Lakeside American Little League Opening Day. (Photo Courtesy: Greg Eichelberger/Flickr)
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he willnot turn from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
I have had the pleasure of coaching grade school basketball, middle school and high school football, and college tennis.
Maturity and sound training by parents was an obvious benefit to many of my athletes. I clearly remember one boy as a seventh grader. His talent and leadership placed him at the very top. So, I wasn’t surprised to find out later that he made the all-state high school football team.
His father was a successful lawyer who took the time to pray and love all of his children. Following our school sports banquet, he thanked me for speaking about the athletes’ commitment to academics and balance with football. I told him that his work at home made my job a breeze.
If you are struggling with spending time with your children, or if you think it isn’t needed or appreciated, let me encourage you to make every effort to spend time on your knees in prayer — and then in the backyard with them.
Your good works will be rewarded.
— Paul Kelly
OneCoach, part of the Sports Spectrum Network, is an international community of coaches and spouses who have been uniquely gifted and called by God. Visit OneCoach.org for more stories and videos.
Tony Dungy in September 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING TONY DUNGY
Tony Dungy is a former NFL player and coach who currently is an NFL analyst with NBC Sports. During his playing career, he was a part of the 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl-winning team. As a coach, he led the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl championship in 2006, becoming the first Black head coach to ever win a Super Bowl.
Today on the podcast, Tony Dungy joins Matt Forte to discuss coaching in the playoffs, memories from winning a Super Bowl 19 years ago, and the importance of speaking up against religious persecution.
In Kansas City this morning and I walked to the church we attended when we lived here in 1990. I was listening to the @GFCFlorida service and the message was on “Waiting”. It was so powerful-I thought of so many blessings I’ve received in the 2nd half of my life. Pastor Daryl… pic.twitter.com/dqEqToTDXG
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans smiles during an NFL wild-card playoff game, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Defense travels.
That was certainly the case Monday night, as the AFC’s No. 5 seed — the Houston Texans — traveled to Pittsburgh and defeated the No. 4-seeded Steelers in decisive fashion, 30-6, to complete the final piece of the NFL divisional-round playoff puzzle. It was the Texans’ first road playoff win in the franchise’s 24-year history. Previously, they were 0-6.
Leaning on the league’s stingiest defense built by third-year head coach (and former Texans defensive star) DeMeco Ryans, Houston had built a white-hot nine-game winning streak to finish the regular season. It extended the streak to 10 by doing the exact same thing on Monday.
Houston clung to a tight 7-6 lead entering the fourth quarter, and then came alive. Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 51-yard field goal with 13:07 left. Then on the ensuing Pittsburgh possession, Texans defensive end Will Anderson hit Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who fumbled. Fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked up the loose ball and ran it back for a 33-yard touchdown.
The Texans’ defense forced Pittsburgh to punt and the offense then responded with an 11-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Woody Marks. But it was the defense, again, which put the finishing touches on Houston’s historic victory.
With less than three minutes remaining, Rodgers launched a pass deep downfield that was intercepted by Houston safety Calen Bullock Jr. at the 50 yard-line. Bullock returned it down the left sideline for the Texans’ second defensive touchdown of the game and their final points in the 30-6 win.
It was a dominant defensive performance indeed, but one that was by no means surprising. The Texans boasted the NFL’s No. 1 defense in 2025-26, leading the way with the fewest yards allowed per game (277.2) during the regular season. They also forced the third-most turnovers (29) and allowed the second-fewest points per game (17.4).
“First and foremost for me,” Ryans said to begin his press conference, “I just want to give all praise, honor and glory to our God, who’s been gracious to us, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“What a game. What a performance by our guys. Guys just continue to let their light shine through how they’re playing.”
On the back of his great defense that shined once again on Monday, Ryans led his team to an incredible mid-season turnaround to reach the playoffs for the third time in his three seasons at the helm. The Texans began this season with three straight losses but finished 12-5, becoming only the fifth team since 1990 to start a season 0-3 and reach the playoffs. Houston is now the first franchise to do it twice, having accomplished the feat in 2018 as well.
Houston’s players and coaches have seemed to rally around the Biblical concept from Matthew 5:16 of letting their light shine as they’ve compiled their impressive winning streak. Ryans expanded a bit about it after a Dec. 27 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“The light is shining bright on the Texans, but that light is really reflective of our guys’ belief in the Lord and Savior — our Lord and Savior — Jesus Christ,” he told the media that day. “That’s what’s driven our team, and I’m so proud of our guys and thankful to the Lord for allowing us to allow our lights to shine through Him.
“Just all praise and honor goes to Him.”
Anderson alluded to Matthew 5:16 in the aftermath of Monday’s game.
“First, I gotta give all glory to God,” Anderson told ESPN. “Thank You, Jesus Christ. We have a Scripture saying, ‘Let our light shine before You, God,’ that when people see us play, they glorify Your name. Just a shoutout to Jesus Christ.”
Ryans made it clear from his introductory press conference as head coach that, as he sought to lead his beloved Texans to greatness, he’d never forget to praise God or thank Him for the gift it is to have the opportunity.
“I’m thankful to God that He’s just paved the way for me through everything that I’ve been through in life,” Ryans said in February 2023.
Before the Super Bowl in 2020, when he was a San Francisco 49ers’ defensive assistant, Ryans revealed to Sports Spectrum his deepest motivations as a coach.
“You’ve got to keep the main thing the main thing, and that’s why we’re all here — and that’s by the grace of God,” Ryans said. “Why are we in the position that we’re in? Why are we able to do what we do? That’s by God blessing us with this awesome opportunity to reach back and teach these young men, help these young men, but we have to stay grounded in the Word.
“We can get caught up in our work, a lot of long hours, a lot of long days, but you can’t forget what sustains us, and that’s Jesus Christ.”
Ryans will lead the Texans on the road again in their divisional-round matchup against the No. 2-seeded New England Patriots, hoping for a repeat performance from his defense to earn Houston’s first AFC Championship Game appearance in franchise history. Yet all the while, he will continue to seek to integrate Biblical principles into his coaching, knowing that a win would be in vain if it doesn’t bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Kickoff from Foxborough is set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING EDDIE GEORGE
Eddie George played nine seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996-2003) and Dallas Cowboys (2004). He was selected 14th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Oilers after a stellar collegiate career at Ohio State, where he won the 1995 Heisman Trophy.
In 2011, George was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and in 2019 his number 27 was retired by the Titans.
Currently, George is in his first season as the head coach at Bowling Green State University, after spending four years as Tennessee State’s head coach (2021-24).
Today on the podcast, fellow Pro Bowl running backs Matt Forte and Eddie George discuss George’s strong faith in Jesus Christ, rededicating his life to the Lord, why ballet is something that helped him as a running back, and lessons he learned in college at Ohio State.
THIS IS THE GET IN THE GAME PODCAST
WITH SCOTT LINEBRINK
Scott Cochran is the head football coach at the University of West Alabama and an eight-time national championship-winning strength and conditioning coach with LSU, Alabama and Georgia. His new book, “Skull Session: Mastering the Mental Game in Sports, Work, and Life,” is out now.
Today on the podcast, Scott Cochran shares his powerful journey from addiction to recovery and coaching. He discusses his struggles with addiction, the pivotal moments that led to his recovery, and how his faith played a crucial role in his transformation. He emphasizes the importance of living one day at a time, building strong relationships with athletes, and redefining success beyond accolades.
