10. Jalen Ramsey (Miami Dolphins)
“Child of God through my faith in Christ”—that’s how Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey describes himself on social media. For some people, that might appear to clash with his reputation as a trash-talker.
But Ramsey, who won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, said he’s never cared what other people think about him. “Most of the time, their perception is wrong,” he said. “Also, I just don’t play for humans. I play for all glory to God.” The 29-year-old pushes back against people who call him cocky, saying, “Thinking less of myself” would be “doing a discredit to God,” who has “blessed me with so much.”
Ramsey, whose grandmother is a retired pastor, is determined to raise his daughters in the faith. “They know that without Jesus Christ we’re nothing, but with Jesus Christ we’re everything,” he told CBS Sports. “They pray every single night with me. Things like that, people don’t know. But I don’t really broadcast or care to broadcast, because that’s not really why I do it. That’s not who I do it for.”
Ramsey is also serious about giving back, saying, “You’ve gotta put action with your beliefs.”
When asked if he’d consider going into ministry once he hangs up his cleats, Ramsey shakes his head no. “In essence, though, I think anybody can encourage others,” he noted. “Anybody can be a pastor, right? I’ve always wanted to do it in a little bit of a different way.”
The cornerback said he might coach high school players someday, “encouraging the kids with not only my knowledge about the game of football but about life and about Jesus Christ.”
