THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING DUSTIN HOPKINS
Dustin Hopkins is a kicker with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was selected in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, following a standout career in college at Florida State, where he set a Division I record in 2012 for career points by a kicker (442) and was named an All-American.
In the NFL, Hopkins played in 2013 with Buffalo, but was released after an injury. He was signed to the Saints practice squad, but ultimately found a home in Washington in 2015, and spent six seasons with the team until his surprise release in 2021. After being picked up by the Chargers, Hopkins had a great finish to last season and signed a three-year contract extension to remain in Los Angeles.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Hopkins about his faith in Jesus, getting released by Washington in 2021, trusting in God’s plan, lessons from his former coach Bobby Bowden, and the importance of praying in all aspects of his life.
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young points Heavenward, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
If the Carolina Panthers are to repeat as NFC South champions in 2026-27, leaving Philadelphia on Sunday with a victory over the Eagles — who were playing without starting QB Jalen Hurts and starting RB Saquon Barkley — was essential. And that’s just what Carolina did after its workmanlike 25-14 win, which improved the Panthers to 3-2 on the season and gave them a two-game lead in the loss column in the divisional race.
Carolina was led once again by quarterback Bryce Young, who continued his spectacular start to the season with 281 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and no turnovers. In the process, he set a franchise record for touchdown passes through five games with 11, and he leads the entire NFL in passing yards per game (309.8).
“First and foremost, all glory to God,” Young told CBS in an on-field interview moments after the final whistle. “I’m nothing without my Lord and Savior.”
His postgame comments were not the first time Young had publicly acknowledged his Father in Heaven on the field on Sunday; he also bowed his head in prayer when he saw an Eagles defender on the ground injured in the second quarter.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said. “Without Him I couldn’t be here. And through Him all things are possible.”
Then immediately after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by Carolina, Young told ESPN, “I’m blessed. I want to thank God for allowing me to be here.”
Now 25 and an early-season contender for 2026 NFL MVP, Young is on a career trajectory that has almost completely turned around. He struggled as a rookie as his team went 2-15 in 2023-24. The next season didn’t start any better, as Young threw three interceptions without a touchdown and the Panthers started 0-2. Young was benched before the third game, with no timetable for his return. He did eventually return to the starting lineup later that season.
He was asked about his 2024 benching on “The Pivot Podcast” this past February, and he described that time as a “blessing.”
“That was one of the first times in a professional sense that I had no choice,” Young said on the podcast. “I think that wasn’t an accident. I think God put me there to know that faith is real, for me to strengthen my faith. Really, for me to be able to experience God in a different way.”
Young knows the adversity he faced early in his NFL career was simply one step in a lifelong journey of God drawing the quarterback into a deeper relationship with Himself.
“I’m based in faith,” Young said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast while at Alabama in 2022. “I’m blessed to have the family that I do that introduced me [to Christ] when I was young. Throughout my life, my relationship has grown with the Lord and my faith has improved.
“Through that, I work to be the best version of myself that I can be, and to embody Christ in all that I do.”
On the field, Young will seek to continue his hot start next week against the division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-5). Kickoff is set for Charlotte on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST, FEATURING JOSH LINDBLOM & SCOTT LINEBRINK
On today’s Sports Spectrum podcast, former MLB pitchers Josh Lindblom and Scott Linebrink discuss the topic of identity and finding our purpose and worth outside of sports.
