Chargers’ wide receiver Vincent Brown is anything but your typical NFL player. Off the field, the down-to-earth Upland, California, native is at home in jeans and Converse playing the drums with the energy of a teenager! On the field, the fourth year player is one of quarterback Philip Rivers’ top targets.
During the 2013 season, Brown played a pivotal role in helping San Diego reach the playoffs, pulling down 41 receptions for 472 yards. The Bolts didn’t advance past the third game of the playoffs, but for Brown, the entire experience was thrilling. The season served as a huge comeback year after limited playing time his rookie year in 2011 because of a hamstring injury—and then suffering a broken ankle during the 2012 preseason.
“God really got my attention [with the ankle],” shares the 25-year-old. “Taking away football shifted my thinking to put me on the right track—that football is important, but there is nothing more important than God. It was a hard experience to go through, but the growth I had through that process was amazing.”
“The first three weeks, I was stuck on my couch and couldn’t move,” Brown says. “I physically couldn’t do anything in my own power. Every time I went to make a decision, I realized that all my strength and power came from God. That’s exactly where he wanted me to be; God first, and everything else falls into place, just like Scripture says.”
Studying the Word, going to Bible study, and finding teammates to stay accountable with has made all the difference in Brown’s walk with Christ while living in the limelight. He attends the Rock Church in San Diego, is involved in a few Bible studies, and regularly meets with teammate Darrell Stuckey and FCA’s Colin Sinclair.
“Meeting with others helps me keep on track, and keep accountable with each other,” he says. “I try to just focus on using the gifts God gave me to show God’s love. That’s what I’m all about. I’m just a normal guy.” Brown’s goals entering this season are to play his role on the offense, to take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way, and to praise God through it all. “I want to praise God in football and to let people know who God is, and not be afraid to take the step out to play for him,” he sums. “I want to worship God, and that’s how football is for me.”
A lot of guys point up to the sky when they score a touchdown, and whether or not it’s sincere, for Brown it is, and he makes sure to kneel in a prayer of thanks. “I was never the biggest or strongest athlete,” says the San Diego State University graduate. “I had to work really hard to get where I’m at. I would stay after practice and take extra reps to get better.”
That hard work has given him an amazing platform to share more about his Savior, including a special moment that took place during a recent offseason vacation. Brown and a few teammates traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to relax and unwind. “God taught me that He is everywhere, even when you’re on vacation,” he shares. “I remember sitting on the balcony of the hotel, and God put it on my heart that there was something that He wanted me to do there.”
What happened next is what Brown considers not only the highlight of his trip, but also one of his most significant experiences of seeing the power of the Holy Spirit work in someone’s heart. “That evening, we went down to the restaurant area of the hotel, and a man we had met the night before approached us,” says Brown. “He came up and said, ‘I don’t know what it is, but I’m drawn to you guys. There’s something different about you. I want to know what it is.’”
Brown and a friend shared their faith stories with the man, and eventually led him to the Lord that evening. “The Holy Spirit was moving in that place,” he shares. “I could have played a football
game I was so hyped up after that.”
The meaningful story is just another reason why Vincent Brown is not your typical NFL player. He has a heart for impacting the world around him, and isn’t afraid to step out in faith and share the Good News of what Christ has done in his life. This fall, Brown will be hyped up for the gridiron, and who knows, he may just help the Chargers reach the playoffs again.
Adam Thielen in October 2025. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST HOSTED BY MATT FORTE, FEATURING ADAM THIELEN
Adam Thielen played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was originally undrafted in 2013 after a stellar career with Division-II Minnesota State. He spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Vikings before moving to Carolina in 2023 and 2024. In his final season of 2025, he returned to Minnesota before finishing with the Steelers.
His 13-year career includes two Pro Bowl invitations, three 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and an NFL-record eight straight games in which he surpassed 100 receiving yards in 2018.
Today on the podcast, Adam Thielen talks with Matt Forte about his decision to retire from the NFL in 2026, the feeling he’ll have watching an NFL game on a Sunday for the first time, his incredible journey from Division-II undrafted player to Pro Bowl wide receiver, and how choosing to follow Jesus has been the cornerstone of his life.
Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker (80) prepares to make a catch, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
If every championship run is a story, each game of the regular season is its own chapter. For Indiana, the Big Ten championship win over Ohio State was a major part of the plot as the Hoosiers claimed their first Big Ten title and went onto an undefeated season and the program’s first national championship last season.
In a tightly contested 13-10 game on Dec. 6, it was Charlie Becker’s catch on a back-shoulder fade late in the fourth quarter to seal the game that was arguably the climax of that particular chapter. It put a cap on a career night for him — six catches for 126 yards — and the win propelled Indiana to a top seed in the College Football Playoff and, eventually, a national championship win over Miami.
After barely seeing the field and not catching a single pass as freshman, Becker started eight of Indiana’s 16 games in 2025, catching 34 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns. His 20.0 yards per catch led the Big Ten, and he recorded three 100-yard games, including that Big Ten title game.
That particular game, and perhaps that catch, made him somewhat of a household name. And he used the platform in his postgame interview with Fox Sports to share about his faith.
“We’re so blessed to be able to come out here,” Becker told FOX Sports. “All glory to God. Without Him, none of this would be possible, so all glory to Him.”
Indiana lost a lot of talent from last year’s championship team, including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. That means Becker is a key returning piece of a Hoosiers team that’s ranked No. 5 in the nation and looking to defend its Big Ten and national championship titles. Several NFL Draft projections even have him being selected in the top 10 of the 2027 draft.
A state-champion hurdler at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, Becker runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash. His 6-foot-4-inch frame also makes him a big target as a wide receiver. The Hoosiers added highly touted transfer Nick Marsh from Michigan State in the offseason, but Becker is still expected to be the top target for quarterback Josh Hoover, who transferred from TCU.
Becker led the Hoosiers in their Week 1 win over North Texas with four catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Those two scores already make up half of his total from last season. But this year they also mean far more to him — and others — than just points on a scoreboard. In honor of his aunt, who he’s said was diagnosed with ALS five years ago, every touchdown he scores this season will come with a $1000 donation a foundation he founded called Huddle for Hope, which is aimed at helping those with ALS.
Becker shared about this plan while appearing as a guest on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show,” and McAfee immediately said he would match each donation. McAfee also called on celebrities and Indiana alumni like Mark Cuban, ESPN’s Joe Buck and Mendoza to join them.
Becker is vocal about how much his faith in God propels everything he does. He has 1 Corinthians 16:13 in his Instagram bio, and he shared about his faith ahead of the national championship game last season.
“God is everything for me and my family,” Becker told CBN Sports. “The amazing things that He’s done, the gifts that He’s given me, it’s a blessing to be on this stage and promoting Him.”
Maryland quarterback Malik Washington, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
With some experience under his belt, Malik Washington is vowing to be much more of a vocal leader for the Maryland football team this season. The true sophomore is back as the starting quarterback and hoping to lead the Terrapins to a better record than their 4-8 mark a season ago, which started with four wins before eight straight losses.
Washington is a key returning piece to a team that includes 16 transfer portal players and will look to compete in the tough Big Ten Conference, where last season the Terps posted a 1-8 record in conference play.
“It’s kind of easier when there’s less gray area about the team and your position,” Washington said last week. “We knew coming into the offseason, I was staying here… it just made it a lot easier to get guys along the same path I was on.”
Last season, Washington threw 473 pass attempts for 2,963 yards and 17 touchdowns as a true freshman, but he has almost an entirely new receiving corps this season. As one of the team leaders, it’s on him to help get everyone up to speed and clicking quickly.
The first test was Saturday’s season-opener against Hampton, which Maryland won convincingly, 62-0. Washington completed 19 of 31 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. It was Maryland’s first win since Sept. 20 of last year, before the eight-game losing streak.
After Saturday’s win, Washington made good on his vow to be more of a vocal leader and actually used his press conference to share about Jesus. Washington discussed Matthew 13, the Parable of the Sower, which he explained as a story about soil and setting the right foundation.
“I think coming off the first week, it’s important to set a foundation, and we did that today,” Washington said. “It talks about the farmer who had four seeds and planted them on four different types of soil. One was the path, which gave no room for it to grow; there was no place for it to take root. It was stuck on rocks and had no place to sink into the ground. Second is the shallow soil. It sprouted, but there wasn’t enough place for it to grow some deep roots, so it couldn’t get to the sunlight the way it needed.
“The third is the soil with the thorns around it. You kind of want to stay away from that in this game. You don’t want to have a lot of thorns around you within your program because you may blossom for a little bit, but all the thorns are going to do is just choke you out and not allow you to get to the place that you want to go.”
The last is the fertile soil, which is where Washington said this year’s team has planted its seeds — especially in Saturday’s game.
“We showed who we are as a team — very well-rounded,” Washington said. “I’m just really proud of everybody and what we did today.”
Washington started making a habit of sharing a Bible verse or a message of faith during press conferences last season, and it appears that’s carrying over to this season. In a press conference following the team’s final game last year, it was on his heart to share that “God always has your back.”
“Jesus loves you, and no matter how far gone you think you may be, God’s always waiting for you,” he said. “All you have to do is take that first step toward Him and He’s ready to embrace you with open arms. No matter how far out there you may be, how many trials or tribulations you’re going through, as long as you turn toward Him, He’ll be able to carry it for you.”
Washington also uses his own social media as an outlet to be vocal about his faith. His Instagram bio references Jeremiah 29:11, and after his debut win as a freshman, he posted on X, “All glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!”
Going forward, the schedule only picks up in difficulty for Maryland. The Terps are on the road this week to face UConn, then head back home for a game against Virginia Tech before starting Big Ten play on Sept. 26 at home against UCLA. Maryland is looking to reach a bowl game for the first time since a 2023 Music City Bowl win over Auburn.
Bo Nix, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Alex Highsmith, Kyren Williams, Carson Schwesinger. (AP Photos)
Finally, after all the “bold predictions” have been made, the storylines have taken shape and the rosters have been set, the 2026-27 NFL season is upon us. As the Seattle Seahawks begin the difficult task of seeking to defend their Super Bowl LX title, players around the nation are brimming with confidence that their team will unseat the champs.
Yet even as players work tirelessly to maximize their ability on the field, many find rest for their souls in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Here are 10 Christ-following players (in alphabetical order) likely to catch your eye this season.
Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers running back
Brooks has only suited up for three regular-season NFL games (12 total touches) since he was drafted by the Panthers in the second round in the 2024 NFL Draft, thanks to two ACL tears in his right knee. One effectively ended his college career at Texas in 2023 while the other was just three games into his rookie season. Now, after missing all of 2025, Brooks is fully healthy and poised for a breakout 2026 campaign. Still, Brooks — who was baptized in April — knows that whatever happens this year, it will be for God’s glory. “I know that God has a plan for me, and I know that He makes no mistakes, and He’s using my story to show the world the amazing things He can do.”
Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys safety
Downs was the fourth Ohio State Buckeye selected in the 2026 NFL Draft when the Cowboys took him at No. 11, but he may wind up making a bigger impact than any of the others. Downs joins a defense that ranked dead last in points allowed (30.1) and passing yards allowed per game (251.5) in 2025, and the rookie’s smart, high-energy playing style will be noticed immediately. At the same time, Downs will also seek to bring a humble, Christlike spirit to the Cowboys’ locker room. “The realization is that Jesus is for the people that are sick. Jesus is for the people that aren’t perfect,” Downs said on “The Walk” podcast last year. “You’re never going to be perfect enough to come to Jesus. That’s the point.”
Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
After a monstrous 14.5-sack output in 2022, Highsmith has seen various injuries pile up in recent years. Now entering his seventh season at the age of 29, the pass-rushing specialist is hoping for a return to that elite level of production. In order to reach such heights, Highsmith will need to gel quickly with new head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. But Highsmith said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in April that a restoration of on-field success won’t be the only thing he’ll be working toward this fall in the power of the Holy Spirit. “As long as we’re striving to become more like the Lord and more like Christ, that’s what it’s about,” he said.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints tight end
Johnson had quite the year individually in 2025 as he broke out with career highs in receptions (77) and yards (889). He consistently provided an athletic target over the middle for rookie QB Tyler Shough as the Saints hit their stride and compiled a four-game win streak toward the end of last season. Johnson will turn 30 on Sunday, and with Shough now entrenched as the starter, Johnson is hoping his team can return to the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season in 2020. Throughout the highs and lows of his career, Johnson has been steadied by Christ. “Jesus is someone who is and who always will be,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “… Because of what He’s done, He was hung on a tree and He died for us.”
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos quarterback
In just his second year in the NFL, Nix led the Broncos all the way to the AFC Championship Game last season, throwing for 3,931 yards (eighth most in the league) on the way to a 14-3 regular-season record. The challenge for the 26-year-old in 2026 is to continue to build upon what has already been an impressive start to his career. Nix proudly displays faith-based pads and wrist bands while playing, and he knows that even as he chases success, he’s playing for something far greater. “I’m not playing the game just because of football and for wins and losses and for all this fame or glory,” he told The Oregonian in December 2023. “It’s [that] God’s presented me with the opportunity. He’s given me a gift and I want to use it to influence other people.”
"The cross I wear on my wrist symbolizes where I find my true joy. It doesn’t come from success on or off the field. It comes from the good news of Jesus Christ and actively pursuing a relationship with Him."
Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns linebacker
One of the main reasons why the Browns improved from the 19th-best defense in 2024 to the fourth-best in 2025 was the addition of Schwesinger to the team’s linebacker room. The 2025 second-round NFL draft pick amassed 156 combined tackles in 2025 (most by a rookie, sixth in the entire NFL) in only 16 games; a quad injury prematurely ended his season. He was recognized for his efforts as the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Schwesinger could catapult himself into discussions as one of the top defenders in the league with a repeat performance. As he seeks to frustrate NFL offenses at every turn, he does so as a follower of Christ. In June, he was baptized at a “Cleveland for Christ” event at a public pool with many of his teammates.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
Smith-Njigba erupted in 2025, his third season in the NFL, for a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards on 119 receptions with 10 touchdowns to help the Seahawks to a 14-3 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC, en route to winning Super Bowl LX. He was awarded with NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. Now entering 2026, cemented as one of the best receivers in the league at just 24 years old, the speedster is preparing to help his team “run it forward.” But football isn’t the only thing Smith-Njigba practices. “I need to focus and train,” he said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in August, “so when I get to the biggest stage, I can scream [Christ’s] name and praise the Lord in front of millions.”
Drake Thomas, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Thomas went undrafted out of NC State in 2023 because he was considered undersized (5-foot-11, 228 pounds). But he caught on with Seattle, and a season ago, emerged as a starter for a defense that gave up the fewest points per game (17.2) in the NFL. Seattle rode that defense all the way to a Super Bowl victory, as Thomas recorded 96 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, a fumble recovery and a crucial Week 18 interception. The Seahawks will once again rely on Thomas in 2026 as they aim to maintain their place at the top of the NFL. Meanwhile, Thomas relies on the firm foundation of Christ. “Jesus is everything to me,” he told Sports Spectrum at Super Bowl LX Opening Night. “Without Jesus, I’m not here. He’s the unshakeable foundation that I lean on in all situations.”
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams running back
Williams in 2025 registered his third consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns for a Rams team that advanced all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Now, with many key pieces — like Williams — returning, many experts believe the Rams are the team to beat in 2026. For L.A. to take the next step, the 5-foot-9, 207-pound Williams will need to replicate the level of consistent production he has grown accustomed to. The 26-year-old knows God has him in the NFL to advance His Kingdom. “I play football because that’s what the Lord has blessed me to do, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” he said last year. “But my message and my purpose is bigger than just football.”
Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins quarterback Willis started six games during his first four years in the NFL, but in none of those seasons was it truly “his team.” That’s about to change with the Miami Dolphins in 2026. A third-round pick out of Liberty in 2022, Willis struggled in 11 appearances with the Tennessee Titans, but after 11 impressive outings as a backup with the Green Bay Packers, the 27-year-old dual-threat QB signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins in March to be their starter. Throughout the dizzying ups and downs of his NFL journey, Willis has been steadied by his relationship with Jesus. “I choose to always give the glory to Him,” Willis told Sports Spectrum in 2021. “… You’re using the abilities that God gives you and go out there and glorify His name and try to spread the Gospel.”
