Super Bowl LIX Players of Faith: Christian Players Speak Out

Chiefs tight end Noah Gray also spoke about faith ahead of Super Bowl LIX. “It’s the only reason I keep the anxiety off my shoulders and just give it to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. “I thank God every single day that he put me in this position, and really just trying to give all that glory back to Christ is super important.”

Trent McDuffie, Kansas City’s All-Pro cornerback, said pre-game chapel services and prayers help him grow and share his faith with others. Because faith was “a big part of my life growing up,” the athlete said a faith-filled locker room helps continue that culture of unity.

McDuffie’s faith is “huge,” he told Sports Spectrum. “It’s the biggest thing in my life as far as a place of comfort, a place of peace, a place of hope, an understanding of where I am in my life,” McDuffie said. “Really, it’s the biggest thing that humbles me and allows me to be where my feet are.”

NFL Honors Award-Winners Also Praise Jesus

When the league presented end-of-season awards Thursday (Feb. 6) during the NFL Honors show, many recipients thanked and praised Jesus during their acceptance speeches.

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, who edged out Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson to win the MVP trophy, said, “I’d like to thank God, first and foremost, for allowing me to be here today.” Allen, 28, previously shared that he had a type of “spiritual awakening” after teammate Damar Hamlin almost died during a game two years ago.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year award went to Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, another outspoken Christian. Daniels, winner of the 2023 Heisman Trophy, began Thursday’s acceptance speech by saying, “First and foremost, I want to thank God for allowing me to be in this presence of greatness, to be on this stage.”

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, named Defensive Player of the Year, echoed that message. “First and foremost, I want to give all the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. “Without him, I wouldn’t be in this position.”

Arik Armstead, named the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his charitable contributions, also spoke about God’s goodness. The defensive lineman, now with Jacksonville, began his speech by saying, “First, God is good—all the time, and even though I don’t deserve it. He’s never failing.”

While encouraging others to make a difference in their communities, Armstead said, “No act is too big, and no act is too small. I just encourage you to try to be a blessing in someone else’s life and see how that changes your life.” He added, “Let’s define success by a new metric: not by the things that we acquire, but by how many people we positively impact.”