The NFL Quarterbacks Who Found God in Defeat

On the night of February 4 2006 Matt Hasselbeck knelt on the field after the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XL to the Steelers by a score of 21 to 10. He wore his hat backwards and eyeblack still marked his face while he bowed beside teammates Shaun Alexander and D J Hackett. Confetti in black and gold drifted around them as the Steelers celebrated nearby. The loss followed a season in which Seattle reached its first Super Bowl. Hasselbeck had started at quarterback and threw a fourth quarter interception after the team drew heavy penalties. An assistant coach had gathered the quarterbacks the day before and spoken of praying with the opposing team win or lose. Hasselbeck later said he wanted to head straight to the locker room but kept his word to join the prayer. The image of that moment stayed with him for years. He noted that the defeat helped prepare him for later hardships including the sudden death of his father Don in April of the year before last. Kirk Cousins recalled a similar shift during his college years at Michigan State. In his first road start he threw an interception against Notre Dame that ended in an 80 000 person roar of approval for the other side. He walked to the sideline and thanked God that his identity did not rest on football results. Nick Foles reached a low point after being traded to the Rams and losing games without enjoyment. He considered leaving the sport and entering pastoral work. He returned as a backup with the Eagles and took over late in the 2017 season when Carson Wentz was injured. Foles led Philadelphia to victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. The next day he told reporters he was not perfect or superhuman. Former teammate Trey Burton remembered Foles leading a Bible study as a young player and later driving him to the hospital during a bout of meningitis. Today Hasselbeck at age 50 watches practices and reflects on how defeat shaped his outlook. Cousins continues to play while speaking openly about his beliefs. Foles has moved through several backup roles yet remains known for the humility that marked his championship run.