The NFL Playoffs have wrapped up, and the league has two teams standing. The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, again, will square off in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 11th, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens, and the 49ers dismissed the Detroit Lions, and now the Super Bowl will once again feature two quarterbacks with much in common.
Last season’s Super Bowl matchup featured two black quarterbacks for the first time in history, but more surprisingly, it also featured two devout Christian quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles are both Christians, and both regularly talk about their faith in the media, much to the consternation of leftists in the liberal media.
Fast forward to 2023, and a profound trend appears to be taking root that will frustrate the networks and send liberal social media into a tizzy. Aaron Rodgers may have been the proverbial finger in the eye of the liberal media, but what happened from numerous other players has caused a seismic shift in the NFL. Considering the youth and the prowess of some of these players, this change could be long-term.
No less than five of the Playoff quarterbacks were open Christians, and none were shy about declaring their faith on national television. Brock Purdy, C.J. Stroud, Mahomes, Mason Rudolph, and Jalen Hurts are professed Christians, and their commitment to declaring their faith inspired players across the league. They inspired other players like Packers Rookie tight end Tyler Kraft and Falcons punter Bradley Pinion to speak out in support of these players.
Also recently announced is the addition of another Christ-centered person. Christian coach Jim Harbaugh is leaving the University of Michigan and joining brother John as he takes over the Los Angeles Chargers. Jim most recently won a National Championship with the Wolverines and looks to resurrect a Chargers franchise laden with talent but short on wins. Recently, an NFL legend and Hall of Famer spoke out about the recent trends in the league.
Anthony Munoz, the offensive tackle from USC who went to two Super Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals, is considered the Gold Standard for his position. He recently said about Harbaugh, Purdy, and others: “My heart overflows with joy. I have that same relationship with Jesus. I’m going on 46 years, and to hear someone unapologetic with boldness to share their faith is amazing.”
C.J. Stroud has been the most vocal about his faith, to the point NBC felt the need to clip his praise of God after their Wild card win versus the Cleveland Browns. The network was ultimately called out on social media and, moving forward, may have to alter its practices regarding open post-game praise. The addition of the second Harbaugh and the curb appeal of these players will ensure that God will be prominently honored every Sunday for years to come.
The new generation of Christ-centered NFL stars is inspiring an old-school of stars as well. Anthony Munoz made the Hall of Fame as a Cincinnati Bengal and remains one of the best men representing the NFL. Hopefully, the new generation of Christian NFL stars can spend the next decade praising God and winning football games.
Featured image: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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