Charles Chandler is a Decision reporter covering faith stories around the Super Bowl Media Days in Phoenix. Look for more coverage in an upcoming Decision issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here today.
In the final hours before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson will pray and listen to contemporary Gospel music.
It’s his regular routine, a means by which he fellowships with the Lord before games and keeps his mind and his heart at peace.
“I’m not a hyped-up person,” he said this week. “I try to stay relaxed.”
There likely will be times during the game, as almost always happens, when he’ll start singing one of his favorite Gospel tunes, such as “Grace and Mercy” by Marvin Sapp: “Your grace and mercy brought me through. If it wasn’t for Your love, tell me, what would I do?”
Wilson, whose Seahawks are facing the New England Patriots, has made it clear in media interviews all week that his life is centered around his relationship with Jesus Christ.
He thinks of putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13) as “taking God everywhere I go—mentally, physically and spiritually.”
To combat the fame and fortune that has come his way, he clings to John 3:30 as a life verse, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
“With all the success, all the attention, people want to put you on a pedestal and give you extra attention,” Wilson said. “But it’s not about me.”
Wilson’s theme this season has been “surrender and surround,”—surrender yourself to a higher cause and surround yourself with special people.
At age 26, Wilson has had an unprecedented start to his NFL career. He’s the first quarterback to lead a team to two Super Bowl appearances in his first three seasons. Seattle beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 last year.
Though he’s careful to deflect personal accolades, a win over the Patriots would give him world championship game victories over two of the best quarterbacks in NFL history—Denver’s Peyton Manning and New England’s Tom Brady, who is playing in his sixth Super Bowl.
“It’s a tremendous honor to play two of the greatest players to ever play the game,” Wilson said. “It’s one of those things you’ll never forget. It’s history. I’m just grateful I get to be on the same field. At the same time, I’m not just playing them. It’s our whole team. It’s the Seattle Seahawks versus the New England Patriots, and it’ll be a great game.”
Eleven days ago, Wilson inspired millions of fans in leading the Seahawks to a dramatic comeback win over Green Bay in the NFC championship game. Seattle trailed 16-0 at halftime but rallied to win 28-22 in overtime, as Wilson maintained his composure despite four interceptions to throw the game-winning touchdown pass.
Amid the jubilant celebration, television cameras captured him on the field praying with teammates and then beginning his post-game interview by declaring—with tears streaming down his face—“God is good all the time.”
Wilson said those words would have applied regardless of the outcome.
“Win or lose, it’s about Him for me,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t matter the ups and the downs, the good and the bad, just keep Him first.”
He knows he’s been given a special platform and he wants to use it well.
“I’m here today because God has brought me here. Jesus has brought me here,” Wilson said. “I’m with an amazing team. I believe He perfectly placed me in the right spot at the right time.
“Just to be able to play in Super Bowl XLIX and just to give Him the glory and the honor, that’s what it’s about for me.”
