Faith in the First Round

We have been called by God into a relationship with Jesus Christ and through that relationship, we can testify to His love for us and His greatness expressed through us. So, whatever He calls us to do, He gives us the power and will place us in locations so that we can express our love for Him and share it with a dying world.  The apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy chapter 1 (ESV):
7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel...

The NFL Draft has become quite the occasion.  Strategically nestled between the Super Bowl and the start off fall camp, it helps to maintain the awareness of the National Football League as a year-round product.  And, with over 800,000 attending in person in Pittsburgh this year and millions tuning in over the three-day spectacle, people are able to see and hear from at least a few, probably, future stars of the game.

And, while it was largely expected and perhaps even anti-climactic that Fernando Mendoza from Indiana would be selected #1 by the Las Vegas Raiders, what perhaps no one expected was that Alabama's Ty Simpson would be selected, not by the Arizona Cardinals, as was anticipated by some pundits, but by the Los Angeles Rams, to join a quarterback room with the reigning MVP of the league, a former two-time collegiate national champion, and a player who has been to three Super Bowls, winning two as a backup and losing one as a starter.  Talk about development.

But, there's something about Ty Simpson - a coach's son who waiting patiently at Alabama to start and who put together a nice, albeit disappointing season last year for Tide fans.  A recent Movieguide article opened this way:

Former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson can take on the NFL with confidence, knowing his identity is secure in Jesus Christ.

“I know where I’m going,” he said on an episode of “The Walk” podcast. “I have full confidence knowing where I’m going. That’s how I see it. We’re His children, and we’re here to spread His Word because of what He did. But at the same time, if the Lord Jesus comes back tomorrow, like in Revelation, and the earth dissolves like that, I know what’s going to happen.”

“The question is, do you?” the quarterback asked.

The article talks about how his father, Jason, had sent him Scriptures in the morning on a regular basis, and how he has been a "spiritual mentor" to His son.  The article goes on to say:

His faith keeps him steady as he heads into the NFL Draft.

“I think it goes with my faith,” he said, per Fox News Digital. “My faith is very important to me. I fully believe that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, and knowing that football is just a minor stepping stone in why I’m on this Earth, I feel like I’m on this Earth for a bigger reason: to get people together to spread the word. The fact that I can do that on a huge stage, the Lord has blessed me in so many ways, that just gives me confidence.”

A former Alabama player made an impact when his name was called, selected just before Simpson by the Dallas Cowboys.  An Instagram post related, "The NFL Draft turned into a moment of worship to the Most High when Caleb Downs chose worship music as he was selected by the Dallas Cowboys...In a moment the world celebrates status, he pointed it back to God. That’s what it looks like to keep your faith first, no matter the stage...Bigger than football."  That was on the Holy Athletes Instagram feed.

Sports Spectrum had reported about the Ohio State safety:

But Downs is more than just a football player. And he’s not shy in talking about what’s most important to him.

“There’s two things that are more important than me, more important than me playing football,” Downs told “The Walk” podcast in August as to why he wears No. 2. “My faith in Jesus Christ and my family. So those two things is what I wear on my chest every game and those are the two most important things in my life.”

His faith has been central not only to his personal life, but also to his platform at Ohio State. In 2024, several football players helped lead a worship gathering on campus that featured worship music, player testimonies and baptisms. When the event returned in 2025 — drawing an estimated 2,000 attendees, nearly double the previous year — Downs was among the players who spoke to the crowd.

After the event, Downs shared with ABC6 television, “God is good...I mean, I can’t take credit for it. None of my teammates can take credit for it. At the end of the day, His glory is above anything that we can do, but we know Jesus is real and we know that if you believe in Him, you will be saved.”

Listen carefully, and you will see and hear elite athletes living out their faith.  And at schools, on campuses, all around our nation, students are committing to live for Jesus Christ.  So thankful for the work of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and how they are training up young people to allow the Lord to live through them and to use the platform God has given them to testify to His love and greatness.  

As I read earlier, the Bible says that God has "saved us and called us to a holy calling."  So, not only have we been born again by Jesus, but He lives in us to empower us to live a life pleasing to Him, not in our own strength, but through the Holy Spirit inside. That means wherever we are, whatever we do, we can bring honor to His name.  Because He is in us.

And as we reflect on what Jesus has done in us, then we can humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to live and speak through us, so that in all things Christ can be glorified.