This past Sunday, Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich took the opportunity during a post-game press conference to share words of encouragement from one of his favorite Christian worship songs, as well as the words of Scripture. The conference was held after the Colts’ 41-15 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
“Some people know that our team has been using the metaphor of climbing Mount Everest to parallel our quest to make it to the top,” Reich can be heard saying in a video posted by author and former sports broadcaster Jason Romano. “And it doesn’t take long to figure out that this metaphor doesn’t merely apply to football. Rather, it can be a picture of the many challenges that we all face.”
“And so, I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement, really, to anyone out there who’s in the midst of a struggle,” Reich continued. “In particular, I’m thinking of a few friends who I know are going through some stuff.”
Reich then recalled something that happened while he was a player for the Buffalo Bills in 1993 at the very stadium where he now stood as the head coach of the away team, the Indianapolis Colts.
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“I want to give a personal account to where I’ve found my strength for the journey. The reason I’m doing that here and now is because almost 30 years ago, after a really big game, right down the hall in a press conference, I shared the lyrics to a song that meant a lot to me — really spoke to where I get my strength from,” Reich said. “The song is ‘In Christ Alone,’ and it’s written by Shawn Craig.”
“‘In Christ alone I place my trust, and I find my glory in the power of the Cross. In every victory, let it be said of me, that my source of strength and my source of hope is Christ alone,’” Reich recited, going on to quote his favorite line of the song: “‘I seek no greater honor than just to know him more.’”
“Even though it was more than 30 years ago, when I read those words here in this stadium, this week I was reminded — Hebrews 13:8 says, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.’ It’s crazy, but we’re here some 30 years later, not living in the past, but rather attempting to press on to what is ahead,” Reich went on to say, echoing the words of Philippians 3:13-14.
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“So my encouragement is to keep climbing, and to find the strength and power that you need in Jesus Christ,” Reich concluded.
Reich served on the Colts’ coaching team in various roles from 2008 to 2011, later coming back to the team to serve as head coach in 2018. Reich also holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Charlotte, NC campus of Reformed Theological Seminary.
Watch the video of Frank Reich during the press conference below.
“This week I was reminded Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Wow! Awesome post-game message from #Colts head coach Frank Reich pic.twitter.com/1FRH2T0yL5
— Jason Romano (@JasonRomano) November 22, 2021
