by Tim Ellsworth
Jan. 30, 2019

ATLANTA (BP) — For Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks, Sunday’s Super Bowl is an opportunity for redemption.

Cooks was part of the New England Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl but left the game prematurely in the second quarter with a concussion. He never returned to the game, which the Patriots lost 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

After an offseason trade that sent him to the Rams, Cooks is thankful for another Super Bowl appearance.

“I’ve asked God to redeem me since that moment,” Cooks said in a post-game interview following the Rams’ NFC Championship victory over New Orleans. “I’d always pray, from that moment, to redeem me in such a way to glorify Him. And I think He’s doing that.”

A spiritual leader for the Rams, Cooks is always quick, whether in interviews or on social media outlets, to offer praise to God and to regularly quote from the Bible, which he says is “what’s gotten me here.”

“Like Paul said in Philippians, I know what it is like to be in need, to have want, to have everything,” Cooks told Baptist Press during Monday’s Super Bowl LIII Opening Night event at the State Farm Arena. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I know that’s why I’m here to this day and been blessed with such an amazing gift to play this game — not for myself, but to give God glory.”

Cooks was not raised in a Christian home but became a believer heading into college at Oregon State. His father died of a heart attack when Cooks was 6, so he knows about tragedy and challenges in life. The Bible has been a constant source of encouragement and nourishment for his soul. Cooks’ Twitter timeline is full of Scripture verses and references to his faith, with tweets such as:

“Let us turn our eyes to Jesus so that the desire of this world may grow dim.”

“Seek and serve others not for our own benefit but to bring glory to God.”

“Deny yourself, and take up your cross!”

“When others see me I pray they miss me and see you Jesus.”

“Saved through the one and only Jesus Christ.”

And on and on it goes.

For his teammates, Cooks’ addition to the team this year has meant a great deal.

“Brandin’s been a spiritual spark to this team,” Rams punter Johnny Hekker said. “His faith is no secret to anybody.”

Los Angeles defensive end Michael Brockers said Cooks is an example of faithfulness, and Rams guard Rodger Saffold said Cooks is a regular at team Bible studies and chapel services.

“He’s an inspiration to a lot of the young guys, and a lot of the older guys as well, because we all have our own walks of faith,” Saffold said.

When Hekker thinks of Cooks’ spiritual leadership on the team, he thinks of how he regularly sees Cooks sitting at his locker with his Bible open or kneeling in prayer.

Said Hekker: “The kind of example he sets makes it easier for guys like me and anyone around our organization to get that reminder, ‘Maybe it’s time for me to crack open my Bible as well.'”

Related articles at XPian News: https://xpian.news/category/sports/

The original story can be found at: http://www.baptistpress.com/52326/super-bowl-rams-receiver-delivers-spiritual-spark

Reprinted from Baptist Press (www.baptistpress.com), news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Tim Ellsworth

Sports Correspondent at Baptist Press | Website

Tim Ellsworth is a sports correspondent for Baptist Press and associate vice president for university communications at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. He is covering the Winter Olympics in South Korea for Baptist Press, previously having covered four Olympics -- 2008 in Beijing, 2010 in Vancouver, 2012 in London and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.  He is the author of "God the Whirlwind: Stories of Grace from the Tornado at Union University," co-author of "Pujols: More than the Game" and the writer of "Greater Than Gold: From Olympic Heartbreak to Ultimate Redemption," the autobiography of Olympic gold medalist David Boudia.