Hail Mary and Hallelujah: Jesus Takes Center Stage at Super Bowl LIX

Super Bowl LIX is shaping up to be a continuation of an emerging trend: football players becoming outspoken advocates for their Christian faith.  

Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles players spoke about the importance of their belief in Jesus and the Gospel during a series of interviews with Sports Spectrum this week. 

When asked by Sports Spectrum’s Annabelle Hasselbeck who Jesus is to him, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes replied, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior. It’s someone that I look up to every single day to decide what I want to do with my life and how I want to live my life. And so, Jesus is everything to me at the end of the day.” 

Mahomes’ counterpart, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, has long professed his faith in Jesus.  

“I’ve always wanted to root myself in that and keep Him in the center of my life in everything I do,” Hurts told Sports Spectrum’s Matt Forte. “Through the highs and the lows, He’s greater than all of them.” 

Harrison Butker, kicker for the Chiefs, shared that he turns to God most when facing anxiety and pressure, explaining, “I view being an NFL kicker on this stage as a way that God’s called me to turn to Him more often.” 

Butker, who isn’t shy about expressing his Catholic beliefs, made headlines for a commencement address he delivered at Benedictine College in Kansas last year.

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Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday, credited his “best season” to his focus on growing his faith. “My faith is everything and I know that I wouldn’t be here without the Man above,” he said. 

Chiefs linebackers coach Rod Wilson credited his place at the Super Bowl to his faith. When asked about the spiritual aspect of the team, Wilson called it “important” and “very helpful in this whole journey.” 

NFL players are not the only ones using their platforms to share Jesus’ message.  

College football stars from national champion Ohio State cited their faith in God throughout this year’s playoffs. 

During a post-game news conference after defeating Notre Dame last month, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard said, “Before I say anything, I just gotta give my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all the glory and all the praise.” 

Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson gave testimony to his faith during an on-campus event in December 2024, according to NPR. Henderson said he discovered God after suffering an injury during his sophomore year. 

“’You know, we are all loved by Him equally,” Henderson told NPR. “God can use anyone.” 

Players from Ohio State’s opponent, Notre Dame, a Catholic college in Indiana, also spoke out about their faith in Jesus. 

“Before I answer your question, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the opportunity to play in this game,” quarterback Riley Leonard said after the national championship game. “I wrote on my hand Proverbs 27:17. ‘As iron sharpens iron, so should one man sharpen another.’”