Chiefs Long Snapper Says God’s ‘Been With Me’ Through Uncertain NFL Career
By Movieguide® Contributor
Kansas City Chiefs long snapper James Winchester gives God the credit for his career.
Winchester went undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft but was picked up by the Chiefs in 2015. He’s been with the team ever since, helping them bring home three Super Bowl Championships.
However, the athlete’s journey to the NFL wasn’t easy.
In college, he was a walk-on wide receiver at the University of Oklahoma.
“The OU receiving corps was loaded during that time, so playing time was unlikely. However, he took an opportunity to get playing time when the team’s long snapper went down with an injury, showing up to special teams practice to get in reps at the position,” Red Lion reported.
“Winchester ended up snapping on punts for three years as a Sooner, gaining an unofficial reputation as the ‘fastest’ long snapper in college football,” the news outlet continued. “Unfortunately, at 185 pounds, the roster spots for long snappers in the NFL would be a pipe dream. After college, he spent a year working in the oil and gas industry, while his NFL possibilities barely flickered.”
God had a plan for him, though, and Winchester eventually found his place in the NFL.
“Honestly, Jesus just has such a huge impact on our lives, day-to-day, you know,” Winchester said on an episode of the “Sports Spectrum Podcast.” “It’s a tough world to live in and, you know, as you get older and kind of get out of that bubble from when you’re younger and under your parents’ wing, it’s one of those things where it becomes even more important and even pressing day-to-day.
“You realize the value in trusting in Him each and every day,” he continued. “The ups and downs of the trials of life and how from the mountain top to the valley, He is with us. For me, I can certainly express, He has been with me through it all. I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to know Him and love Him, and really I love Him because He loved me first. That really wraps up that whole relationship.”
As for what Winchester does to grow closer to the Lord, his focus is grace and knowledge.
“But I’m always trying to grow in the knowledge and to grow in grace and try to continue to teach my children,” he said. “Now there’s an opportunity there for me to be dad and to express those kids — not just really tell them about Jesus but show them. Show them how much He means to us and just trying to live that out each and every day in our lives.”
For more inspiring sports stories, check out Sports Spectrum.
Winchester thanked God for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win earlier this year.
“God has certainly blessed us beyond measure in so many ways in life and we realize without him non[e] of this is possible- Praise the Lord! He is good,” he wrote on Instagram.
Movieguide® previously reported on the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win:
Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt thanked God during his third Lombardi Trophy acceptance speech and fourth appearance at the Super Bowl in five years.
“It’s been an amazing five-year run,” Hunt said onstage after the game. “I want to thank the Lord for giving us this opportunity.”
The epic championship match between the Chiefs and the 49ers was the most-watched football game of all time, requiring overtime to determine a winner. After the 49ers kicked a field goal on their opening drive of overtime, the Chiefs responded with a 13-play drive that resulted in a 3-yard pass for the season-ending touchdown.
By winning this year’s game, the Chiefs are the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Patriots did it in 2003-04 and 2004-05 and are the ninth team to do so in the NFL’s 104-year history.
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