For Some Football Players, Faith Is Their Focus
God may not care who wins the Super Bowl, but many football players certainly care about God—and are eager to use their time in the spotlight to share their faith in him. Current NFL players featured in this year’s Football Sunday resources include Prince Amukamara (Chicago Bears), Benjamin Watson (New England Patriots), and Nate Solder (New York Giants).
Once the Super Bowl opponents are determined later in January, Christian players from those two teams also will be included in this year’s Football Sunday resources, which are delivered electronically. Spreading the word that faith trumps football for some gridiron greats shows worshipers and community members that Jesus is for everyone.
In a video trailer for Football Sunday 2020, Watson quotes Romans 8:28, adding, “That ‘good’ is something that draws me and matures me to being more like Christ.” Solder shares that his motivation as a Christian is “to know [Jesus] and to make him known.”
Legal Notes for Churches
The NFL does set some restrictions on the use of certain Football Sunday materials, as explained on the site’s FAQ page.
League policies affecting church Super Bowl parties have changed over the years. Before 2008, many churches shied away from hosting events because of the NFL’s screen-size regulations. (Sports bars were exempt, but churches were not—until complaints led to a reversal.)
Public viewings of the Super Bowl are now okay, as long as they take place in a church’s normal place of worship (not, for example, in a rented venue). Although churches can’t charge admission to a viewing party, collecting donations to defray costs or to give to charity is acceptable. In addition, the game must be shown on church-owned equipment; recorded versions have been deemed okay.
Because “Super Bowl” is a trademarked term, it’s best to use phrases such as “big game party” or “game-watching bash.” When marketing your church’s gathering, also avoid the use of NFL logos, the Super Bowl logo, and any team logos.
