Americas most-watched sporting event will feature the two best teams in professional football but also will showcase well-known players who are unashamed about their Christian faith.
Super Bowl LVII between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will include starting quarterbacks who are Christians. Additionally, the leading tacklers on each team also are Christians.The game will be broadcast Sunday on Fox.
Here are five Christian athletes who are playing in Super Bowl LVII:
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Staff
1. Patrick Mahomes
The Kansas City starting quarterback credited God moments after his teams 23-20 victory over Cincinnati in the AFC Championship, saying a back injury nearly prevented him from playing.
I wanna thank God. He healed my body this week, he told CBS during the national broadcast. To battle through that, He gave me the strength to be out here.
Two years ago, prior to the Chiefs Super Bowl game against Tampa Bay, Mahomes said faith was key to his life.
It guides you as you know why youre playing the game, he told Sports Spectrum. You know that obviously you want to win, but at the end of the day youre doing it for something thats much bigger than yourself, and youre trying to represent something thats much bigger than yourself. I think having that confidence and having that trust lets you go out there and be who you are and play freely.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox/Staff
2. Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia’s starting quarterback told CBS Sports earlier this year that God is everything and He’s worthy of praise.
You have to put Him in the center of everything that you do, Hurts said. And that’s what I believe. I’ve been blessed to grow, learn things, and just mature. And I know, God has been there the whole entire way.
In September he posted a photo of himself on Instagram in an Eagles uniform, kneeling in prayer. Hurts wrote, He Who Kneels Before God, Can Stand Before Any Man. His Instagram bio reads, In God I Trust.
After the Eagles win over San Francisco in the NFC Championship, Hurts quoted Scripture during a post-game news conference.
I went through a lot of stuff in college and it kind of stuck with me John 13:7. You may not know now but later you will understand.
Hurts called it his favorite verse.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Mitchell Leff/Stringer
3. A.J. Brown
The Eagles starting receiver was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2019 but traded prior to the 2022 season to the Eagles.
He led Philadelphia this season in receiving yards.
I had plans and God had other plans, Brown told Sports Spectrum. I try not to lean on my own understanding. I read the Bible a lot because thats how I fight my problems. Im not trying to stand up here and be a perfect guy because Im not; nobody is. But I just lean heavily on my faith and try to let Him direct my paths.
He told Sports Spectrum that Romans 8:18 is his favorite Bible verse.
The pain you have been feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming, Brown said, quoting it.
I had plans, but God had other plans. @Eagles Wide Receiver @1kalwaysopen_ shares how he leans on God’s plan for his life at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, AZ!https://t.co/f7XMkTXz3o pic.twitter.com/zzxstRJKrH Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 7, 2023
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Quinn Harris/Stringer
4. Nick Bolton
The Kansas City starting linebacker led the Chiefs in total tackles (180) and solo tackles (108) this season.
God presented this opportunity to go out here and play football and so Im just going to take advantage of it, Bolton told Sports Spectrum in September. I kind of see it as an opportunity to go out here and play football. Ive been doing it since I was young, and so its getting confidence from these guys to come in every single day and let me put my best foot forward by giving me that confidence.
During Super Bowl week, Bolton said he felt blessed.
Just a lot of gratitude how much Ive grown as a person, as an individual, a football player, a teammate, a follower of Christ, he said.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Rob Carr/Staff
5. T.J. Edwards
The Philadelphia starting linebacker led the team in total tackles (159) and solo tackles (99) this season.
I’m a believer and everything I do is for Him, Edwards told Sports Spectrum during Super Bowl week, adding that its just a blessing to be here where we are today. And it’s truly, truly incredible.
Edwards said he grew in his faith the past year.
I started going to Bible studies and things like that really trying to just immerse myself as much as I can and try to follow in the lead of, honestly, a lot of my teammates [and] a lot of people in the organization and it’s really helped me become closer and I’m very grateful for it.
“Everything I do is for Him.”@Eagles linebacker @TJEdwards8 shares on his faith journey at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix, AZ!https://t.co/f7XMkTXz3o pic.twitter.com/R0iaJ4k2wA Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) February 7, 2023
Related:
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Credits God for Healing His Ankle ahead of AFC Championship Game
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, Super Bowl Bound, Says John 13:7 Inspired Him: It’s ‘My Favorite Verse’
Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Andy Lyons/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.