6 Christians playing in Super Bowl LVIII

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, February 08, 2024

Brock Purdy

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who has proven his doubters wrong since being selected as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, discussed the significance of his Christian faith this week during a press huddle. He was asked by the Christian media ministry Sports Spectrum if he prays during games.

“Yeah, I do,” he said. “It’s not, ‘God, can we win here? Can we do something great here?’ It’s more just to have that peace, that steadfastness in all the chaos. That’s really what it is. It’s sinking back into, ‘Holy Spirit, take over and lead me here in this moment and allow me to think clearly, allow me to obviously go through my reads.’ Like I said, just have an even-keeled mind that I get from the Holy Spirit.”

In an interview last month with NFL great Steve Young, Purdy described how he was “rooted” in his Christian faith, which he said enables him “to just play and not be afraid to fail.”

“I know that God’s going to take care of wherever I’m at in my life, whether it’s football or not, and so I’m actually able to use that when I’m making decisions and playing football,” he added.

Purdy remains confident that “my identity isn’t in football.” The Iowa State University standout defined his approach to life as “God, if you want me to do great with this, great; if not, all right, let’s go do something else, wherever you need me.”

In an appearance on the Sports Spectrum podcast last year, Purdy cited Mark 8:34 as a Bible verse with special significance in his life.

The verse declares, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”

As he continues his football career, Purdy feels a special obligation to do just that.

“I didn’t want to grip onto this life of, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m in the NFL, I have a starting quarterback role, I’m, you know, I can’t lose it.’”

“I was reminded what Jesus had told us thousands of years ago in terms of don’t try to hold onto your life, you’re going to lose it, you know, and the world wants you to go this way or that way," he said.

“The minute you have fame and if you’re trying to chase status and money and all this kind of stuff, it’s, you’ll lose your life rather than, you know, denying yourself, picking up your cross, keeping my eyes on Jesus.”