Football taught me more about life than it ever did about the game. As a former BYU and NFL player, I recently received the Distinguished 2026 Alumni Award from Brigham Young University. The honor isn't just about recognition—it's a powerful reminder that the story God is writing in our lives extends far beyond the football field where I once picked off passes.

When I arrived at BYU as a young athlete in the fall of 1989, I believed the goal was simple: perform well, win games, and maybe make it to the NFL. By God's grace, I did play professionally for six seasons. But what I didn't understand then is that football was never the destination. It was a classroom—where discipline is forged, perseverance is tested, and sacrifice is the curriculum.

I wonder: Is sports functioning as that same classroom for young people today?

Football taught me that when a group of men from different backgrounds unite in love and purpose, they can accomplish incredible feats—like defeating the 1990 defending national champion Miami Hurricanes. But for many kids today, sports have become something else entirely: a high-stakes, all-consuming machinery of year-round travel teams and specialized training that demands their entire identity. I see too many young people trapped in a relentless, often unhealthy pursuit of exposure and status, leaving no room for the quiet, soul-building moments that defined my own formative experiences.

In a culture that prioritizes performance over the person, self-worth can become tied to rankings or curated highlight reels. That's unfortunate, because the real transformation happens off the stat sheet. For me, football became a classroom that prepared me for life. Hours in the weight room built my character as much as my muscles. Film study trained my mind in ways that later helped me earn a doctorate and become an author. And winning? It taught me humility—because no one is self-made. You are part of something bigger.

At its best, sports should heal, connect, and prepare us for what comes next. Let's make sure the next generation experiences that too.