Pittsburgh Steelers players, chaplain talk faith and football at Liberty Convocation

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew and linebackers Alex Highsmith and Payton Wilson joined team chaplain Kent Chevalier at Liberty University’s Convocation on Wednesday morning, where they outlined the challenges of being lights for Christ in the National Football League and placing their identity in God despite the pride that often comes with success in the sport.

The group sat down for an interview on the Vines Center stage with Vice President of Spiritual Development Josh Rutledge and Flames Football Head Coach Jamey Chadwell.

Chevalier has been a chaplain for the team since 2019.

“They (the players) don’t get to experience (Christian gatherings) like you all get to experience here because they will be playing on the weekends, so they can’t get to a worship service or church service. Our role is to basically bring the Lord into the locker room and help these guys, if they want to, to follow Jesus,” he said. “I get to run Bible studies in the locker room with these guys. At training camp these (three players) are leading the Bible studies every morning. My wife (Erica) leads the ladies of the organization. We’ve seen over six years of being in this role how God uniquely brings people (together).”

Highsmith said being a Christian in the league can be difficult, but it is also an opportunity to be a light for Christ, whether on the field or in the locker room. After every game, the players have the opportunity to gather at the 50-yard line with their opponents to form a prayer circle.

“It’s cool seeing guys after the game, after you’ve beat each other up all game, and have respect for each other and sit there praying together,” Highsmith said. “It’s an opportunity to deflect the glory back to God, because as we’re playing, people are out there watching us, they’re worshipping us at times. … That’s always one of my favorite parts after every game: locking arms with brothers in Christ and giving that glory back to God.”

In a career built around performance-based success, Killebrew shared how he once relied on his own strength and work ethic to accomplish his goals but eventually realized that God’s will should lead his play.

“It wasn’t until my third year in the league that I realized I didn’t have to obsess over the work,” he said. “God was going to work in my life whether I did all of these things or willed myself into it (or not). He was going to do it if He was going to do it. That was an awakening for me to lean into God. I really can’t take any of the credit for where I am, I just try to put Him at the forefront of everything that I do, and He takes care of it.”

Wilson, who played his rookie season last year, spoke about his journey to the NFL, including falling into temptations in college and injuries. After a 2019 arrest for an alcohol-related incident, he renewed his focus on Christ and leaned into Him to overcome the multiple obstacles he traversed on the way to the league. Today, he’s thankful to be on the Steelers with the discipleship and fellowship of Chevalier and his fellow teammates.

“I fell into a trap I didn’t know I was in, partying all the time,” he said. “My faith got so strong after being arrested, I was able to go through all of those things. I truly have faith that God puts us in the right place at the right time.”

Much of the conversation revolved around issues of pride and identity, two things that go hand in hand for athletes with millions of spectators praising them on game day.

“Football is an amazing game, but it’s a horrible god,” Highsmith said. “Playing throughout the years, that is something that the Lord has revealed to me. There are so many ups and downs (in football) … and where your identity is is huge. It’s so free knowing that I can go out there and play the best that I can, give my best effort out there, knowing that the Lord loves the same no matter how well I play and knowing that it’s an opportunity to give glory to Him.”

A Pittsburgh native, Chevalier said he grew up cheering for the Steelers. Now on the sidelines, Chevalier said he has seen how the athletes absorb the constant flood of praise from fans and encourages them to ground themselves amid the temptation to form egos.

“When you get to the stadium on Sunday, you, for three hours, hear people worship them. It hit different when I (first) heard people behind them on the sidelines worshiping them. Very quickly, I felt for them the pressure of receiving worship that is not good for you to receive. (They) have to be quick to realize, ‘It’s God that got me here, it’s God who opened this door, it’s God who gave me the platform to do whatever it is that I’m about to do. He gave me the skills, the talents, the abilities to play this game, so when I bend the knee at that 50 (yard line), I’m going to be quick to not only pray with my brothers, but I’m going to be quick to deflect that glory back to God where it belongs.”

Rutledge asked the guests to share parting words to the students, particularly the seniors who will graduate in less than two months.

“God has put something into each and every one of you to represent His Kingdom, to be ambassadors for His Kingdom, and to be a blessing,” Highsmith told Liberty students. “You are all blessed to be a blessing. Go out there and be bold. Don’t let the desires of this world take away your love for the Lord. Continue to seek out community. Continue to keep Christ at the center and always remember that your identity is in Him and Him alone.”

“Grab the world; don’t let the world grab you,” Wilson added. “And keep Christ at the forefront. He will have you in the right places.”