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Feel the REAL Power

Despite the critics, NFL opponents continue to kneel together for postgame prayer

by Ken Walker

It may be football's most power-packed minute—when National Football League players bow their heads and express their faith publicly at mid-field.

These informal gatherings for postgame prayers have no official name, leader, or roster. Yet over the past seven years, their influence has spread internationally.

It began in 1990 when eight members of the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers knelt to thank God after a game. One of those original pray-ers was San Francisco's Brent Jones. "I think it's great to let people at the stadium or watching television know there's more to your life than just football," he explains.

Pat Richie, the 49ers chaplain who came up with the idea, is pleased with the response. "It's encouraging these players to acknowledge they're not gods. They acknowledge their dependence on God."

Jones has received two letters from fans who decided to return to church, saying if prayer was that important to these rich athletes, it should be important to them, too.

In addition, the 49ers tight end knows players who resumed Bible studies, sought out team chaplains, or befriended Christian teammates after being invited to join the circle.

"It's exciting to think that as much as we wanted to glorify God at the time, we had no idea of the impact of this," he says. "To think that it didn't even exist before 1990 is pretty amazing. Now you see it everywhere."

That is, if you're in the stadium. Television cameras don't regularly spotlight them. With most fans rushing for the exits, many of the 85 million who have attended NFL games since 1991 don't know they exist.

The anti-prayer forces
When a postgame prayer huddle culminated the 1991 Giants victory in the Super Bowl (edging the Buffalo Bills, 20 to 19), the critics pounced. Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly objected for several reasons:

It's offensive to persons of other faiths.

"Promotional" prayer is inappropriate for a sporting event.

It's conducted in a public, not private, venue.

A more serious challenge came the following summer from the league office as it tried to enforce its 1981 anti-fraternization rule.

Dave Bratton, the Giants's chaplain at the time, said the Christian players involved in the prayer huddles felt they were being targeted. "I read that Green Bay Packers star Reggie White said it was the stupidest rule he had ever heard. They could fine him if they wanted, but he was going to pray."

"They were going to impose $25,000 fines on the team owners," Jones adds. "But it never happened. It kind of went away. God was faithful."

The controversy resurfaced last January in New Orleans. A rumor spread that the league didn't want Reggie White leading prayer afterwards because it wanted the spotlight on post-Super Bowl celebrations.

"Reggie said the NFL couldn't dictate to him what he did after a game or who he prayed with," Miami Herald pro football writer Armando Salguero reported. "It became a non-issue."

Why kneel at mid-field?
New York Giants player Howard Cross says the prayer circles testify to others that the players aren't simply trying to annihilate each other on the field. Personally, it serves as a post-game "reality check," an opportunity to calm down and thank God for the ability he has given the players.

Eugene Robinson of the Packers thinks the prayers will pay long-term dividends.

"I think it has long-lasting fruit, the kind that germinates well after football," says the defensive back. "Like someone in the stands noticing, 'Yeah, that Reggie White's a Christian because he's always praying after the game.'"

Martin DeHaan, president of Radio Bible Class, believes what matters most about football's public prayer is that the onlookers get a glimpse of God's grace changing lives.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Jim Chancellor says a valid comparison could be made between NFL games and the first-century church. "Imagine, for a moment, the Christian slaves who were forced to participate in the Roman Coliseum games," he points out. "Picture that while the crowds roared, the believers bowed and prayed as a witness to their faith. Do I think such an action would have been approved by the apostles and leaders of the early church? I suspect it would."

Condensed from Sports Spectrum (September 1997), Copyright 1997 Ken Walker. Used by permission.

Watching and Praying
While we were on vacation, my husband and I stopped at a small-town diner to eat. After ordering, we bowed our heads to offer thanks for the food.

Suddenly, we noticed two young boys silently standing by our table with outstretched hands. From their appearance, I immediately assumed they wanted a handout. We politely said, "No, thank you," and they turned and went back to a corner table.

As we finished our meal, the two little boys approached us again—with their mother. Smiling, she said, "We noticed you praying and my boys asked if they could shake your hands. We're Christians, too!"

We definitely ate "humble pie" for dessert.

—Jackie J. Mickels

Copyright © 1997 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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