THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING TRA BATTLE
Tra Battle is a former NFL defensive back, who spent time with the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. In college, he played under head coach Mark Richt at the University of Georgia. Battle’s signature game occurred in 2006, when his Bulldogs beat No. 5-ranked Auburn as Battle had three interceptions, including a pick-six.
In 2013, he reached rock bottom mentally and contemplated ending his life.
Today on the podcast, Tra Battle shares his powerful story of how coach Mark Richt saved him from a dark moment in his life, and how that experience transformed Battle’s perspective on life and faith. He emphasizes the importance of community and hearing God’s voice in his life.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
The Dallas Cowboys have a new word to describe their mindset on and off the field each week: “Godfidence.” It’s a word head coach Brian Schottenheimer brought into the team’s vocabulary as he looks to build a culture of faith, purpose and brotherhood.
For Schottenheimer, his faith in Jesus isn’t merely a motivational tool that he pulls out when things are going well. It’s at the center of how he views his life and his work, and it’s something he’s made clear is the most important thing to him since he took over as head coach in January 2025.
“That’s who he is,” quarterback Dak Prescott said during his press conference after Sunday’s 34-30 win over Houston. “That’s who I am, and that’s who a lot of our guys on our team are. Just trying to be contagious, understanding that we’re all here because of God and we’re all here to serve a greater purpose.”
Prescott has been with the Cowboys for 11 seasons and played under three different head coaches. He said there’s a noticeable difference in the culture under Schottenheimer, especially as it pertains to players feeling more comfortable in expressing and being vocal about their faith.
There usually aren’t many empty seats at team chapels, which Prescott said is also a credit to team chaplain Jonathan Evans and his father, Dr. Tony Evans.
“I’ve been through so much in my life. God’s always been the reason and Who I fall back on and my refuge,” Prescott said. “I can’t thank Him enough and never will be able to thank Him enough. So just to see that transcend throughout our team, starting with our head coach, is special. It’s something we take pride in, but at the end of the day, it’s about giving Him the glory.”
The Cowboys are 2-2 and enter a primetime game on “Thursday Night Football” against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dallas is averaging 30.5 points per game, which is tied for second in the NFL, with Schottenheimer in his second year as head coach and primary playcaller after serving as the offensive coordinator under Mike McCarthy from 2023 to 2024.
Schottenheimer’s message on the field so far this season has been about consistency and finishing. And connecting it all is the idea that they’re one family. Schottenheimer makes no apologies for what fuels him.
“God is the center of everything that I do — as a husband, father, football coach, whatever,” he said in his press conference Monday. “I think it’s very strong among our team.”
He displays that faith with his action, but also publicly on his body. He has five tattoos that he says remind him of his “whys.” On his left forearm is “Jireh” which is Hebrew for “The Lord will provide.” Near that one are three nails in the form of a cross.
When McCarthy and the Cowboys agreed to part ways, there was always a risk that coordinators like Schottenheimer would also be left out of a job if the new head coach wanted to bring in their own hires. At 51 years old, Schottenheimer had put together a lengthy resume as a position coach and coordinator, so he’d likely be able to find work on another staff. But the thought of having to move and start over again elsewhere crossed his and his wife Gemmi’s minds.
Their faith kept them grounded, she recently said.
“If we didn’t have our faith, I think we could’ve crumbled many times,” Gemmi said this summer on the “Twins Take Podcast.” “This is such an unstable life that we live and you never know what’s next. It’s really year-to-year and it’s a lot of uncertainty. But I think we’ve always had this solid foundation of knowing that the Lord’s never going to leave us and He’s never going to guide us in the wrong direction. We may not like it, but I think we know that what we’re doing is exactly what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Whatever his next path looked like, Schottenheimer still hoped that being a head coach would be part of his resume one day. And as it turned out, he didn’t have to move, and his chance to become a head coach also came. Instead of hiring an external candidate, owner and general manager Jerry Jones elevated Schottenheimer to head coach ahead of the 2025 season.
“We were really just obedient in that regard and we were just like, ‘Whatever You have in store for us is what’s meant to be,’ and then it happened,” Gemmi said. “You have to just trust that whatever path you’re on, that’s exactly where God has you and you’re supposed to be there. You never know when something is going to happen.”
Among his many stops, Schottenheimer recalled being a quarterbacks coach under his father, longtime NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer, for the San Diego Chargers in 2003. Team chaplain Shawn Mitchell made a profound impact on him and his faith, and the younger Schottenheimer felt led to start a coach’s Bible study. He was just 28 years old and it was about six months before he found out he had thyroid cancer. Meanwhile, Gemmi was three months pregnant with their son, Sutton.
Brian credits that season of life to helping him get much more connected with God personally, and it also helped strengthen his and Gemmi’s marriage and faith walks.
“Some of the things that we’ve been through are bigger than football,” he said on the podcast. “Football is our job. It’s not our life. We love it. It’s what we do, but it all starts with God.”
Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan points Heavenward after one of his touchdowns, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Carolina Panthers second-year wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan chose a great time to have his best game as a professional, as he snagged 14 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns to lead Carolina past the Detroit Lions, 32-26, on “Sunday Night Football.” The performance set career highs in both receptions and yards, and it tied a career high in receiving TDs.
Later, the Panthers added another touchdown and a field goal to hold on for the victory, which moved them to 2-2 on the season and guaranteed they’ll be tied atop the NFC South after Week 4 (the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints — both 1-2 — play Monday night).
“Obviously, it’s a good feeling,” McMillan said of his performance in Sunday’s postgame press conference, with his characteristic eye-black crosses still on his face. “It’s just in that moment, I just feel the trust from obviously the coordinators making the call for me, getting the ball in my hands, and obviously [Young] just giving me the opportunity. Just super grateful, for sure.”
McMillan’s two receiving touchdowns under the Sunday night lights were the first two of his 2026-27 season, although he did reach the 100-yard plateau in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons. His scoring drought to begin this season nearly mirrored his rookie campaign a year ago, when he didn’t catch a TD until Carolina’s sixth game.
“I’m not really worried about it, man,” McMillan said last year after being asked about his lack of touchdowns early in the season. “God never makes a mistake. When the time comes and it happens, it’s meant to be.”
Despite the delay, McMillan finished last season with seven touchdowns and 1,014 yards on 70 receptions, a performance which earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in February. In his acceptance speech at NFL Honors, McMillan made sure to credit his Heavenly Father.
“God has just been so amazing to me,” he said while wearing a cross necklace and a traditional Hawaiian lei. “He has blessed me with amazing opportunities. He has surrounded me with such incredible people who have invested in me and impacted my life. God is just so amazing. Without Him, none of this would be possible. I’m just so grateful, so blessed, man.”
McMillan was born in Hawaii, and family is central in Hawaiian culture. The McMillans are no different. Tetairoa’s mother, Shawny Dutro, introduced him at NFL Honors wearing a lei of her own. Meanwhile, Tetairoa credits his grandmother, Blanche McMillan, with inspiring him in all areas of his life.
“She inspires me in her faith,” Tetairoa said of his grandmother last season, via Panthers.com. “She’s so strong in her faith. She’s always been the rock of our family. … I feel like she taught me a lot about humility, hospitality, just having a big heart. Even to this day, she still surprises me with how big her heart is.”
Shortly after Tetairoa’s NFL dream came true when Carolina selected him No. 8 overall in the 2025 draft, the McMillan family threw him a party in Hawaii with many friends, such as Fifita, and family in attendance. The party featured worship music, and McMillan even came on stage to lead the crowd in a song.
At one point during the party, Fifita told McMillan, “It’s just amazing to see that as far as you’ve come, as much limelight as you’ve gotten, the attention, all the accolades, you’ve never forgotten who your identity was. You always identify in Christ. You give Him all the glory.”
Praising the Lord is something McMillan did often in the aftermath of the draft, including on social media.
As he seeks to continue to honor God on and off the field, McMillan will have a few extra days to enjoy Sunday’s performance; Carolina is now on its bye week. The Panthers are back in action for a road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. ET.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST, FEATURING ANNABELLE HASSELBECK, JOSH LINDBLOM & SCOTT LINEBRINK
Today on the Sports Spectrum Podcast, former MLB pitchers Scott Linebrink and Josh Lindblom are joined by “What’s Up” podcast host Annabelle Hasselbeck to talk about the state of youth sports and navigating the balance of young people in athletics and growing in a relationship with Christ.
NEW PODCAST: Brad Mann uses youth basketball as a way to share the Gospel with kids by intersecting his love of basketball with his love of God. Brad's an overcomer, having beat cancer twice and his story is inspiring. Take a listen 👇https://t.co/5YDEbSDzYC
