Arik Armstead
Defensive end Arik Armstead, 30, was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. In 2020, he told Sports Spectrum, “[Faith] is super important to me. That’s the foundation, my backbone, everything that I believe in. My family instilled that into me at a young age, and we grew up in the church.” The athlete also described his determination to “use my platform and resources to bless others and glorify [God].”
Armstead credits his mother, Christa Armstead, with reminding him about the source of his blessings and to always rely on Christ. Christa Armstead, who serves in ministry at Midtown Church in Sacramento, California, wrote a book about her background as the illegitimate daughter of a Catholic priest.
Armstead, a father of two, is the 49ers nominee this year for the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award for community service. He credits 49ers Chaplain Earl Smith with nurturing him and his teammates spiritually.
“Playing on Sundays, it’s tough to make it to church always,” Armstead said. “So [Smith] does a great job of giving us messages throughout the week and stuff to think about to try to continue to grow closer to God.”
