Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles in Super Bowl 52, Feb. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23
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On Feb. 4, 2018, millions watched as the Philadelphia Eagles won their first Super Bowl in franchise history, defeating the New England Patriots in a thrilling 41-33 victory. But what stood out even more than the plays and the score was the unshakable faith of several Eagles players, especially their quarterback, Nick Foles.
Foles, who had considered retiring from football just a year before, stepped into the starting role after a season-ending injury to Carson Wentz. Perhaps in surprising fashion, he led the team through the playoffs and earned Super Bowl MVP honors, delivering one of the most iconic Super Bowl moments in recent history when he caught a touchdown pass on the “Philly Special” play.
But when the spotlight was on him, Foles didn’t bask in personal glory. He gave credit to God. In interviews before and after the game, he made it clear: Football was not his identity; Christ was.
“Faith surrounds everything I do,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in 2021 when reflecting on Super Bowl LII. “Throughout that week, it was even more amplified because I was probably in the biggest trial of my career.”
He reflected on the pressure and anxiety he felt leading up to the game and how he could feel the enemy trying to distract him. The two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl were “the hardest two weeks of football I’ve ever had, but at the same time I was focused,” he said.
“God had allowed me to stay focused and just put one foot in front of the other and block out distractions that could’ve prohibited me from taking those leaps of faith or taking those steps without fear.”
Sports often magnify our desire for victory, status and personal achievement. The scoreboard, the trophies, the headlines — they tempt us to measure our worth by performance. But the Christian life reminds us that our value comes not from what we do, but from Whose we are. It also reminds us that there’s beauty in the struggle and the hard times.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us that everything we do — yes, even sports — can be an act of worship. When we play with integrity, serve our teammates and pursue excellence for God’s glory, we reflect His character. Whether we’re on a field, in a classroom or in an office, the goal isn’t just success — it’s faithfulness.
“That was a mountaintop experience that was created by God,” Foles said, “but it wasn’t without those valley experiences, those struggles, those trials, those heartaches that, without them, I wouldn’t have been able to walk in faith that week and trust the Lord.”
— Cole Claybourn
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