Football

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf dons cleats highlighting faith-based ministry Prison Fellowship

By Kevin Mercer Dec 2, 2024
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf makes a catch, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

The Seattle Seahawks (7-5) secured a crucial win on Sunday, 26-21 against the New York Jets, to snag a razor-thin one-game lead over the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams in a tight NFC West division race. The Seahawks fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter — and 21-7 in the second — before battling back in a game they couldn’t afford to lose.

A key piece in Seattle’s turnaround was wide receiver DK Metcalf’s four receptions for 66 yards, all of which came amid the second-half rally.

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Close observers of Sunday’s matchup may have noticed Metcalf’s unique cleats, which he designed using artificial intelligence (generative AI) and he wore as part of the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative.

On his right foot, Metcalf represented SOUND, a Washington-state-based organization that provides mental health services for the deaf community. On his left, Metcalf represented Prison Fellowship, a faith-based nonprofit which equips “the Church to serve currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families, and to advocate for justice and human dignity,” according to the organization’s website. Among other things, the ministry provides Bibles and Bible studies to people in prison.

DK Metcalf

The cleats of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

“It shows that his heart desires to be able to serve other people no matter their current state that they’re in,” Jermaine Wilson, a mission ambassador at Prison Fellowship, told Seahawks.com. “He sees people as people. He sees the heart of individuals and he truly believes individuals deserve a second chance.”

Wilson continued later: “[Metcalf is] actually being a voice and giving hope to so many men and women that are incarcerated, the hope and the second chance that he sees and he’s provided with this platform.”

Metcalf explained that his inspiration for partnering with and now highlighting the prison ministry came from a Sunday sermon.

“I chose Prison Fellowship because I was in church one day and the pastor was talking about prisoners and how they don’t have a second chance in life,” Metcalf told Bleacher Report last week. “Just taking it upon myself to shed light on the situation and try to give more prisoners a second chance at having their life saved or a second chance at life in general because they feel forgotten at times.”

This is not the first time the 26-year-old two-time Pro Bowler, who says he almost never takes off his cross necklace (even for games), has spoken about his faith in God.

Metcalf has donned cleats raising awareness about Prison Fellowship since early in his time in the NFL, and he writes “God is working” in both his Instagram and X bios.

“I look at football as a platform to help other people or to spread the Word of God,” Metcalf told the Daily Mississippian prior to being drafted in 2019. “I know many people don’t want to just sit in church and just listen or to go to church. Me looking at it as, ‘How’d you get here? What’d you do?’ I put my faith in God, my trust in God, and that He’s blessed me each and every day to play the game of football.

“Me spreading the Gospel through football is how I look at it.”

In a recent TikTok by GQ, the Oxford, Mississippi, native and former Ole Miss Rebel talked about being a born-again Christian, and reaffirmed his reason behind partnering with Prison Fellowship.

“I was young in college and I was just sitting in church and never really thought about prisoners having a second chance at life or a second chance at finding Christ,” he said. “I just took it upon myself to partner with that organization when I later got into the NFL.”

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DK Metcalf on his faith #dkmetcalf #seattle #nfl #football #seahawks #christiantiktok

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Metcalf is second on the Seahawks to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in receptions (50), receiving yards (763) and touchdowns (3) despite missing two games this season with a sprained MCL. Seattle lost both games. But since Metcalf’s return to the lineup, the team has won three straight, including two against divisional opponents.

The Seahawks will need continued production from Metcalf on Sunday, when they travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals in a battle for first place in the division. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET.

The receiver tweaked his knee on Sunday, but it should not cause him to miss time. Assuming he does play on Sunday, Metcalf plans to wear the same personalized cleats.

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