As the Super Bowl approaches, former NFL tight end and Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson told ChurchLeaders that the league’s biggest stage is also becoming one of its most visible platforms for conversations about faith.
Watson reflected on faith, pressure, and authenticity in professional sports, emphasizing that increased visibility has given athletes more freedom to speak openly about their relationships with Jesus.
During his 16 seasons in the NFL, Watson played for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints. Over the course of his career, Watson hauled in a number of his 44 touchdowns from future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Joe Flacco.
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Watson serves as editor-in-chief of Sports Spectrum and explained how pressure reveals character, why authenticity matters more than perfection for Christian athletes, and how community and accountability play a crucial role in spiritual growth.
Watson also highlighted Sports Spectrum’s partnership with Compassion International on the Super Bowl, sharing personal insight from a recent family mission trip to Guatemala. He encouraged families to consider mission experiences together and discussed his ongoing ministry efforts, including the Watson 7 Foundation and his podcast, “The Just Life,” which explores biblical justice, restoration, and faith lived out in everyday life.
“You can’t turn on the NFL playoffs or college football without hearing an athlete in an interview talk about their relationship with Jesus and giving honor to God,” Watson said. “It reminds me of Scripture when it talks about seeing what you’ve done and glorifying your Father in heaven. You see a lot of guys that are trying to live that out intentionally in ways that perhaps they weren’t before.”
The 2018 Bart Starr Award recipient—an honor given to a player who exemplifies outstanding character both on and off the field—believes social media allows athletes to share more about who they are beyond the game.
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“I think athletes are more and more aware now because of social media and because everybody is their own journalist now,” Watson said. “Like you can promote anything you want to. I think athletes are taking advantage of that, but they’re also more aware of the power and influence that they have in ways that previous generations [were] not.”
As the Super Bowl approaches, former NFL tight end and Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson told ChurchLeaders that the league’s biggest stage is also becoming one of its most visible platforms for conversations about faith.Click to Post
