Every fall, the kickoff of another church-programming year coincides with the new NFL season. Likewise, many pro football players profess deep Christian faith while using their God-given athletic talents.
Yes, football games might occasionally prevent some worshipers from coming to church on Sundays. But sports can also serve as a segue to conversations about glorifying Jesus in our careers and conversations.
To help spark discussions about Christian living, ChurchLeaders often profiles athletes who honor God. For the 2024 NFL kickoff, here’s a fresh lineup of faith-filled football players:
11 NFL Players Who Give God Glory
1. Grant Stuard (Indianapolis Colts)
For years, Grant Stuard lied about his home life, trying to hide the instability he and his younger siblings faced. Their mother was a sex worker and a drug addict, and their father had a lengthy arrest and prison record.
By age 20, Stuard decided he’d had enough. With both his football and academic performance slipping, the University of Houston student drove to a cliff, intending to jump off. What made him reconsider? He heard the far-off sound of laughter from a father-son fishing duo below.
At a church service months later, Stuard heard a word of prophecy that touched his heart. “For me, that was God showing me he existed,” said the athlete, now 25. “[God] was telling me he cared about me, like genuinely cared about me, something that was missing my whole life.”
After that, Stuard got his life back on track—and helped his family do the same. He insisted that his mother stick with rehab and give him custody of his younger sister.
In the 2021 NFL Draft, Stuard was the final pick, known as Mr. Irrelevant. But that achievement was incredibly relevant and meaningful for Stuard, based on everything he’d already overcome.
The Indianapolis Colts special teams player, who’s heading into his fourth NFL season, is also a husband, new father, rapper, and philanthropist. His foundation raises money to fight poverty, hunger, and sex trafficking in his hometown of Houston.
Stuard is upfront about how God transformed his life. “I would like to thank Jesus Christ, the Lord of my life, for completely changing me and making me into the person I am today,” he posted in 2020. “I want to encourage anyone who does not have a relationship with Jesus to seek Him. You will not be disappointed.”
Last December on the Sports Spectrum podcast, Stuard shared, “I spent a good amount of time walking and living my life without Jesus and without a purpose. So [when] I finally made a connection with him and surrendered my life over to him, life became life.”
