5 NFL draft picks who boldly praised God on the biggest sports night of their lives

An NFL draft that captivated sports fans across the country Thursday night did more than showcase America’s most popular sport – it also highlighted the Christian faith of multiple top prospects.

An estimated 320,000 descended on the city of Pittsburgh for the annual event, where teams select the top college players and fans gather in person to cheer picks, debate decisions and dream about the future of their franchises. Thursday night marked the first round, the most anticipated portion of the draft.

Football fans who tuned in to ESPN for the draft, though, no doubt heard more than just analysis and predictions. They also heard God’s name multiple times – boldly proclaimed by players on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

Here are five:

Las Vegas’ Fernando Mendoza, quarterback (Indiana)

Mendoza won Indiana’s first Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship while completing 273 of 379 passes for 3,535 yards and a nation-leading 41 touchdowns. He also was outspoken about his faith throughout the season – and continued that witness on ESPN moments after being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders.

“The last five months have been such a blessing by God, and I can’t thank Him enough,” Mendoza said. “I’m just looking forward to get to work, prove [myself] at the next level. College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career, but now I step into a great game of the NFL. [I] look forward to proving and earning it every single day.”

Dallas’ Caleb Downs, safety (Ohio State)

Downs was a unanimous All-American for the Buckeyes and a force in the secondary, ranking third on the team in tackles (68) and second in solo tackles (45). He also won the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back.

“First of all, I just want to say thank God,” Downs told ESPN. “Without that, none of us would be here. Just thanks for my Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Downs was among the OSU players last fall who led a campus-wide worship service that drew more than 2,000 students.

“God is good. I can’t take credit for it, and none of my teammates can take credit for it,” Downs told a local television station last fall. “At the end of the day, His glory is above anything that we can do.”

New Orleans’ Jordyn Tyson, wide receiver (Arizona State)

Tyson was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2024 and 2025 and finished his final season as a Sun Devil with 61 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, despite playing in only nine games due to an injury. He landed on the 2025 AP All-American Third Team.

After his name was called Thursday he walked up to the podium singing Deliver Me, a popular gospel song.

“I am just thankful, so blessed. Lord is doing a work on me – He’s not done,” Tyson said. “I am just gonna keep this thing rolling. I’m gonna give it my all, and that’s all I can do.”

Asked what advice he would give other athletes dealing with adversity and injuries, Tyson said with a smile: “The Lord said it’s gonna be hard and you have to persevere. Life is not easy. Keep going, boy, you got it. You strong, I promise you. You so strong. Just keep going.”

Philadelphia’s Makai Lemon, wide receiver (USC)

Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver and landed on numerous All-American teams after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was a prolific kick returner.

“I’m just so blessed right now. I just praise the Lord for every moment,” Lemon told ESPN. “It’s a dream come true. I can’t even believe this.”

Los Angeles Rams’ Ty Simpson, quarterback (Alabama)

Simpson took advantage of his one year as Alabama’s signal-caller, leading the conference in completions (305) and attempts (473) while passing for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns.

“First off, I want to give all the glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – the fact that I’m here on the NFL stage of the draft, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Him,” Simpson said.

Last fall he joined several teammates in leading a night of worship inside the team’s home, Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“We kind of go by this motto in the Simpson household: How can you have a bad day knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ died for you? … No matter where I’m at, no matter what happens, God died for me,” he said last fall.