Only four teams remain in the NFL playoffs, and the two games played on Sunday (Jan. 25) will determine the matchup in Super Bowl LX.
Numerous outspoken Christians are suiting up for the NFC Championship Game, with the Seahawks hosting the Rams, and for the AFC Championship Game, with the Broncos hosting the Patriots.
Here’s a look at some NFL athletes who love Jesus—and aren’t afraid to talk about him publicly.
Christians Playing in the NFC Championship Game
Seattle Seahawks
Ernest Jones IV
As a rookie, Ernest Jones IV won a Super Bowl with the L.A. Rams. Now the linebacker hopes to defeat his former team for another trip to the big game. (The same holds true for outspoken Christian Cooper Kupp, who won a Super Bowl MVP with the Rams and now plays for the NFC’s No. 1-seed Seahawks.)
Jones, 26, knows that football and fame are fleeting. Last month, he told teammates he’d “been missing something” and had recommitted his life to Jesus. “I wear this cross around my neck, but I haven’t really been living like it,” Jones said after receiving a game ball. Much bigger than any interception or pick-six, he told teammates, is the “peace [from Jesus] that I was missing.”
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 23, has been named to the Pro Bowl for two of his three NFL seasons. This year, he led the league in receiving yards and was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America. But Smith-Njigba knows who deserves credit for those accolades. On social media, he often writes AGTGOD, for “All Glory To God.”
Last fall, the Ohio State standout said his goals extend beyond the football field. “I just want to have my hand in this community and build it and share my testimony and my faith in God,” Smith-Njigba said on “The Reset” podcast. “Just be on the highest stage and praise his name, because that’s what I feel I’m ultimately here to do.”
Abraham Lucas
In the 2022 NFL Draft, Seattle selected Abraham Lucas out of Washington State. Since then, the offensive lineman has worked to avoid being lukewarm on the field or in his faith. Lucas, a devout Catholic, said he would choose God over football “10 times out of 10.”
The 27-year-old tackle calls his faith in Jesus “my focal point” and “my purpose,” saying, “It drives everything that I do.” Deacon Dennis Kelly, who knew Lucas as a high schooler, called the athlete “a great evangelist” who is “so grounded in his faith.”
Los Angeles Rams
Colby Parkinson
Tight end Colby Parkinson, who began his career with Seattle, now plays tight end for the Rams. The graduate of a Christian high school speaks about his faith at Fellowship of Christian Athletes events and on podcasts. Last year, Parkinson reminded listeners that humans are the “masterpiece” of God’s amazing creation.
Parkinson, 27, made the game-winning touchdown catch on Jan. 10, when the Rams defeated Carolina in the wild card round. But during a post-game interview, he first thanked God for the opportunity to play in such a big matchup. “God is so good. I’m so blessed to be in this position,” he said. “Every good and perfect gift is from the Lord, and I believe that wholeheartedly.”
Kyren Williams
After the Rams selected Kyren Williams out of Notre Dame in the 2022 NFL Draft, the running back quickly earned his teammates’ respect. For the 2025 season, Williams was a team captain as well as his team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
Williams, 25, is also vocal about his Christian faith. Last September, the athlete addressed his priorities. “I just want to be able to continue to play football at a very high clip, continue to keep showing the world who I am and what I can do, and take care of my family,” said Williams. “And give the most praise to the Lord that I can and follow his mission every single day.”
Jared Verse
Rams linebacker Jared Verse, 25, was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2024. While accepting that award, he first thanked God, saying, “Without him, none of this would have been possible.”
Verse, who has talked about the importance of pre-game prayers, credits God with orchestrating a plan for his life. For a motto, the athlete uses #LookAtGod. “I don’t really want people to look at me,” said Verse. “I wouldn’t be here without God. So when I say #LookAtGod, I mean he gets all the attention and all the glory.”
