Football

Jalen Ramsey snags INT in Dolphins debut, grateful for God's 'grace and mercy'

By Kevin Mercer Oct 30, 2023
Miami Dolphins defensive back Jalen Ramsey gestures to Heaven as he enters the field, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

The Miami Dolphins, strong contenders to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVIII, have the most productive offense in the NFL by a wide margin. The question mark has been their defense, which was ranked No. 26 in the league in scoring entering Sunday’s game.

That defense just got more stout with the return of six-time Pro-Bowl defensive back Jalen Ramsey.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

The 29-year-old played his first game of the season and his first game as a member of the Dolphins in the team’s 31-17 win against the New England Patriots on Sunday. He made an immediate impact with a second-quarter interception that led to a field goal and a 10-point halftime lead Miami would not relinquish.

The victory gave the Dolphins a season sweep of their AFC East rivals for the second time in three seasons, moved them to 6-2 on the year, and helped them keep pace with the Chiefs, Jaguars and Ravens for first place in the AFC.

Ramsey was traded to the Dolphins from the Los Angeles Rams this past March, but on just the second day of training camp in July, he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and was ruled out until December. A motivated Ramsey promised to significantly beat that recovery timeline, and he did just that.

“I’m extremely thankful — extremely grateful. God has blessed me. He continues to bless me and He continues to show me so much grace and mercy even when I don’t deserve it,” Ramsey said in his postgame press conference Sunday. “So I’m just super thankful that I have praying friends and family around me and that God just puts me in situations to be able to show who I am and thrive and worship Him out there on the field.”

The three-time first-team All-Pro (2017, 2020, 2021) isn’t shy to speak about his faith in Christ in person or on social media, and he’s even been known to stash Bible verses in his wallet and wear eye black in the shape of a cross.

On both Instagram and X (Twitter), Ramsey has a cross as his profile picture and writes in his bios that he is a “Child of God through my faith in Christ.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey)


Ramsey was with the Rams in 2021, helping them advance to Super Bowl LVI and beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, for the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory since the 1999 season. Before that game, Ramsey talked openly about his faith.

“Without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am nothing honestly,” Ramsey said while speaking to the media. “Without His grace and His mercy and dying for my sins, I mean, I’m nothing. I’m sinful by nature and I’m not perfect, and that’s why I need the Lord so much.”

In another media availability session before the Super Bowl, Ramsey turned to his faith once again.

“We can never understand just the magnitude of how great God is because He’s that great, He’s that powerful,” Ramsey said. “But staying in constant meditation of the Word and prayer, I can remain in peace, I can remain humble, I can encourage others, and hopefully I can let His light shine through me.”

With Ramsey now in the fold to bring not only playmaking ability on defense but also veteran leadership on the sidelines, the Dolphins look to secure their stranglehold on the AFC East. The first step in that process is a massive one, as Miami will face the defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs (also 6-2) in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET.

RELATED STORIES:
– Ahead of SB, Rams’ Jalen Ramsey nothing without ‘Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’
– Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey keeps Bible verses in his wallet: ‘Faith is big for me’
– AFC Offensive Player of the Week Tua Tagovailoa gives ‘all the glory’ to Christ
– SS PODCAST: Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold on adversity, opportunity, faith
– SS PODCAST: Dolphins long snapper Blake Ferguson on love, faith purpose

Tags: