Why Texans Defensive End Will Anderson Keeps His Eyes on God

Published: July 24, 2024

Why Texans Defensive End Will Anderson Keeps His Eyes on God

By Movieguide® Contributor

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the league after only one season, but rather than focus on his success, he’s keeping his eyes on Christ.

“My focus is just less on what everybody has to say and more on God. I think my biggest thing is knowing that, like I always tell y’all, my approval comes from Him,” Anderson told reporters as his team entered preseason training. “Ultimately, everything that I achieve in this lifetime, I’m putting Him first for it, because He’s the reason why I’m here.”

“I think that’s the difference,” he continued. “Like, this year I’m like, ‘God, whether it’s a good game or bad game — anything — You’re gonna get the praise and the glory for it. I’m gonna let You use me however You want to use me each game.’ I just want to be a servant, be a leader and be a blessing to my teammates and help them out in any type of way. So that’s my whole thing coming into this year. It’s like, ‘God, however You want to use me, I just want to be a blessing to this team.’”

Anderson’s humble approach is incredible given the season he had last year where he recorded 49 combined tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and eight sacks in 17 games, per Sports Spectrum, to help lift the Texans to the AFC South division title for the first time since 2019. His efforts won him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a trip to the Pro Bowl.

For more inspiring sports stories, check out Sports Spectrum.

His comments to start his second year in the NFL mirror those after his team was knocked out of the playoffs last season.

“It’s so crazy the way God works and the way that God will bring people into your life to help you grow closer to Him and put you in situations to know that ‘I always got My hand on you.’ And that’s just one area in my life where, as a man, I feel like I’ve really taken that next step…” Anderson said last January. “The only person I gotta please is God, that’s the only person I need approval from.”

Movieguide® previously reported on faith in the NFL:

Minnesota Vikings lineman Harrison Phillips discussed his faith and explained the moment he knew God had the NFL in his future.

Phillips was recovering from a torn ACL, and on a flight to California, as Harrison returned to Stanford for his junior year of college, he flipped his Bible open to the devotional of the day.

A guide at the back of his Bible led him to James 1:2-4, which reads, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that that testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Phillips was astounded as this was a verse he had been reflecting on all summer in light of his injury.

“God was telling me, ‘I put you through this flame. I put you through this [and] your faith is stronger because of it. You kept the faith the whole way. I see a reflection of Myself in you.’ And at that moment, I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, this football thing is what it’s gonna be… He’s shown me too many times, and this is where He’s calling me right now,’” Phillips told The Conversation podcast.