NFL Draft athletes publicly credit faith for their success

4 articles · Updated · Fox News · Apr 25

Over 320,000 fans attended round one of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, where top picks like Fernando Mendoza, Jordyn Tyson, Caleb Downs, and Ty Simpson openly expressed gratitude to God.
Mendoza, selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, and others highlighted their faith during interviews and on stage, with walk-out songs by gospel artists and references to recent faith-based campus events.
This trend reflects a growing openness among NFL athletes to discuss their religious beliefs, joining established players like CJ Stroud and Brock Purdy in publicly acknowledging faith during major career milestones.

How will outspoken rookies navigate faith in diverse and demanding NFL locker rooms?

Does an athlete's star power decide which religious beliefs are tolerated?

When does an athlete's public faith cross the line into 'conduct detrimental'?

Is Pittsburgh's $19M bet on the NFL Draft a win for taxpayers or just the league?

Are top rookies worth millions more than their restrictive contracts allow?