Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell (93) waves his arms to energize the fans during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Over its 31 years of existence, one thing is clear about Athletes in Action’s annual Super Bowl Breakfast: God has divinely orchestrated each event.
The very nature of the breakfast — created in 1988 as an outreach to business executives in the Super Bowl host city — means some logistical challenges for those who plan the event. Every year brings a new city, a new venue, a new steering committee, new sponsors, and a new award winner … one that isn’t known until about four weeks before the event.
Still, the massive undertaking comes together every February for one reason: God still seeks to move among the business community.
“Every year, God puts together the program the audience needs to hear,” Terry Bortz, AIA’s Global Media Director, told us in 2013. A key organizer of the breakfast, Bortz calls the event “an awards program with an inspirational message.”
An audience of nearly 2,000 will attend this year’s breakfast in Atlanta to watch Calais Campbell from the Jacksonville Jaguars receive the Bart Starr Award and hear stories of faith and football from NFL players past and present.
NFL players voted and this years' Bart Starr Award winner is @Campbell93.
Program guests will include Tony Dungy (Super Bowl champion coach); former NFL player and coach Dan Reeves; Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, and others to be announced. Former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila (American Ninja Warrior and NFL Network) will emcee.
The breakfast this year will take place on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Ga.
For more information on the 2019 Super Bowl Breakfast, or to purchase tickets, visit www.SuperBowlBreakfast.com.
(A portion of this article was taken from a 2013 article in Sports Spectrum Magazine written by Teresa Young)
Matt Forte, left, and Matthew Slater, right. (Photo by Sports Spectrum)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING MATTHEW SLATER
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Today on the podcast, Matt Forte sits down with Matthew Slater in person to discuss growing up with a Hall of Fame football-playing father, his first year with the Patriots after retiring, growing in his relationship with Jesus, focusing on who God is, and remaining humble.
Tony Dungy in December 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
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Friday night had been terrible for Jesus’ followers. Their leader had been arrested and killed. They hastily buried him, leaving everyone frightened and confused. No one had expected this. After observing the Passover Mary Magdalene went with some women Sunday morning to finish… pic.twitter.com/xAXsFqK3M6
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Today on Sports Spectrum, David Pollack discusses his wife’s brain cancer battle, trusting God in the storm, carrying your cross, and the current state of college football.
Former New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr points heavenward after a touchdown, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr announced Saturday that he is retiring from the NFL after 11 professional seasons. The 34-year-old former New Orleans Saint and Oakland/Las Vegas Raider ends his career with 257 regular-season touchdown passes and 41,245 passing yards while completing 65.1% of his throws.
“Upon reflection of prayer, and in discussion with (my wife) Heather, I’ve decided to retire from the National Football League,” Carr said in a statement released by the Saints. “For more than 11 years, we have been incredibly blessed, and we are forever grateful and humbled by this experience. It’s difficult to find the right words to express our thanks to all the teammates, coaches, management, ownership, team officials and especially the fans who made this journey so special. Your unwavering support has meant the world to us.”
In a post on his Instagram account, Carr wrote, “Through it all, I gave this game everything I had every single day. I sleep well knowing that I gave my teammates, my coaches, and my cities my all. Now, I look forward to whatever God has next and I’ll pursue it with the same fire I brought to the field.”
He also posted a video of Heather documenting her husband’s activities on the first day of his retirement.
In late March, while preparing for the 2025 season, Carr and his doctors discovered he had a labral tear and significant degenerative changes to the rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder. He ultimately opted for retirement rather than undergo surgery and miss most, if not all, of the season.
Carr spent the last two years with the Saints after nine with the Raiders, the franchise that drafted him 36th overall out of Fresno State in 2014. He is the all-time leader in completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns in Raiders history.
Throughout his career, Carr has boldly proclaimed his faith in Jesus. He has a tattoo of a Chi Rho (an early Christian symbol) on his right wrist and one referencing the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11on his left.
“All the self-glory, that stuff is fleeting. I’ve already been through that,” Carr said after a 2021 win with the Raiders. “God took me to a place that all I want to do is glorify Him, and wherever He’s going, that’s where I want to go. So if it’s a win, awesome. If not, I’m still gonna glorify Him.”
In a Sports Spectrum video from 2014, Carr explained how he first became a believer. He was claiming to love God while in college at Fresno State, but his actions weren’t reflecting it. It was then that Heather (just a friend at the time) wrote him a letter to challenge him in his faith. He apologized to Heather, repented and trusted anew in Christ.
“That next week, we had a game at the University of Ole Miss. I got up in front of my whole team and I told them, ‘Guys, I’ve been calling myself a Christian, and I haven’t been living it. You guys know what I’ve been doing. I’m a Christian now, and I’ve asked God for His forgiveness. Now watch how I live my lifestyle.'”
Later, he added, “That’s how I know He’s with me — because I have a peace and a joy. I can’t describe it, but I have it and I know it’s real.”
Carr is a gifted speaker and has accepted many invitations to speak at churches throughout his time in the football spotlight. In fact, he nearly quit football years ago to become a pastor before ultimately realizing God had called him to the gridiron.
“It was in that moment where I think the Lord knew that my heart was His, and I’ve been able to minister to thousands of people,” Carr said in 2022 on “The High Note” podcast, hosted by Christian musician Tauren Wells. “I’ve been in stadiums — 15,000, 18,000 people — preaching the Gospel and watching thousands of people get saved. I’ve seen healings take place. I’ve seen people set free. I’ve seen marriages reunite. I’ve seen kids come back home. All while playing football.”
As he said during a Night of Worship event with the Saints last year, “God did something in my life. He radically transformed and changed my life and I can’t help but tell people about Jesus.”
Now, as Carr’s playing days have come to a close, he knows that God’s call on his life to proclaim the Good News of Christ never will.
