A number of players facing off in Sunday’s Super Bowl are open about their faith.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared his faith ahead of his fourth Super Bowl appearance. After the Chiefs won the American Football Conference, the quarterback was seen pointing up as if to God.
“I know that I’m on the football field to glorify Him before everything,” Mahomes said. “So it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about going out there and being the best that I can in his name.”
San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy expressed that his own self-worth is based in God, rather than his team’s record.
“I already have what I need from the Good Shepherd in Jesus,” Purdy said.
Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed similarly thanked God after a successful season leading up to the AFC win over the Baltimore Ravens.
San Fransisco’s running back Christian McCaffrey will be competing in a Super Bowl for the first time on Sunday. Ahead of the game, he reflected on the role his faith has played, saying it is most important to him.
“My faith means everything to me. I think my faith has gotten me where I am in life,” McCaffrey said.
James Winchester of the Chiefs is a father who says he values the ability to share his faith with his children.
“But what a blessing to continue to get to breathe into them and teach them about the Lord and what He’s done for us,” Winchester said.
After the 49ers clinched the National Football Conference Championship, safety Tashaun Gipson reacted to what would be his debut appearance in the Super Bowl while holding his son. Gipson credited God for the timing of his career, as he joined San Francisco last year after over 10 years in the NFL.
“This is just God. This honestly, it’s just God. Without Him, this wouldn’t be possible. It’s a surreal feeling man; my body is numb right now,” Gipson said. “I’m so thankful.”
Kansas City’s wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling also claimed that faith “won’t ever be talked about enough.”
“I wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for the man up top,” Valdes-Scantling said. “Jesus Christ is King.”
The offensive linebacker for the Chiefs, Drue Tranquill, shared a similar story of redemption in his faith.
“God loves you, regardless of what you can do, what you’ve done in your past,” Tranquill said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has included the phrase “Christus Regnat!” in his Instagram bio, which means Christ conquers. Butker quoted the scripture of Psalm 71 and 72 in a post commemorating his arrival in Las Vegas, Nevada, ahead of the Super Bowl.
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful things,” the caption read. “And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever: and the whole earth shall be filled with his majesty. So be it. So be it.”
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Linebacker for the Chiefs, Nick Bolton, credited God for the way his life has turned out.
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“I don’t think many things in life would happen without God,” Bolton said in an interview. “We don’t get to choose our families, we don’t get to choose our support systems. I grew up with both of my parents, and a lot of people don’t have that opportunity.”
