I was pleasantly surprised by the faith messaging from Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.

Said Kupp, who was wearing a silver cross around his neck:

“My amazing wife reminded me this week we have this perspective that we do everything for a King to at the end of the day say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,'” Kupp said. “And that’s when I wake up in the morning. That’s where my mind is. I want to be there. I want to live in that space. An eternal perspective. Being Earthly good while I’m here and being an impactful person to the people around me. I’m so excited about the opportunity that we have to go out and have a great Thursday. And so that’s what keeps me coming back and real excited about just being able to be steady, being able to go through all the highs and lows that football presents and be the same me through it all.”

Macdonald, who I’ve noticed hasn’t shied away from making it clear he’s a man of faith in previous press conferences, was asked about what has become a viral video clip of him talking to the team in his first team meeting as the head coach in 2024.

Lindsey Wasson, Associated Press

In the clip, Macdonald talks about envisioning an NFC Championship game in Seattle and the confidence the team would have from months of success leading up to that game.

Macdonald said he was more nervous talking to the team than the clip makes him sound. He acknowledged the reality of a new head coach not quite knowing what to say and not wanting to say the wrong thing.

“But it just came to me,” he said, crediting God for taking the pressure away and telling him what he should say.

Earlier this season, another Seattle player sharing his faith stood out.

Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV was given the game ball following Seattle’s 26-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings. In the game, he had two interceptions, including one that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown. After receiving the game ball from Macdonald, Jones IV said the following to his teammates in the locker room:

Ben VanHouten, Associated Press

“Earlier this week, I told a couple of the guys this, man,” Jones IV said. “I found myself feeling stuck, bro. And I found myself feeling like I was missing something. And what I was missing was God, man. I got back on my knees, I started back praying, bro, and just look at what we got, man. Look at what’s real. So I say that to say … it’s bigger than this interception. It’s bigger than that, bro. I got my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ back and I’m with my boys.”

More satisfying than hearing him speak about his faith was the reaction of his teammates who cheered him on.

Jones IV went on to share the same message with the media in a postgame press conference.

Athletes sometimes get criticized for talking about God helping them do something amazing, as if God orchestrated it, which to them sounds like God is helping someone succeed at the expense of someone else.

There’s a different way to look at it that I think is more accurate.

Photo supplied, Intellectual Reserve

Jones IV felt stuck. He felt like he was missing something in his life. He found that in his relationship with Jesus Christ, which boosted his hope. What happens to anyone who has increased hope and faith? The way they live their life changes. Things feel less mundane. There’s more effort, more dedication, more willingness to try and be their very best. That necessarily puts them in positions to do well.

So did God grab the football and direct it into Jones’ hands? Did he compel the quarterback to throw the ball directly to Jones? Of course not. But did a stronger faith in God inspire Jones IV to try harder, thus resulting in him being in positions to make plays? I would say without a doubt. Does that mean that someone who doesn’t make great plays doesn’t have strong faith? Not at all. Imperfect human beings sometimes just make imperfect decisions. That’s life.

As I ponder all of these statements of faith, I’m reminded how easy it is to talk about faith in normal, natural ways in everyday life. That was the spirit of words shared by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, current acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during a general conference talk in April 2019 titled “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart.”

“If someone asks about your weekend, don’t hesitate to talk about what you experienced at church,” he said. “Tell about the little children who stood in front of a congregation and sang with eagerness how they are trying to be like Jesus. Talk about the group of youth who spent time helping the elderly in rest homes to compile personal histories. Talk about the recent change in our Sunday meeting schedule and how it blesses your family. Or explain why we emphasize that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that we are Latter-day Saints, just as the members of the ancient Church were also called Saints.”

Talking about faith isn’t necessarily easy. But as people of faith, we probably make it harder than it should be. We probably give too much credit to the influence of those who are critical of faith, perhaps thinking that because they can be loud, they represent some sort of majority.

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

In reality, I think most people enjoy – or at the very least are willing to listen to – stories of how faith has positively impacted people. I think given the contention that is permeating throughout the nation because of various political issues, more people are perhaps willing to listen than maybe assumed.

Here’s to hoping more are willing to share.