Williams celebrated on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

The book gives readers a “powerful and practical guide for navigating life beyond athletics. Drawing from his own journey and years of mentoring athletes, he addresses the real challenges competitors face, including identity loss, mental and emotional struggles, financial decisions, relationships, and discovering a new mission in life,” a synopsis reads.

Whether through his locker room mentorship or his written words, Williams’ message remains steadfast: true success is found not in the applause of the crowd but in living entirely for an audience of one — God.

Questions or comments? Please write to us here.