San Francisco 49er’s quarterback Brock Purdy reiterated his well-known Christian faith among NFL circles during a recent podcast appearance, saying how freeing it is to know he’s given his “life to Jesus.” Purdy made the comments while speaking with Sports Spectrum, a company who’s social media motto is “where sports and faith connect.”
Purdy, who only three years ago was Mr. Irrelevant (an irreverent moniker for the last player selected in the annual spring-time draft), has quickly risen in the league. Playing for a team that has featured the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young, Purdy set the franchise’s season-season passing yards record and as just a second-year player led his team to the NFC title, losing out to the AFC’s Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
But for all his success – as well as looming contract extension expected to be worth in the nine figures – Purdy remains grounded thanks to his unwavering commitment to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He said that thinking and talking about his faith was a “24/7 thing with” him. And just as The Christian Tribune covered fellow NFL star Baker Mayfield, the comments came as Purdy reflected on a disappointing 6-11 season and how on-field struggles present an opportunity for deepening of faith.
“I’m like 24/7 always trying to find…great verses about identity and who I am in Christ. And so Galatians 2: 20 was mine this year, ‘for I’ve been crucified with Christ.’ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me the life I live in the flesh I now live by the faith in the Son of God, for He loved me and gave His life for me,” Purdy said during his sit-down with Sports Spectrum.
Purdy added, much like Mayfield did, that challenges playing football gave him a chance to remember there was more than throwing the pigskin; at the end of the day, he was saved through Christ’s sacrifice. “And so that was like the verse this year for me of Alright, like no matter what the outcome is, it was a crazy year with how our team did and what we went through, and what I went through personally, but I wanted to stay anchored and rooted in in his promises,
“And that’s his that’s what he’s promised us,” he continued, adding, “I’ve given my life to Jesus, my old life, my passions, desires of wanting this or that, especially in the football world, as a quarterback and thinking about the future that’s been crucified with Christ, and what he did for me and with me on the cross, and now I have this freedom to go and live changed and free through Jesus, and it just sort of just redirects me of who I am and my identity.” Watch that interview below:
Purdy’s comments with Sports Spectrum were not the first time he spoke with the organization about his faith. Before this year’s Super Bowl, Purdy shared what verse he began every day with, speaking more about that passage and how it has impacted him over the course of the season season. He said, “I’ve just been studying Psalm 23 throughout the whole season, been going back to it. It’s what I start off with actually every single day; I just read off Psalm 23 to myself before I start off with some solitude, and then go about my day.”
Watch that pre-Super Bowl reveal below:
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