While victory celebrations continue in Kansas City, football fans in the Chiefs Kingdom are hearing powerful witnesses about the kingdom of God. After the franchise won its first Super Bowl in 50 years last night, key members gave God the glory.
As Church Leaders has reported, several members of both Super Bowl teams are outspoken about their faith. After accepting the Vince Lombardi Trophy Sunday night, Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said, “I want to thank the Lord for blessing our family with all these incredible people who helped us bring this championship home.”
Hunt, who says his “identity is my faith in Christ,” organizes his team around that identity too, with Bible studies for players and chapel services for fans. Chiefs offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski says, “There’s definitely a lot of Christians in the organization, and when it starts at the top, that’s pretty powerful.”
“The greatest joy in life” isn’t football
After Kansas City’s 31-20 victory over San Francisco, Wisniewski tweeted a confetti-filled photo, writing: “This moment is the best part of winning a Super Bowl to me… I’m looking up to Jesus, my Savior, from whom all good things come, and by faith I am in His Holy presence. In His presence is where I experience the greatest joy in life, whether it’s in good times or in bad. Ps 16:11.”
This moment is the best part of winning a Super Bowl to me…
I’m looking up to Jesus, my Savior, from whom all good things come, and by faith I am in His Holy presence. In His presence is where I experience the greatest joy in life, whether it’s in good times or in bad. Ps 16:11 pic.twitter.com/xY2ExpqYpc— Stefen Wisniewski (@stefenwiz61) February 3, 2020
The offensive lineman experienced bad times last August, when he was cut by Philadelphia and spent five weeks unemployed. “The best place you can be in life is the center of God’s will,” Wisniewski said before Sunday’s big game. Though the uncertainty was challenging, he says, “I leaned on [God] during that time and I trusted him, praised him. I knew that if he wanted to, he could exalt me again, and it was just my job to humble myself before him.”
“We never lost faith,” Says Chiefs Kingdom MVP
Though Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggled through the Super Bowl’s first three quarters, he orchestrated the team’s third post-season double-digit comeback. “We never lost faith, that’s the biggest thing,” he said afterward. “We believe in each other.”
Mahomes, named the Super Bowl MVP, has been vocal about his faith, calling it a “huge” part of his life. “I understand that [God has] given me a lot of blessings,” he says, “and I’m trying to maximize them and glorify him.”
Faith also keeps Mahomes “on the right track,” and pre-game prayer reminds him to glorify God and do “everything the right way,” no matter what happens—“win or lose, success or failure.” Living for God and staying grateful for his opportunities helps Mahomes “walk off the field with my head held high and be able to be the man that I am,” he says.
Though he’s only 24 years old, Mahomes already has had a strong impact as a team leader. Running back Darwin Thompson says, “When the main guy, Pat Mahomes, is a huge follower in Christ, it’s easy to be a follower as well.”
