Stories of life transformation from the pro sports world
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As a 10-year-old at a summer church camp, Trent Dilfer felt a really strong tug on his heart and made an authentic commitment — at the time — to receive Jesus as his Savior. But for the next 11 years, he remained “living for me.” In college, however, his pastor invited him to a camp where Trent saw dozens of other college athletes living authentic lives for Jesus, and also for others. It was at that camp that he decided to truly make Jesus his Lord and Savior, and begin living a life that was truly about serving others.
Watch the video above to hear Trent Dilfer tell his “I Once Was” story.
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We’re all in the middle of a story, and whether we admit it or not, we want our stories to matter. It’s those stories of deep and lasting impact that come to life when a person encounters Jesus, and responds to Him by faith. “I Once Was” invites those in the pro sports world to share their own transformational stories, describing the very moment that changed their lives forever.
Miami quarterback Carson Beck scores the game-winning touchdown against Ole Miss, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
If Carson Beck could offer just one lesson from the past 12 months of his life, it’s to trust in God and His plan. Easier said than done, sure, but as he prepares to help Miami vie for a national championship on Monday, he offers his football career as an example.
Before transferring to Miami a year ago, he was a two-year starter at Georgia, where he went 24-3 and was a part of two national championship teams in 2021 and 2022. He entered the 2024 season as one of the top overall prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, and he played like it — throwing for 3,485 yards and 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as Georgia went on to win the SEC title.
But his season was cut short after injuring his elbow on the final play of the first half in Georgia’s SEC championship game win over Texas. He had surgery a few weeks later to repair his ulnar collateral ligament, and just five days later on Dec. 28, he declared for the NFL Draft.
But the surgery meant he’d need to recover and not throw a football for about three months. Then he’d need to rebuild strength in his arm before throwing. Any hopes of working out at the NFL Combine were gone, as were any other pre-draft workouts. ESPN reported that Beck was told to expect to be drafted anywhere from the first to third round, and that some teams may be hesitant to take him with an early-round pick if they couldn’t see him throw ahead of time.
He told ESPN in a recent interview that he was “in a very dark place” and it was hard to see any future in football. So he went to God in prayer and sought advice from others close to him.
“I was just trying to accept what had happened,” he said in April 2025 on the “Built 4 More” podcast with pastor Joby Martin and Denny Thompson, a quarterback coach who has also served as a Godly mentor for Beck. “Just working through my mental and trying to make decisions on what my future was going to look like, we ultimately came to the conclusion that coming back to college was going to be the best idea for me.”
He immediately became one of the top prospects in the transfer portal and signed with Miami shortly after. He played high school football at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, so returning to Florida provided some level of familiarity. But effectively, it was a fresh start for Beck, who has said on several occasions that since he arrived at Miami, he’s found joy in playing football again.
“Going to a new place with new people and new coaches and kind of revitalizing everything — obviously leaving that behind and moving on to something new created new energy and good energy for me and my mental space,” he said on the podcast. “Ultimately, I do think it was the best decision for me.”
With Beck at the helm, the Hurricanes opened the season as the No. 10 team and quickly knocked off then-No. 6 Notre Dame, 27-24, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in their first game. Miami finished the regular season 10-2 and snuck into the College Football Playoff as the No. 10 seed, which led to some debates on whether or not they belonged.
But the Hurricanes have handled the criticism on the field, defeating No. 7-seed Texas A&M, 10-3, at Kyle Field, and then beating defending-national-champion and No. 2-seed Ohio State, 24-14, in the Cotton Bowl. Miami then out-dueled No. 6 Ole Miss, 31-27, in the Fiesta Bowl, with Beck’s touchdown run late in the fourth quarter proving to be the game-winner.
“I feel like God has a plan in everything He does and everything ultimately comes into fruition for A, B or C reason,” he said on the podcast. “You end up figuring that out in time. Even after the injury, it wasn’t even in my thought to go back to college.”
Now, he’ll not only get to play for a national championship for the first time as a starter, but he’ll get to do it at home, with Monday’s game being played at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes have a tall task again in facing unbeaten and No. 1 Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza — who grew up in Miami and will be enjoying a homecoming of his own.
“Throughout this year, the biggest thing that God has taught me is to trust in Him and His plan. Although I might not understand what the end of all of this might look like, His plan will come into fruition no matter what I might be in in the moment,” Beck said ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. “Obviously that can be hard when, you know, back in March I’m sitting there and I’m in a brace and going through rehab, and I can’t throw a football yet, and I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t know what the season’s going to look like. There’s so many question marks and unknowns. It’s in those moments that you have to lean into that the most.
“Even with that, things aren’t going to be perfect. Things are never going to be perfect. Continuing to lean into that and focusing on my identity in Christ and my faith is something that has really pushed me through. It’s gotten me through everything that I’ve been through.”
Beck — who plays with a cross symbol on his right thigh pad and draws crosses with eye black on his face for games — will lead the Canes against Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans smiles during an NFL wild-card playoff game, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Defense travels.
That was certainly the case Monday night, as the AFC’s No. 5 seed — the Houston Texans — traveled to Pittsburgh and defeated the No. 4-seeded Steelers in decisive fashion, 30-6, to complete the final piece of the NFL divisional-round playoff puzzle. It was the Texans’ first road playoff win in the franchise’s 24-year history. Previously, they were 0-6.
Leaning on the league’s stingiest defense built by third-year head coach (and former Texans defensive star) DeMeco Ryans, Houston had built a white-hot nine-game winning streak to finish the regular season. It extended the streak to 10 by doing the exact same thing on Monday.
Houston clung to a tight 7-6 lead entering the fourth quarter, and then came alive. Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 51-yard field goal with 13:07 left. Then on the ensuing Pittsburgh possession, Texans defensive end Will Anderson hit Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who fumbled. Fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked up the loose ball and ran it back for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Texans’ defense forced Pittsburgh to punt and the offense then responded with an 11-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Woody Marks. But it was the defense, again, which put the finishing touches on Houston’s historic victory.
With less than three minutes remaining, Rodgers launched a pass deep downfield that was intercepted by Houston safety Calen Bullock Jr. at the 50 yard-line. Bullock returned it down the left sideline for the Texans’ second defensive touchdown of the game and their final points in the 30-6 win.
It was a dominant defensive performance indeed, but one that was by no means surprising. The Texans boasted the NFL’s No. 1 defense in 2025-26, leading the way with the fewest yards allowed per game (277.2) during the regular season. They also forced the third-most turnovers (29) and allowed the second-fewest points per game (17.4).
“First and foremost for me,” Ryans said to begin his press conference, “I just want to give all praise, honor and glory to our God, who’s been gracious to us, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“What a game. What a performance by our guys. Guys just continue to let their light shine through how they’re playing.”
On the back of his great defense that shined once again on Monday, Ryans led his team to an incredible mid-season turnaround to reach the playoffs for the third time in his three seasons at the helm. The Texans began this season with three straight losses but finished 12-5, becoming only the fifth team since 1990 to start a season 0-3 and reach the playoffs. Houston is now the first franchise to do it twice, having accomplished the feat in 2018 as well.
Houston’s players and coaches have seemed to rally around the Biblical concept from Matthew 5:16 of letting their light shine as they’ve compiled their impressive winning streak. Ryans expanded a bit about it after a Dec. 27 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“The light is shining bright on the Texans, but that light is really reflective of our guys’ belief in the Lord and Savior — our Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ,” he told the media that day. “That’s what’s driven our team, and I’m so proud of our guys and thankful to the Lord for allowing us to allow our lights to shine through Him.
“Just all praise and honor goes to Him.”
Anderson alluded to Matthew 5:16 in the aftermath of Monday’s game.
“First, I gotta give all glory to God,” Anderson told ESPN. “Thank You, Jesus Christ. We have a Scripture saying, ‘Let our light shine before You, God,’ that when people see us play, they glorify Your name. Just a shoutout to Jesus Christ.”
Ryans made it clear from his introductory press conference as head coach that, as he sought to lead his beloved Texans to greatness, he’d never forget to praise God or thank Him for the gift it is to have the opportunity.
“I’m thankful to God that He’s just paved the way for me through everything that I’ve been through in life,” Ryans said in February 2023.
Before the Super Bowl in 2020, when he was a San Francisco 49ers’ defensive assistant, Ryans revealed to Sports Spectrum his deepest motivations as a coach.
“You’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s why we’re all here — and that’s by the grace of God,” Ryans said. “Why are we in the position that we’re in? Why are we able to do what we do? That’s by God blessing us with this awesome opportunity to reach back and teach these young men, help these young men, but we have to stay grounded in the Word.
“We can get caught up in our work, a lot of long hours, a lot of long days, but you can’t forget what sustains us, and that’s Jesus Christ.”
Ryans will lead the Texans on the road again in their divisional-round matchup against the No. 2-seeded New England Patriots, hoping for a repeat performance from his defense to earn Houston’s first AFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history. Yet all the while, he will continue to seek to integrate Biblical principles into his coaching, knowing that a win would be in vain if it doesn’t bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Kickoff from Foxborough is set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey runs against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
With much still to be decided in this year’s NFL playoffs, one thing is already certain coming out of wild-card weekend: A new champion will be crowned.
The No. 6 seed in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers upended the defending-champion and No. 3-seeded Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, on Sunday in Philadelphia behind the strength of two fourth-quarter touchdowns from superstar running back Christian McCaffrey.
Trailing 16-10 on the first snap of the fourth, the Niners dialed up a trick play. The ball was pitched to wideout Jauan Jennings on what appeared to be an end-around, but the receiver rose up to pass and found an open McCaffrey for a game-tying 29-yard touchdown.
The Eagles re-took the lead on a field goal with eight minutes remaining, but it wasn’t enough. The 49ers capped a 10-play, 66-yard drive with a four-yard TD pass to McCaffrey with 2:54 to go. McCaffrey’s second touchdown reception of the contest proved to be the game-winner.
McCaffrey finished the day with 15 rushing attempts for 48 yards and six receptions (including his two touchdowns) for 66 yards — 114 total yards from scrimmage.
McCaffrey made sure to praise God in his first public comments after his clutch performance on Sunday.
“God is good,” he told Fox Sports’ Tom Rinaldi on the field moments after the final whistle blew. “Our team fights. We take it each day at a time and go as hard as we can every single time. … I love this group so much. I don’t have enough good things to say about them. I’m proud to be a part of this team.”
His 49ers now advance to the divisional round, where they will take on the NFC’s No. 1 seed and their bitter division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. The teams split their regular-season meetings, with the 49ers winning in Seattle in Week 1 and the Seahawks winning in San Francisco in Week 18.
At 29 years old, McCaffrey is in his third full season with San Francisco. He was traded to the 49ers mid-season in 2022 after spending the first five and a half years of his pro career with the Carolina Panthers. The former Stanford Cardinal was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time of his career in late December, and on Sunday, he became a first-team All-Pro selection for the fourth time. He was also named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
The 2025-26 campaign has been one of McCaffrey’s best in the NFL, playing all 17 games (after being limited to only four in 2024 due to injuries) and accumulating 1,202 rushing yards with 10 TDs and 924 receiving yards with seven TDs. His 2,126 regular-season scrimmage yards this season were the second-most in his decorated career (behind 2,392 in 2019) and the third time overall he’s eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark.
McCaffrey’s incredible football skill is undeniable, and his accomplishments are abundant. His fame is international. Still, he says none of that sits on the throne of his heart.
“[My faith in Christ] means everything to me,” McCaffrey told Sports Spectrum at the Super Bowl in February 2024. “My faith has gotten me where I am in life and through all the ups and downs when I rely on God. Anytime I’m having a tough day or having a bad time in my life, I just get back to getting into the Word — it’s got all the answers. So it’s the most important thing in my life and it’s something that I know I’ll always have to lean back on and to make a priority.”
The son of former Denver Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey, Christian grew up in a football-crazed family with three brothers who went on to play Division-I football as well. But as important as football was to Christian, his relationship with Christ was much more so.
The star running back is often seen praying before or during each game, knowing he’s called to surrender to the One who holds all things in His hands. Leading up to the wild-card matchup with Philadelphia, he cited the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 4:16 in one of his Instagram posts.
McCaffrey isn’t shy to speak about his faith publicly and often posts Bible verses on Instagram for 2.7 million followers to see. He wants others to know that, as badly as he wants to add a Super Bowl title to his growing list of accolades, his faith is what ultimately motivates him.
“My faith is very important to me, and that’s why I’m praying all the time,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle in October 2023. “When you have a bunch of people chanting your name, it’s important that you give the honor and glory back to the Person — God — that’s allowing me to do this.”
As usual, the 49ers will rely heavily on McCaffrey against Seattle to avoid the fate they suffered the last time they faced the Seahawks, when San Francisco managed to score only three points. Saturday’s matchup will kick off at 8 p.m. ET.
Jordan Babineaux in 2008. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING JORDAN BABINEAUX
Jordan Babineaux played nine seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans. He was undrafted after playing college football at Division-II Southern Arkansas.
Nicknamed “Big Play Babs,” Jordan played in Super Bowl XL with the Seahawks and made the famous tackle on Tony Romo after a botched field-goal attempt in the 2006 NFC Wild-Card Game between Seattle and Dallas.
Matt Forte welcomes Jordan Babineaux to the podcast to discuss his miraculous journey to the NFL and how he was able to overcome the loss of his dad to achieve success. Jordan also discusses his retirement and transition away from the game, and the importance of pivoting well.
#27 Jordan Babineaux was signed as a UDFA by the #Seahawks in 2004, making 10 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, 32 PBUs, 4 sacks & a safety in 7 seasons pic.twitter.com/18dak4460x
