The Purdy family (L-R): Carrie, Chubba, Whitney, Shawn, Brock (Photo courtesy of Shawn Purdy)
THIS IS EPISODE 315 OF THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
Shawn Purdy is a former pro baseball player. He played his college baseball at the University of Miami in Florida. After being selected three times in the MLB Amateur Draft in 1987, 1989 and 1990, he signed with the Angels after being selected in the 16th round of the 1991 draft.
After pitching for eight seasons in the minor leagues from 1991-1998, he retired at the age of 29.
Today, Purdy is the dad to three kids, all playing sports at a high level. His daughter, Whitney, plays softball at Southeastern University. His son, Brock, plays quarterback at Iowa State and was the Big 12 True-Freshman of the Year in 2018. His youngest son, Chubba, is a four-star high school QB recruit entering his senior year in 2019.
On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Shawn about his pro baseball journey, coming to faith in Christ in 1995, being a father to three kids who play elite sports, raising them up in the Lord, and the importance of keeping Christ at the center, even as they pursue their sports dreams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jalon Daniels has sort of been overlooked for much of his football career, so being an undrafted free agent entering the NFL was nothing new. But just as he did during his five-year career at the University of Kansas, the quarterback just went to work and let his play do the talking.
After going into training camp as a long shot to make the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster, Daniels will begin his rookie season as the primary backup to starter Baker Mayfield.
“It feels great,” Daniels told the media on Tuesday after the roster decision was made. “It’s a blessing. It’s great to be here. Great to be a part of the Buccaneers organization and I look forward to being able to continue getting better here.”
The Buccaneers signed veteran QB Jake Browning earlier this year to a one-year deal with the expectation that he would be the backup, but Daniels outplayed him during camp. What the team saw from Daniels trumped the money they’d already committed to Browning.
“That’s an incredible accomplishment for an undrafted rookie to get that position,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said. “I can’t think in the last decade another time it’s happened, but the No. 1 thing is, he earned it. It wasn’t just given to him. … You can go back and forth with the experience argument, but we’d rather have a very talented, prepared, inexperienced quarterback than going with experience just for the sake of saying the guy’s experienced.”
A second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022, Daniels finished his Kansas career with 9,282 passing yards, 1,445 rushing yards and 90 total touchdowns. He provides an option as a running quarterback that can give Tampa Bay a different look when he’s on the field.
In his first preseason game, Daniels went 10-for-15 passing with 111 yards and also gained nine yards on three carries to go with a rushing touchdown. In Tampa Bay’s second preseason game, Daniels was 9-for-14 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 19 yards on seven carries. He got the majority of reps at quarterback in the Bucs’ final preseason game, going 8-for-15 passing for 57 yards with four carries for nine yards.
Between his play in games and in practices, Daniels slowly climbed his way up the depth chart to where the Bucs coaches and front office could no longer ignore what he was doing. In his mind, he was just being himself — just showing up and playing football like he’s always done.
“I have God on my side, and I truly believe that everything that I’ve been able to do up to this point has been because of Him,” Daniels told reporters after the team’s final preseason game. “So I’m not going to lose faith. I’m going to keep my faith in God, and at the end of the day, everything that’s going to happen happens for a reason. I’m going to let God handle those decisions.”
He was asked later about being an undrafted free agent and whether that mattered to him at all. He’s coming at it from a perspective of gratitude that’s rooted in his faith in God.
“My journey is my journey,” he said. “God put me in this position for a reason. Something my mom told me after the draft was, ‘I don’t know why you’re in this position, but at the end of the day it’s happening to you for a reason. I think that God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.’
“If I’m in a position where I have to show others that this mountain can be moved, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to go out there and do everything that I can to be able to make plays. Draft pick, UDFA, it doesn’t matter. I got the opportunity to come out here and play NFL football, so I’m forever grateful for that.”
Daniels starred at Lawndale High School in Southern California around the same time as highly rated quarterback prospects like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and D.J. Uiagalelei. All three committed to traditional powers — Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson, respectively. Meanwhile, Daniels committed to Kansas, a school with very little football tradition and the only Power Five program to offer him a scholarship.
But he helped spark the Jayhawks program, bringing them into the AP top-25 poll in 2022 and even getting some buzz as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He was the 2023 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, but suffered an injury in training camp that he re-aggravated in a game against Texas and had to miss the rest of the season. As a senior, he threw for 2,531 yards, 22 TDs and seven interceptions.
His faith in God has always been a major part of who he is. He shares about his relationship with God on social media, saying “All Through Christ” in his Instagram bio, and his teammates notice how much his faith guides him.
“People wrote [Daniels] off, but he always kept God in his life,” former teammate Elijah Jackson told the L.A. Times. “It didn’t faze him, not one bit, and I actually think it made him better, put a chip on his shoulder.”
At 23 years old now, Daniels is a little older than some other rookie quarterbacks, but the Bucs see that as a good mix of experience coupled with athleticism. Licht had plenty of praise for his new backup quarterback.
“There’s no blueprint for an undrafted rookie becoming your No. 2 quarterback,” Licht said, via reporter Sara Walsh. “Jalon basically wrote his own.”
“There’s no blueprint for an undrafted rookie becoming your number 2 quarterback. Jalon basically wrote his own.” – Bucs GM Jason Licht on Jalon Daniels
According to Elias Sports Bureau the last time an undrafted rookie qb was active week 1: 2016 Trevone Boykin in Seattle pic.twitter.com/pbQtUgwMW5
Cleveland Guardians players speak at the team's Faith Day, Aug. 29, 2026. (Photo via X/@msteller123)
The Kansas City Royals took down the Guardians, 8-3, in Cleveland on Saturday in an American League Central matchup. The loss dropped the Guardians to a .500 record on the season and weakened their already tenuous grip on the third and final AL wild-card spot, which they had acquired thanks to a seven-game winning streak leading up to the series with Kansas City.
Yet despite the loss, many Guardians players considered Saturday a resounding success, all because of what happened before the first pitch was ever thrown.
In partnership with the Northeast Ohio chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Guardians Faith Day was held at Progressive Field in Cleveland for the second consecutive year on Saturday. During the hour-long event hosted by team chaplain Mike Suit, Guardians players were given the opportunity to share their testimonies of faith in Jesus and how a relationship with Him impacts their lives on and off the field. Fans enjoyed Christian fellowship and were encouraged to follow the Light of the World as well.
One of the players who spoke was All-Star rookie pitcher Parker Messick. Much of his testimony revolved around his grandfather’s incredible healing and how God was at work in his life through that time.
“I had the conversation with the Lord,” he said, “and I’m like, ‘Lord, I know You’re real. I’ve seen what You can do. I’m never doubting You again. You’ve proven Yourself to me time and time again. I know what You did on the cross, and I’ll live for You forever.’
“I’ve tried to live that out ever since that day. He’s never left my side and I’m seeing the things that He can do in my life, so I encourage all of you to do the same.”
Messick was joined on the panel by the man sometimes called upon to catch his lethal fastballs, 34-year-old catcher Austin Hedges.
The veteran told the story of how he grew up knowing about God and being part of a church community, but he realized he was relying on others’ faith rather than his own. In 2021, during his first stint with the Guardians, he challenged his Christian background and completely left the church.
One of the biggest influences during his spiritual wandering, he said, was the fellowship of his numerous Christ-following teammates on the Guardians.
“The biggest change is these men standing here with me,” Hedges said. “These guys are so inspiring to me. Only a few months ago, I said, ‘You know what? That’s it. I’m in!’ … These guys are living their lives the right way, and I want to live like that.”
Austin Hedges shared his testimony with fans Saturday during Faith day at Progressive Field saying “God’s love is so real” and thanking his teammates for inspiring him. #GuardsBallpic.twitter.com/Y22ifMLiEu
Hedges continued later: “As of May of this year, I got back. And I am so bought in. The last couple of months, everything is just crystal clear to me. Everything makes so much sense. God’s love is so real, and I’m so excited for the rest of this journey — my life — growing with Jesus.”
“It’s very humbling,” he told reporter Natalie Turk after the game. “It’s been very cool to see how God has grown this group of guys we have in the clubhouse, how the numbers have grown and how each guy in that group has grown individually as well. That’s been a very, very cool thing.”
“You grow in your faith and you learn that, hey, there are some things you gotta give to Him that are gonna be heavier, and things that are out of your control, that you need to be able to just give off and release,” he said.
Joey Cantillo spoke to fans pregame about his faith saying “some things you have to give to Him because they’re heavier & out of our control” #GuardsBallpic.twitter.com/geEqPfUpHn
On the diamond, the Guardians (now 69-68) are set to begin a three-game home series Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays (68-70). Cleveland currently holds a half-game lead over the Orioles in the AL wild-card race.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST HOSTED BY MATT FORTE, FEATURING NATHAN CARTER
Nathan Carter is a second-year running back with the Atlanta Falcons. He went undrafted in April 2025 but signed with Atlanta, where he was able to make the team out of training camp and play in seven games his rookie season. He played his college football at UConn and Michigan State.
Today on the podcast, Nathan Carter shares about the difference between Year 1 and Year 2 in preparation for the NFL season. He also speaks on his faith in Jesus, how he’s moved to tell others about Christ, and serving with Compassion International on a mission trip with his wife earlier this year.
