“Being able to shine a light on others and get them to follow Jesus Christ is what I’m here for and what God put me here to do.”
“My faith in Jesus has meant everything to me. It’s really my foundation, it’s my rock that keeps me steady.”
“I know I wouldn’t be anywhere without God, and at the end of the day, honestly, no matter what happens in my career, I know I’ll be all right because of Him.”
Leading up to Super Bowl LX, numerous players and coaches on the New England Patriots shared about their faith in Christ. Watch the video above to see some highlights. For more, visit our YouTube channel.
Former Florida and NFL quarterback Danny Wuerffel (second from right) with the "Donaldsonville Ball" at the 2025 Desire Street Ministries fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Danny Wuerffel)
The ballroom at TPC Sawgrass was filled with the sound of applause, tears and reverence as the Donaldsonville Ball was auctioned for $130,000 at the annual Desire Cup, hosted by the Wuerffel Foundation. The sale pushed its value to $500,000, making it the most expensive autographed football ever recorded.
What makes this football unique is that it isn’t signed by a Heisman winner or a Hall of Famer. Instead, the signatures belong to children in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, from the ministry that Danny Wuerffel volunteered at during his time with the New Orleans Saints.
“Every single human being has value, dignity and worth,” said Wuerffel, the executive director of Desire Street Ministries and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner. “I love football because it’s a team sport, and I think that life is a team sport. But the reality is we live in a world where we create an ‘us and them’ narrative when we look at people, so I hope this story pushes back against that narrative.”
Let’s rewind a few years back to the beginning of how this football came to life in the small town of Donaldsonville.
After winning the Heisman Trophy at Florida, Wuerffel was drafted by the Saints in 1997. It was there that he began volunteering in the impoverished Desire Street neighborhood. Later in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed Desire Street Ministries’ facility, Wuerffel took charge, helping locate students and rebuild the New Orleans community center.
In 2007, Desire Street partnered with a local church that worked with children from troubled homes at the Donaldsonville recreation center. The group invited Wuerffel to speak at the event. At the end of the night, to express their gratitude, the children signed a football and gave it to Wuerffel.
Wuerffel kept the ball on his desk for years as a reminder of the children he met and their generosity.
So grateful for @espn@ESPNCFB for sharing the story about how this football presented to me by kids from Donaldsonville, LA has helped us all remember we’re each created in God’s image and are valuable. Our @DesireStreet partners are supported by amazing donors. pic.twitter.com/oqylCKulTz
Fast forward to 2011, the Wuerffel Foundation put on the Desire Cup, a fundraiser for Desire Street Ministries that happens in conjunction with the Florida-Georgia football game. The weekend includes a gala and an auction followed by a shotgun golf tournament the next day.
At that year’s gala, a football signed by Wuerffel and Georgia legend Herschel Walker sold for $10,000. The next day, Wuerffel had an idea.
“Danny brought up the idea about auctioning off the Donaldsonville Football,” said James Gadsby, the chief operating officer of Desire Street Ministries and executive director of the Wuerffel Foundation. “He talked about how much the ball meant to him because of what the kids did to show their appreciation for him coming. He wondered whether anyone would even pay $5 for a ball that meant so much to him. His inspiration came from the belief that every person has infinite worth, created in God’s image, so he took a risk and put it up for auction.”
The next year at the Desire Cup, Wuerffel auctioned off the football and held his breath waiting for the crowd’s response.
“I never expected it to be this influential,” Wuerffel said. “I was really confident in the value proposition but at the same time, I was scared to death that nobody else would see it, so it felt a little risky.”
That night, the Donaldsonville Ball sold for $11,000 and the first winning bidder was announced, David Hodges.
Throughout the year, Hodges kept the ball on his desk as a reminder. Then Hodges himself had an idea.
“The next year, David reached out to Danny and offered to donate it back so that it could become an annual tradition,” Gadsby said. “It was an incredibly gracious and generous offer from him.”
Every year since, the Donaldsonville Ball has been the final item auctioned at the Desire Street gala as a constant reminder that every person has worth and value.
The ball not only raises money for Desire Street, but it touches the people who win it.
“David was the first to notice that when people asked about the football and he told them the story, they were moved by it,” Wuerffel said. “That really set the tone. Over the years, people have shared how they display it, what it means to them and their guests, and how the story continues to spread positivity.”
A few years into its journey, the ball reached a significant milestone.
“Some of the leading voices in autograph memorabilia told us that it was valued more than any football ever signed,” Wuerffel said. “And I thought, ‘Are you kidding me?’”
Going into the 2025 Desire Cup in October, the Wuerffel Foundation had a goal: to get the ball to be worth half a million dollars (the amount spent on it during the auction over the years). To make it to this goal, the ball had to be auctioned off for $130,000.
The event started and old players, coaches, friends and fans mingled around the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, until they were all called into the main room for dinner. Following a series of announcements and activities, the evening reached its final portion — the auction.
Several items were sold before the one everyone anticipated: the Donaldsonville Ball. The room fell silent as every head turned to Wuerffel, who stood on stage sharing his hope and dream of reaching a half-million-dollar valuation. He explained the mission behind the football and the message it represents.
Then the bidding began.
Before long, two donors — Hugh and Kalah Hathcock, and Kevin Edmonson — came together and split the amount, officially getting the Donaldsonville Ball to $500,000.
The room erupted in applause, and every seat was emptied as a standing ovation filled the room. It was a moment marked in history that all came from a simple idea from Wuerffel with a dream to get the message across that every person has value.
“To hit a half a million dollars, that’s incredible to be a part of, and it was so special that night. The people who really went out of their way to help get it there meant a lot,” Wuerffel said.
The story doesn’t end there, though. The inaugural winner, David Hodges, was unable to attend the gala last year, but he informed Wuerffel that he would like to support half of the $130,000 needed to reach the milestone. Thus, the other two donors covered the rest. A perfect full-circle moment.
With the football now valued at $500,000, the question becomes: What happens next?
With the Florida-Georgia game moving to Atlanta from Jacksonville, so too will the Desire Cup, Oct. 29-30, followed by the game on Oct. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“We’ve been thinking about retiring the ball, but there’s been so much continued positivity,” Wuerffel said. “We had a person challenge us, saying, ‘Your ball has lived a long life cycle at this particular event, but there’s other events that you’re at that you could share this story.’”
Whether the ball is retired or keeps on raising money for Desire Street Ministries, it will never lose its legacy.
It started as an idea from Wuerffel that was rooted in humility and care for others, and now a football most people wouldn’t pay just $5 for is the most expensive signed football in history.
“As a person, this story is so touching,” Gadsby said. “Even though I’ve seen the video [shown at the event] dozens of times, at the end it says, ‘I’m no one important but if my signature can help in that way, that’s a blessing.’ I still tear up watching that.”
Las Vegas Raiders QB Kirk Cousins, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
It’s that time of year again. The 2026-27 NFL season is nearly upon us, as all teams who have yet to open training camp do so Tuesday.
One of those teams is the Las Vegas Raiders, whose rookies reported to camp Thursday and will be joined by the veterans Tuesday. NFL storylines are already abounding during this preseason, as they always do, yet perhaps none will be as intriguing as what will unfold in the Raiders’ quarterback room.
Las Vegas signed soon-to-be 38-year-old four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins in early April. Then, a couple weeks later, the Raiders added rookie QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, a player who dominated his way to a national championship and a Heisman Trophy with the Indiana Hoosiers. In addition to Cousins and Mendoza, the Raiders retain QB Aidan O’Connell, who started 17 games for the franchise in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Although many No. 1 overall draft picks start for their teams right away, first-year Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak has stated that he prefers for a rookie QB to begin his career behind a veteran, learning from him and easing into pro football. But, of course, the Raiders’ starting QB will ultimately be determined by the competition on the field.
“Everybody in the quarterback room is a top-tier quarterback,” Mendoza said last week via the Raiders’ team website, “and it’s going to be competing with each other, not competing against each other. … Competing with each other [is] pushing each other to be the best quarterback we can possibly be for the Las Vegas Raiders, and to enable [us] to then win as many games as possible.”
Cousins and Mendoza already appear to be building a strong relationship, even coming together in hilarious fashion to help the Raiders announce their 2026 schedule. And one factor that could help bring all three Raiders quarterbacks together and foster healthy and mutually beneficial competition is the fact that Cousins, Mendoza and O’Connell are all professing followers of Jesus. They can truly seek the flourishing of others, knowing Christ died for them all.
Cousins — a decade older than O’Connell and 15 years older than Mendoza — has an opportunity to provide tremendous spiritual leadership for his protégées in the black and silver, in addition to all he can teach them on a football field. Cousins has been forthcoming about his faith in Christ throughout his time in the NFL. He’s appeared on the Sports Spectrum Podcast multiple times, most recently last month when he spoke about faith, fatherhood and his decision to join the Raiders.
“It’s helped to recognize Who owns my football career,” Cousins said on the podcast, “and I use the word ‘my’ loosely. Once I’ve come to the realization that I’m a steward and it’s my job to steward this football career and this football journey — which means that I need to give great effort, I need to prepare well, I need to lead well, I need to build relationships, there’s plenty for me to do as a steward. But it also frees you up to not stress about things. … The first thing to do in being a steward is to surrender.”
He continued later, “Wherever you end up playing, you are sent by God, and He has a purpose for you being there.”
“There’s the intentional portion of prayer that’s very much maybe carving out time in the morning or in the evening to do that, maybe it’s with other people, not just with yourself,” Cousins said on the podcast. “Then there’s also the prayer that is just an ongoing walk and relationship and conversation with Jesus all throughout your day. I don’t think it’s one or the other.”
This year’s rejuvenated Raiders will seek to record a winning season for the first time since 2021-22 and earn a playoff victory for the first time since 2002-03. That path begins with a Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
And whether Cousins trots out of the tunnel that day as the starter or as a backup, he will be certain that God is at work for his good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop was at SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida, this week to answer questions about the upcoming season, and he did plenty of that. The 2025 second-team All-SEC selection is expected to be a major contributor for a Volunteers team looking to get back to the College Football Playoff after missing it last season.
But that didn’t stop him from using the opportunity to talk openly about his faith in Christ as well.
“First and foremost, before we begin, I want to give all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Bishop said Monday in his opening statement during his press conference. “I can pretend like this day is about me, but it’s really about Him. Ultimately, I would not be up here without Him, and He’s been the difference in my life. I encourage anyone out there, if you’re seeking a relationship with Him, go get it, because it does make the difference in everything you do. So all glory to Him.”
Bishop ran for 1,076 yards with 16 touchdowns last season, which were good for fourth and second in the conference, respectively. Tennessee finished 8-5 and lost 30-28 to Illinois in the Music City Bowl, where he ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
In Monday’s press conference, a reporter later asked what led to his success last season, and once again he turned to his faith.
“First of all, my Lord and Savior, obviously, giving me the ability to do what I do and just giving me the work ethic that I have,” Bishop said. “I came up from a lot of tribs and trials just to get to the spot I am now. So I’ve got to give the glory to Him.
“And also my offensive line. I tell this all the time, ‘I’m only as good as them.’ So those dudes pave the way for me and we are returning a bunch of stars this year and a lot of the dudes from the transfer portal. I believe that will be a big contributor to my success as well.”
Later, Bishop did a one-on-one interview with SEC Network, and was asked about the importance of his faith.
“I wouldn’t be here without it,” he said. “My Lord and Savior has treated me very good — more than I honestly deserve. I don’t really deserve to be in front of y’all, but by His grace and salvation He saved me from a really dark place, a path of destruction that I was on. It was leading me down to a place I don’t need to be.
“When God swooped in and saved my life, it came with all this that I’ve received now, so all glory to Him. If you are out there and don’t know much about Him, I encourage you to at least try to find a relationship with Him because it will change your life for the better.”
Don’t be fooled by Bishop’s calm and humble demeanor, though. When he gets the ball, his goal is “to punish people.”
“I have the mindset of not getting tackled and just fighting for as much yards as I can every time I touch the ball, just utilizing every carry I get because it could be limited,” he said in his press conference.
Bishop has relied on that approach ever since he starred at Karns High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. And he’s also carried a bit of a chip on his shoulder since then. Despite rushing for 8,347 yards and 102 touchdowns over the course of his high school career — which ranked second and third all-time in Tennessee high school football history, respectively — his only scholarship offers were from Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State. Tennessee came in at the last minute offering a walk-on spot. Despite being “really irritated” at the time that it was just a walk-on offer, he took the offer and bet on himself.
After redshirting his freshman year, he served as a backup the following season, and tallied 455 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. He topped 1,000 yards for the first time in his college career last season and has his sights set on even bigger numbers this year as he enters his redshirt junior season. He’s also getting NFL Draft buzz. The Athletic ranked him No. 8 in its list of top 15 draft-eligible underclassmen.
Having to earn his scholarship the way he did has made him into the player he is now and he chalks it all up to “God’s plan.”
“All glory to God, man,” Bishop said during his press conference. “It’s truly remarkable. Not many people would think of a walk-on from Karns would probably ever reach 1,000 yards. I came into a class where if anybody thought [someone] was supposed to transfer, man, it was probably supposed to be me.
“And just all the hard work has paid off. And it feels like I haven’t even scratched the surface, honestly, of what I’m capable of. So I’m just continuing to just praise Him. Obviously He’s telling me to get back to work because there’s a lot of work to be done this season.”
Bishop wasn’t picked for any preseason SEC awards, likely because he’s in a conference with two of the best running backs in the country — Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss and Ahmad Hardy of Missouri, who were chosen ahead of him. Lacy ranks No. 1 and Hardy is No. 3 on The Athletic’s list of draft-eligible underclassmen.
Bishop’s pro future will work itself out in due time, but for now, he’s focused on making an impact in his locker room and community. This past weekend, he hosted a football camp at Karns, where faith once again took center stage. Campers wore shirts that read, “A little bit of faith. And a little bit of hard work.”
“A lot of people out here are big believers in the Lord, and I believe that’s what you’ve got to have in your life,” Bishop told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “You’ve got to be grounded in your faith. There’s a lot of things you look for to try to satisfy you in this life, but only one thing can, and that’s your Lord and Savior.”
Tennessee opens the 2026 season Sept. 5 at home against Furman.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST HOSTED BY MATT FORTE, FEATURING RYAN KERRIGAN
Ryan Kerrigan played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins (2011-2020) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2021). He earned four Pro Bowl selections and is the Washington franchise leader in career sacks with 95.5.
Today on the podcast, Matt Forte talks to Ryan Kerrigan about their battles between Chicago and Washington, how Ryan has seen faith guide his life, what his 2011 NFL Draft day was like, how fatherhood and marriage have shaped him, and what it was like scoring a touchdown in his very first NFL game.
