While the media raced to report football players bending the knee during the national anthem, they’re overlooking the chance to celebrate a team that kneels to praise God.
On Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots to become Super Bowl winners for the first time in history. But as national news outlets reported the big win, only a few also highlighted the quarterback’s Christian faith and his dream of becoming a pastor.
And he’s not the only player who praises God. A majority of them credit Him as their inspiration, and publicly, on Twitter.
In his Twitter bio, Eagles quarterback Nick Foles lists himself as a “believer in Jesus Christ” and uses his account to share quotes from the Bible. He tweets messages like “with God all things are possible” and “Thank you God for another day.”
And while quarterback Carson Wentz stayed off the field due to injuries, he offered God thanks shortly before the game.
“God’s writing an unbelievable story and he’s getting all the glory!” he exclaimed. After the game he added, “God is so good!!!! World Champions!!!!”
Two days after the game, Wentz turned to God after another life-changing event: He proposed to his girlfriend.
“She said YES!” he announced. “God is doing some amazing things and I can’t thank him enough!”
Acknowledging God is nothing new for Wentz. He uses Twitter to cite the Bible, give God credit, and even post pictures of himself with teammates kneeling on the field — to pray.
“My life is lived for an Audience of One,” he likes to remind his followers.
Likewise, running back Jay Ajayi tweets “GOD IS GREAT.” And wide receiver Nelson Agholor, along with left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai and right guard Brandon Brooks, tells fans “God is good.”
Following their win, wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted, “God is amazing.” Left guard Stefen Wisniewski declared, “Let all the Glory be to Jesus!!” (Instead of stressing before the “big game,” Wisniewski contemplated Bible verses.)
In his Twitter bio, tight end Zach Ertz also identifies as a “believer.” Right tackle Lane Johnson wishes “God Bless America.” Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery regularly tweets out “God Bless.”
On defense, Brandon Graham once posted a picture of the team in prayer. “Win, Lose, or Draw we make sure we give God all the glory because he is the reason we are able to go out each and everyday and play this game,” the left defensive end stressed in the caption.
But this time, it happened to be for a win.
Centerback Patrick Robinson tweeted, “Blessed!” after the game. Safety Rodney McLeod tweeted, “All PRAISE to JESUS CHRIST.. WE DID IT.. ‘Dreams do come true.’”
Others, like defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, thank God “for all my blessings.” That’s because, according to defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, “God is not only on tebow side.”
Linebacker Nigel Bradham reveals, “I always ask god to bless me another year” while linebacker Mychal Kendricks adds, “God is good.”
They also send messages of encouragement to their followers.
“Trusting God is more than what you can see,” reads one of right defensive end Vinny Curry’s many tweets about God. “Walk by FAITH not by sight.”
“Feeling down today?” tweets cornerback Jalen Mills, “Always remember if nobody else loves you, GOD does and he has a set plan for you!” Likewise, centerback Ronald Darby urges “Don’t give up on god, cause he won’t give up on you.”
Safety Malcolm Jenkins concludes, “So grateful for where God has brought me in my life. It’s further than I had ever dreamed of as a kid.”
And those men are just the offensive and defensive starters for the team. Additional players appeared in a video produced by the team last year to address the importance of faith and their worship together, whether through chapel or Bible studies.
For these players, God isn’t important just when they’re off the field. He’s in the game — the inspiration for it. If only the media looked deeper.