The Secret Ingredient to Steeler’s Success: Faith

Over the past five decades no NFL franchise has a higher winning percentage than the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Adding to the distinction is their player’s well-being is intentionally well worn. What fortifies their in-season strength far outlasts post-season outcomes, managing both setback and success with a deeper and broader view that transcends the game.  I’m thankful for an organization that encourages us to invest not only in our football lives, but also in our spiritual lives as well.”

Question: “Alex, what is blowing through this organization?”

Linebacker Alex Highsmith: “Yeah, I think a move of God is going through this organization. God is doing something deeper. Everything He’s done for us trickles down into us as players and a few of us who are technically like ‘the spiritual leaders’ on the team. Be able to just be a part of what God is doing. A lot of guys showing up to Bible studies and to ¬¬chapel – is just so cool and awesome to see! We know that our purpose in life is to make disciples. And for us we are football players, but ultimately, we know where our identity is. I’m thankful for an organization that encourages us to invest not only in our football lives, but also in our spiritual lives as well.”        

Question: “Dan, what about this in-season investment that lasts far beyond it?”

Offensive Tackle Dan Moore, Jr.: “When you talk about the NFL being ‘not for long’ – just being in this organization you’re able to come here and spiritually be free. You may meet someone here that your may cross paths with and you be spiritual brothers for the rest of your lives who instill some faith beliefs in Jesus Christ, maybe get you through some tough times in life.”  

Defensive Tackle Cam Heyward: “I have brothers on this team that keep you accountable. We’re all following God, that’s our leader. But you need brothers to go on a straight and narrow path. Share our experiences only emboldens the group. We all have different walks of life, but we’re all headed towards one thing.”                                      

Question: “We hear so much about the mental health of a player.  And for your organization, the Steelers organization, supporting that spiritual health. As support ultimately for your inside game. How necessary is it?”                                                      

Linebacker Alex Highsmith: “It’s so important! ‘Cuz mental health in this business is huge! There’s some times where it’s going great and there’s some times where it’s going bad. So I think you have to just stay levelheaded. But I think having a firm foundation in Christ just for me specifically – keeps me steady. There was a quote that was said at chapel, ‘don’t let praise go to your head and don’t let criticism go to your heart and I just think that’s so important knowing where your identity is and not listening to the voices and just not really worried about the opinions of others.”

Quarterback Justin Fields: “I think football teaches you a lot of life lessons. And of course in this business there’s a lot of change - but God is the one thing that doesn’t change. He’s always gonna be there. With Bible study chapels and then we have a small group that meets every Tuesday, so constantly in the Word, gaining wisdom from the Bible and more than I’ve ever been this year than I have been since entering the NFL, for sure.”                                                                                                    

Linebacker Payton Wilson: “So many things in the sport that I can’t help, that no one can really help me get through, but the Lord. And I’ve learned that over time and time again. But in the end it’s just the Word, it’s His Presence, it’s just trying to live like Him. You know I love football to death, but especially in my opinion, everything that we do here should be to honor Jesus Christ.”                                      

Question: “Scriptural terms like Holiness, The Fear of the Lord – how are those inspiring you?”

Linebacker Alex Highsmith:  “That’s what God wants! He wants us to be holy. He wants us to be obedient. He wants us to fear Him – in a healthy way. I just think as a Christian you should be marked by those three things, three characteristics that we’ve been talking about. So it’s just so cool to continue to learn about that. ‘Cuz that’s the thing – we can never enough and we always be learning more about God, about His character.”    

Safety Miles Killebrew: “A lot of people looking at football players might not equate fear with these strong me in this locker room – and it’s something that we have come to embrace because it has everything to do with humility. Being willing to lay ourselves down and submit ourselves to the will of the Father. Holiness here, that has everything to do with, I would say, our motives. Pursuing greatness through the lens of what God calls great and we’re giving, we’re deflecting all the glory back to Him.”                                                            

Question:  “Minkah, where does holiness emerge in an everyday setting like this, in particular your locker room, here?”

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick: “I think the locker room is a perfect place to demonstrate holiness. Holy means to be set apart, put in a difference place because of its importance to you, because you serve a higher purpose and it’s something that you’re called to. Seeing it as more than just religious terms. I think having obedience, Fear of the Lord, Holiness, fruits of following Christ – it should be modes of operation.” 

Linebacker Alex Highsmith: “Yeah, I think its just living different. Striving to be more like Christ. I think that’s the ultimate goal. We’ll never be perfect. And I thank God that I’m not where I was when I first met Him. Living it out in the locker room - it’s hard, it’s hard – that’s why Jesus tells us ‘to follow the narrow road’, that’s the harder path to follow. So I think it takes a lot of courage to be able to live this out. That opens up doors. That opens up questions. It’s just a unique space, ‘cuz there’s so many guys coming in from different places, different backgrounds, different experiences and so to be able to just be where I’m at and be where my feet are. God has called us to be the salt – the salt and light.”

Question:  “Appropriate I ask the sack master who puts a lot of fear into a lot of quarterbacks. The Fear of The Lord, what does that look like?”                                                                                         

Linebacker Alex Highsmith: “I think it’s just being in awe and having a reverence for God. I always heard the term ‘Fear The Lord’ and I thought I was like, ‘oh, I’m supposed to be scared of God. But it’s supposed to be a reverence to all. If you live for people’s acceptance, you’ll die by their rejection. And so I think He’s starting to show me more of what that looks like. I've been given this opportunity, this day, to impact somebody's life, to serve Him, to serve the kingdom.”

Offensive Tackle Dan Moore, Jr.: “Some of the things that you learn here, I know for myself at least, I think they’ll carry me so much farther than just me playing in the NFL and wherever my spiritual walk takes me in the future.”