One of the NFL's most openly Christian athletes — consistent public witness, genuine faith community, and Christ-centered testimony throughout his career.
Brock Purdy was the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft — "Mr. Irrelevant," a title given to the last player selected. By November 2022, he was starting for the 49ers. By February 2024, he was starting in Super Bowl LVIII. His rise is one of professional football's most remarkable stories, and Purdy himself frames it entirely through his faith in Jesus. At every public opportunity, Purdy has been specific about his faith: not just "God" or "a higher power," but Jesus Christ. He told Sports Spectrum: "To have guys that believe in the Lord and can help you and pour into you with their experiences and everything, I found that huge." He has described pre-game Bible studies with teammates Christian McCaffrey, Charlie Woerner, and Oren Burks. His faith is not solo — it is communal and consistent.
Purdy has said repeatedly: "Win or lose, I'm going to glorify God." This is not athlete boilerplate — it reflects a genuinely consistent posture. After the 49ers' Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he maintained this message rather than retreating from it. His consistency in defeat distinguishes his faith witness from performance-based religious expression. He has described his rookie experience in the 49ers locker room: "I didn't know what to expect going into a professional locker room, who's a believer, who's not or any of that stuff. And I was very fortunate and blessed to have guys like Charlie Woerner, Christian McCaffrey, pastor Earl Smith, Oren Burks — guys that are just solid believers. We'd meet before road games and just have our little Bible studies." Philippians 4:11's "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content" describes Purdy's consistent posture across his extraordinary rise and moments of defeat.
Purdy grew up in Perry, Iowa, in a Christian household. He attended Iowa State University, where his faith was a consistent part of his identity. His wife Jenna Brandt is also a Christian, and the couple has been open about building their marriage on faith. He is the rare professional athlete whose Christian witness is confirmed not just by what he says publicly but by what teammates say about his private conduct — the true test of Matthew 7:16.
Evaluating whether a celebrity is a Christian requires distinguishing between: cultural Christianity (grew up in church), nominal Christianity (identifies as Christian without active faith), and genuine Christianity (personal faith in Jesus Christ evidenced consistently over time). GodlyScore applies a consistent standard: documented public evidence. "The LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Score: see full guide.
See our Christian Celebrities hub for other public figures assessed with the same standard. The Gospel Coalition provides additional cultural context.