We live in a day and time where family is not as valued as it once was. We look back to generations past and we see the sense of family that is lacking in our world today and we wonder what went wrong; what changed to bring us to the point that we are at today where our families are breaking down and no longer one of the most important aspects of our lives. Divorce rates are rising, children have become even more rebellious, fathers and mothers seem not to understand or care about raising their children, and our families are a mess. Even in the midst of church, our Christian family is lacking the feel of a true family.

As I spoke with this issue’s Men of God spotlight, he spoke at length about his family and about our Heavenly Father, both of which have impacted his entire life. He spoke with passion about his desire to help people, as if taking them in to his family through his actions in the community. By the time we were finished talking, I truly felt as if he were my brother, even though for the last twenty years of my life, he had been and continues to be my hero. This issues’ men of God spotlight is Ricky Proehl.

His Life
Ricky grew up in New Jersey, where he excelled in sports. His athletic gifts would lead him to Wake Forest University, where he would play under the legendary Bill Dooley, setting the school records for receiving yards and touchdowns. Even nearly twenty years after his departure from the university, people continue to compare the receivers at Wake Forest to Ricky Proehl.
In 1990, the next step to Ricky’s dream would come true as he was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Cardinals. What would take place later would be a script written for Hollywood as it included multiple Super Bowls and huge catches along the way.

Q – Ricky, will you tell me your testimony?

“I don’t have a particular date or time where I said, “I’m choosing today to follow Christ.” I always had Jesus in my life. Some people do it in a church or in a Bible group, but for me it wasn’t; it was on a football field. It felt like all of my prayers had come true and it was there that I said, “I’m putting all my trust in Him.” That was when my life started to change. I grew up a Catholic and went to catechism on Saturday morning and went to church on Sunday. We are now a part of a non-denominational church where I fell in love with Pastor Don.
My first ten years in the league, I was by myself, away from my family. That is what I’m about is family. I had a lot of time to sit there and think and pray. For me, I went through some times being away from my family that football kept me sane. Whenever you had problems, you go out on the field and have fun and a peace of mind for two hours in practice or in a game. I just went through a time between Arizona and Seattle, being away from my family and it was stressful leaving my family for training camp and being on losing teams. I’d pray about it, “God, football’s always been the love of my life but I don’t know how much longer I can do this.” I am working my tail off and really feel like I’m being rewarded monetarily but not from a standpoint of winning games. You’re making big catches but you’re not winning. I wondered, “What am I working this hard for? What do you have at the end of the day?” Then, I go to St. Louis. It was a tough decision because I had a couple of teams to pick from and I picked St. Louis because of Dick Vermeil and his reputation. The first year, they were 4-12. I’m like, “Wow, back in the saddle of losing again.” Then, we go and pick up some great players and we begin to win. I’m having some success on the field and everyone else is scoring touchdowns but I’m not. You feel more like you are a part of it when you are scoring touchdowns. In the championship game, I had the biggest game of my life and help my team get into the Super Bowl. (After the touchdown) I went back to the bench and just said (to God), “Thank you.” My life really began to change at that point.”

His Career, His Advice, and His Experiences

Ricky would end up making one of the biggest catches in Rams history as he gathered in the ball from Kurt Warner to give the Rams the lead in the NFC Championship game. He spoke about the moment, unable to withhold a laugh and told me, “People ask me all of the time what it was like and I laugh and tell them that it was like living a dream; I felt like I was in my own world. People say that the stadium erupted and I didn’t hear a thing. I laughed the other day when talking about it because I told them that I felt like I was in my pajamas, looking for my family. My family has been there for me my whole career. I was bee-lining for my family and threw them the ball. I went back to the bench and the light switch goes back on and I hear the crowd noise again.”

Q – What was the highlight of your career?

“Being in that locker room when we won the Super Bowl in 2000. We had a group of guys and a head coach who believed in us before we believed in ourselves. We had a common goal of winning a championship. We were working our butts off and we loved each other like brothers. It was the ultimate testament of guys who loved each other. We did a lot of things together, from doing charity work to going out to dinner. When we held up that Lombardi Trophy, it was the best feeling in the world and I wanted every athlete who worked hard to be able to experience what that felt like.”

Q – Why do you think that football players have become more vocal with their faith in the last fifteen years?

“Before then, I think they were more like me. They had a personal relationship but they weren’t willing to go out on that limb and talk about it. It’s a sensitive issue but I think we have had some great leaders, guys like Kurt Warner, who were willing to go out and say that we needed to give thanks to God because He is the reason that we have all that we have and that we need to go out and glorify Him in all that we do.”

Q – Why do you think it is so important for everyone to pour back into their community?

“Everybody, in my mind, has been blessed in some certain way, whether physically or monetarily or whatever. It isn’t always about giving back with your money but also giving back with your time. I just think it’s a way to make a difference and glorify Him and use Him in what He’s given you to teach our youth.”

Q – When did you feel God the closest?
“When my daughter was born. That was another dream of mine. I couldn’t wait to have kids. To me, it was the ultimate miracle. I have three children and was there for each one and it’s just a miracle.”

His new adventure

Ricky is now working on a new project in Greensboro, NC. It is an amazing sports complex where kids and teens can come to learn more about the games that they love. It is aptly named Proehlific Park and I asked Ricky a little about it.

Q – What is your vision for Proehlific Park?

“To build community. I look at where I’ve been and I’ve been so blessed. Football has given me an education and has taken me all over the country and the world. I’ve met so many different people from different cultures and backgrounds. I’ve experienced so many wonderful memories. With this park, I want it to be more than just basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. It’s the environment and the people you are around. You’re a product of your environment. When you’re around people who work hard, it’s contagious. We’re also going to have an academic center teaching kids integrity and respect.”

Q – You have chased your dreams with the NFL and now with Proehlific Park. What is your advice to others out there when it comes to their dreams?

“You work hard and you pray about it. Put trust in the Big Man and you can do anything you want to do. If you work hard and believe that it could come true, it can.”

Throughout the interview, Ricky spoke about his wife, someone who has been influential in Ricky’s walk with Christ. He sees that God is opening more doors now for him to speak about his faith, not necessarily from a pulpit, but more along the lines that are comfortable for Ricky, in general conversation with those who he meets here and there. He also spoke about the great impact that Tony Dungy and Dick Vermeil, as well as Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Kurt Warner have had on him as a man.

The family type atmosphere that Ricky has in his life has opened the door for him to reach out to many people and that atmosphere will lead Proehlific Park to have a profound effect on those who take part in it. As I spoke with Ricky, one of the old hymns came into my mind as it talked about being glad to be a part of the family of God. He is humbled by what God has done in his life, so much so that he says it is tough for him to speak about his faith without getting emotional. We all should have that humility and sense of family in our lives, caring for our brothers and sisters, just as Christ cares

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