Princely Umanmielen #3 of the Carolina Panthers looks on in the game against the Miami Dolphins at Bank of America Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/Getty Images)
By Mallory Mattingly
Carolina Panthers players Jonathon Brooks and Princely Umanmielen made their public declaration of faith through baptism.
The teammates were both baptized on Sunday at Vizion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The team that prays together, stays together. #Panthers teammates Jonathon Brooks and Princely Umanmielen were baptized today; Chuba Hubbard was also in attendance to support.
📸 @GriffinZett pic.twitter.com/rbdmm9rAVE— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) April 27, 2026
This baptism is pivotal for Brooks following two ACL tears.
Related: Carolina Panthers Head Coach Relies on Faith in New Role
“Dear God…I trust in your plan,” Brooks wrote after he tore his ACL for the second time.
“It’s like an emotional roller coaster,” he told Panthers.com after last season. “But you know, truthfully, I know that God has a plan for me and I know that He makes no mistakes and He’s using my story to show the world the amazing things He can do, and so I’m set on that.”
“When you’re a believer, it’s not just God’s part. It’s not just God’s side of things; you have to go out, and you have to do,” he continued. “You can’t just sit back and expect God to do it for you. You have to kind of meet Him in the middle, trust that He has a plan, but you also have to put in the work.”
Brooks has just been cleared to return to the field.
“I’ve been cleared by my surgeon,” he said on Tuesday, per the Charlotte Observer. “[Panthers vice president of health and performance] Denny [Kellington] and the training staff and the coaches have a plan for me. And, you know, just going off what they tell me to do. And just taking it how it is, you know. Just getting better every day still — and yeah, I’m cleared to go.”
“Obviously, it’s something that I have to work on, but yeah, I feel close to 100%. I’m getting there — still going with the plan they have for me,” he added.
Umanmielen, on the other hand, has had a different journey through the NFL, but he’s still kept his faith a central part of his career.
In fact, his faith dates all the back to when he played at Ole Miss.
“Just keeping my trust in Jesus Christ and God. Just actually giving myself a routine, [too],” he told TheRebelWalk.com in 2024. “On some days I might not leave the facility until — I’ll go home during the day, but then I’ll come back around 6 or 7 — 9-9:30. Just keeping the routine and keeping my trust and having a good relationship with God.”
His mother played a major role in his faith.
“Throughout these four years, my mom won’t let me go into a game without calling me and praying for me,” Umanmielen told the outlet. “That was a big thing. I think this season I really took it upon myself to find a closer relationship with God rather than just having my mom pray for me all the time. I really took it upon myself to make changes to my life so I can have that closer relationship to God. I still call her to this day so we can pray before the game, but I just took it upon myself this season to grow a stronger relationship.”
As Brooks and Umanmielen prepare for the upcoming season, they do so with their faith at the forefront.
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