Football Video

Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling declares 'Jesus Christ is King' amid Super Bowl run

By Jon Ackerman Feb 8, 2024

LAS VEGAS — Marquez Valdes-Scantling is aware of his good NFL fortune.

When the wide receiver joined the Green Bay Packers as a fifth-round draft pick in 2018, he teamed up with two-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers, who went on to win the award two more times in 2020 and 2021. Valdes-Scantling then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent in 2022, teaming up with another MVP quarterback in Patrick Mahomes (2018, 2022).

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“I’ve played with the two best quarterbacks to ever play this game, especially when it comes to arm talent,” Valdes-Scantling said this week ahead of Super Bowl LVIII. “Obviously [Tom] Brady has all the statistics, but I think Pat’s getting pretty close to breaking some of those. But when it comes to arm talent, between Aaron and Pat, they’re equal, so having those two guys being my quarterbacks for my career has been nothing but life-changing. I’m grateful for both those guys, I’ve got great friendships with both those guys. I hope I can finish my career with Pat.”

Largely due to the generational talent of Mahomes, the Chiefs are in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. In 2022-23, Kansas City led the NFL in passing offense with 5,062 yards; Valdes-Scantling caught 687 of those yards, missing a career high by just three yards. And KC won the Super Bowl over Philadelphia.

The Chiefs’ passing game hasn’t been the same in 2023-24, finishing the regular season ranked sixth with 4,188 yards. Valdes-Scantling played in 16 of the team’s 17 games, but netted a career-low 315 receiving yards. Still, the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl and MVS has helped them get there. His diving catch late in the AFC championship game helped clinch the win.

Though he helped the Chiefs win a championship in his first season with the team, Valdes-Scantling knows better than to think it’s an annual occurrence.

“It’s one of those things that you don’t take for granted because it’s really, really hard to get there,” he told Sports Spectrum this week on opening night.

The 29-year-old was similarly grateful when he signed with the Chiefs. He said he went from getting cut as a high school freshman to his second NFL contract.

“Never let any person place a limitation on who you can be. THANK YOU GOD!!!” he wrote on X.

Also on opening night, we asked Valdes-Scantling about the importance of God in his life

“That’s the most important thing; that’s not talked about enough,” he said. “That’s something that I live and die by. I’ve got my ‘pray first’ bracelet on that I never take off. It’s one of those things where I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for the Man up top.”

When asked who Christ is in his life, he had a simple response.

“Jesus Christ is King.”

Knowing it was a tough season on the field for Valdes-Scantling — with the career low in yards and a crucial dropped pass in a Week 11 loss to the Eagles — we asked him what he learned most about himself from God this season.

“That He’s going to put you through some adverse situations but He’s never going to leave you alone by yourself,” he said. “Even in your lowest moments or your highest moments, He’s always going to be right there with you, no matter what.”

Valdes-Scantling will get another chance to win on the biggest football stage there is when he and the Chiefs take the field Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Super Bowl LVIII kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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