Faith on full display during NFL Draft as athletes not afraid to talk about God
The NFL Draft has become one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Pittsburgh reportedly broke the record for largest attendance in history in round 1, with over 320,000 fans reportedly in the field outside Steelers Acrisure Stadium.
A general view of the draft tent is seen before Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
More impressive than the fans in attendance was the number of athletes who had relied on their faith for their success up to this point.
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Let’s start with Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick. Mendoza hasn’t been shy about talking about his faith throughout his career, especially during Indiana’s run to its first National Championship in program history.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected by the Las Vegas Raiders as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, speaks during a press conference at Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Mendoza spoke with ESPN’s Taylor McGregor after being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders and said: “The last 5 months have been a tremendous blessing from God and I can’t thank Him enough.”
The New Orleans Saints selected Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, whose breakout song is gospel artist Donald Lawrence’s “Deliver Me,” with the 8th overall pick.
“I’m just thankful, I’m so lucky. God is working on me – I’m not done yet,” said Tyson, who spoke of being overcome with emotion after being drafted and fulfilling his lifelong dream to become an NFL player. “I’m going to keep this work going. I’m going to give it my all and that’s all I can do.”
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said Caleb Downs, the 11th overall pick from Ohio State, who was a unanimous All-American for the Buckeyes and won the Jim Thorpe award as the nation’s top linebacker.
“First of all, I want to express my gratitude to God. Without him, none of us would be here. Thank you for my Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Caleb Downs poses on the red carpet ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Downs’ debut song was “King of Glory” by Grammy-winning gospel artist CeCe Winans.
In addition, Downs played a key role in the second annual “Call to Jesus” event held on Ohio State’s campus last season, attended by thousands of students, with more than 75 reportedly baptized.
The 13th overall pick, Ty Simpson of Alabama (a selection that turned out to be a bit of a surprise to NFL fans and apparently Coach Sean McVay), praised Jesus onstage: “First of all, I want to give all the glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The fact that I’m here at the time of the draft, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”
Alabama’s Ty Simpson celebrates being selected as the 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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It’s great to see so many athletes leading people to something bigger than themselves during their biggest and proudest moments, like the NFL Draft.
It looks like CJ Stroud, Brock Purdy and many other vocal Christian athletes won’t be alone in offering their constant thanksgiving to the “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” in postgame interviews and press conferences next season.
