Nick Foles was the star man for the Philadelphia Eagles at the weekend, leading his team to a 38-7 victory over the Vikings. Now, they are headed to the Superbowl. Originally number 2 behind star QB Carson Wentz, Foles has come to the fore as a player of staggering talent.
Foles’ Twitter bio simply reads:
“Believer in Jesus Christ, husband, father, son, brother.”
Sharing with You Version’s Bible app devotional back in 2017, Foles spoke for the first time about how close he got to hanging up his jersey for good.
“A lot of people don’t know this — I’m going to share this right now, because I think it’s important. After my time with a certain NFL team, I wanted to retire,” Foles said. “This was a year ago. I wanted to retire from the NFL, and I really struggled. I couldn’t pick up a football for about eight months. I had no love for the game, and it was tough.”
Foles then revealed that it was a powerful time of prayer and connection to the Lord that brought him back from the brink of retirement
“I kept reading scripture, I kept praying, I kept asking God — and so many of us ask God for signs, we ask God, ‘Hey, please just put it on the wall, like, I want to know,’ but that’s not how it works,” Foles said.
“He’s not always going to do that. He was shaping me. He was bringing me down to my knees … At that moment, through that prayer, He said, ‘Hey, just take a step of faith. You’re either going to stop playing the game of football and you’re going to go onto a different area of your life and I’m going to be with you, I’m going to be the most important thing in your life, or you’re going to step back into football and you’re going to continue to play and I’m going to be with you every step of the way and you’re going to play to glorify me.”
Foles shared from 2 Corinthians 12:9, detailing how that helped him in his decision to return to the NFL.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Foles explained that choosing to return to football was the “greatest decision I ever made because of what I went through” and that it gave him a “completely reinvigorated outlook on the game.”
The talented quarterback didn’t change his tune following Sunday’s massive win. He gave all the credit to his Lord. “All glory belongs to God,” Foles said at his post-game presser Sunday. “I wouldn’t be here without any of that. I’m grateful and humbled to be a part of this team.”
Nick also talked about the powerful unity experienced by the players in his team.
“We lean on each other, we play for each other, that’s what is so special about this team.”
“There were bumps in the road, but I was able to overcome them with the people around me,” Foles said of his NFL journey. “The people that know you and love you… there are many people in my life who have been there for me.”
What a night! I love this team and this city. Thank you Philly for showing up loud and proud. Your energy powered us through the night. #FlyEaglesFly
— Nick Foles (@NickFoles) January 22, 2018
Foles also had some kind words for his fellow teammate, Carson Wentz. “He’s a huge reason we’re in this position. It has been awesome just being around him. He’s handled this thing amazing. He continues to be a great leader in the locker room. He’s an extremely intelligent player so I listen to everything he says.
How bout that Eagles Nation?! Super Bowl here we come!!!! #FlyEaglesFly
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) January 22, 2018
“In that moment you just embrace. You don’t really have to say anything – a huge goes a long way.”