1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: team year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer A Nius Williams. Hello, 4 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: and welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast. I am A 5 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: Nius Williams. Over the last few years we've talked with 6 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: players and legends about at a lot of different careers 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: and callings. Today, during a very challenging time, we're going 8 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: to talk about something that's very personal or near to 9 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: my heart, and that spirituality and faith. We're joined by 10 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: current NFL quarterback who also shares that calling. Many of us, 11 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: regardless of our personal religions, are relying on faith to 12 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: help us through this time. So today we're talking about 13 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: how we're using our faith in God, in humanity, and 14 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 1: in each other to handle these challenging times with us. 15 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: Today is Las Vegas. I did say Las Vegas. Come 16 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 1: and say that five time? The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback 17 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: Derek Carr, who also founded the Altar Conference, can't wait 18 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: to ask some questions about that which promotes live events 19 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 1: to promote the Word of the Lord. Welcome Derek, Thank you, guys, 20 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. For having me. I really appreciate it. Well. 21 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: The first thing, Derek, what's it like coming from a 22 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: football family. Oh, you know, growing up, you know, we 23 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: had basketball's, baseball's, football's. We had this create in our 24 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: garage and there was pretty much any sport you could 25 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: think of, there was a ball in there for it. 26 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: And so we would find random tennis balls at the 27 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: bottom of it. And we just grew up just playing sports. Know, 28 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: that was a way for you know, us to stay 29 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: out of a stay out of trouble. Uh. I have 30 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: both of my parents, blessed to have both my parents. 31 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: I have two brothers and so who are both older 32 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: than me and beat up on me and made me 33 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: tough and things like that. And uh, you know, we 34 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: we just grew up playing in the front yard, playing 35 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: the barefoot, you know, on the asphalt, you know, playing football, 36 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: you know, in the street right in front of our 37 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 1: house with all the neighbors and until the street lights 38 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: came on. And it just was a part of who 39 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: we were. And uh, you know, my dad, our dad 40 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: was an amazing basketball player. Our our mom was played softball, 41 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: hit left hand, right handed home runs. You know. She 42 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: she was only five ft two so she we didn't 43 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: get our height from her, but you know, she was 44 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: a great second baseman. But just sports was always in 45 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: our family, and uh, I was blessed to be able 46 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: to watch my two older brothers, you know, go to 47 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: Division one college and then one of my brothers play 48 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: in the NFL and be the first overall pick, and 49 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: it just kind of which is weird. You know, when 50 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: you play in the NFL and you get there, you 51 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: realize how difficult the journey was and all those things. 52 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: But when I was a kid, it seemed so easy 53 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: because if my brothers could go D one and play football, 54 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: then I can too, And so I guess for me 55 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: it was it was kind of normal. But once I 56 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: got there, I realized how not normal it was that 57 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 1: even two of us are three of us, you know, 58 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: played D one, you know, and had scholarships doing that. 59 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: So football has always been a part of our family. 60 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: Well one thing, when you first jumped on the call, 61 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: I knew we had a kindred spirit, but I didn't 62 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: know why until you reminded me that you're the youngest 63 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: of three boys, and so am I growing up in 64 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: the world, and so we're the tough ones, right that's 65 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: exactly have to be. So Garry talked to me about 66 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: your involvement with the Altar conference. Yeah, so you know, 67 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: it's a beautiful, um, beautiful story. Yeah, I went. I 68 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: was asked by my mentor, Maddie Montgomery, who who has 69 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: a church in Johnson City, Tennessee, and of all places, 70 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: how a kid from Fresno, California got to know him 71 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: is pretty crazy, but uh, it's amazing how the Lord 72 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: works and joins some people together. And I got to 73 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: know him and began to, uh, you know, you know, 74 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: spend more time with him and you know, talk to 75 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: him once a week, and just learned more about this 76 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: God that I said I believe in, this this Jesus 77 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: that I said that I believed in because before I 78 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: met him, I lived I lived a life. I grew 79 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: up in the church. My grandpa was a pastor, and 80 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: my grandmother's a pastor, my mom's worship leader. I got 81 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: missionaries as cousins and uncles and well this goes on on, right, 82 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: But my my relationship with God really wasn't mine. And 83 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: so up until this point, I right before I met Maddie, 84 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: I gave my life to back to the Lord who said, 85 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: I out do anything you asked me to do. I 86 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,160 Speaker 1: just want to know you closer. I just want to 87 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: have a deeper relationship of the truth and uh and 88 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: and all these kind of things and and I just 89 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: getting to learn. I'm just begin to ask questions and 90 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: things like this. And he's someone that I trust. Uh. 91 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,039 Speaker 1: And he asked me along this journey to come with 92 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: him to Michigan. And I went with him to Michigan 93 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: to this conference to speak and UH. And it was 94 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: a men's conference, so there was probably i'd say a 95 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: few hundred men. I'm not good with numbers, but it 96 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: seemed about that mane um. And it was a Friday night, 97 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: Saturday night thing and UH. And we were there and 98 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 1: we shared a word and the gist of it was 99 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: it was awesome. But but the most important thing I 100 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: took away was at the very beginning, I'm a people watcher, uh, 101 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: and I like to just observe. And I sat back, 102 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: and I'm sitting there and I I see men. They're 103 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: clapping and the first drum of the guitar and the 104 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: drum start, and the worship starts, and they're reading words 105 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 1: off of the screen and and they're they're right there 106 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: there because it's cold in Michigan, and they probably wanted 107 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: to be in a warm place. Um there there. Their 108 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: wife probably made them their wife, you know, they wanted 109 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: a weekend away. You know, I don't know, but what 110 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: I saw was beautiful because what I saw was they 111 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: went from just something they want maybe wanted to do, 112 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,559 Speaker 1: maybe they had to do, to Saturday night being something 113 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: they didn't want to something that they couldn't live without. 114 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 1: And I watched these men just lay on their face 115 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: and at the end just just going in and worshiped 116 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: and just going after the Lord. And I was like, man, 117 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: these men, these men are my kind of people. They 118 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: get it. You know, it doesn't matter what they're going through, 119 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: It doesn't matter who they are in the community, don't 120 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: care who's looking. They are on their face, just going 121 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: after him, just trying to get closer. That everyone has 122 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: stuff going on, and yes we both have stuff on 123 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: the right, but I watched these men among other men 124 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: just let go and just say I need help. And 125 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: I've searched and everything else, but I'm gonna give this 126 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 1: a chance. And I began to watch people just be 127 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: renewed right in Frore of my eye, and I said, 128 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: you know what, this needs to come home and see. 129 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: At first, it was it was a thought just just 130 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: in my heart. And I didn't want it to be 131 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: just my idea because I know if God is behind something, 132 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: nothing can stop it. I knew I was excited from 133 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: the conference. I knew I was pumped up, so I 134 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: didn't want it to just be my thing. I said, God, 135 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: if this is your thing, let it come back to life, 136 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: let it bear fruit. And I gave it a couple 137 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: of weeks. I shared it with my mentor, and sure enough, 138 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: through prayer, uh you know, my mentor came back and 139 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: he's like, I have a name for this thing. I said, 140 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure glad you do, because I haven't stopped thinking 141 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: about it yet. And so and so the Altar Conferdence 142 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: started and now we have our event directory coordinator, Laura, 143 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: who is the best in the world, who I'm so 144 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: glad because I don't know the first thing about putting 145 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: on a conference. I'm just full of passion and I 146 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: love the sort of the Lord. But we have a 147 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: great team now that we put these conferences on. And 148 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: we did our first one in Fresno last year. We 149 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: sold out the Save March Center. Uh, there was fifteen 150 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: to twenty people. How many people can fit full just 151 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: going after God and just serving the Lord. And I 152 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: think the cool thing for me was bringing bringing that home, 153 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: uh and seeing that, oh, this is what I'm supposed 154 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: to do. It's kind of that moment that obviously, you know, 155 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,360 Speaker 1: as a believer, you give everything, if if not more, 156 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: um to football because of who it is that you serve, 157 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: right um, And I give everything I do. But it 158 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: was nice to see, oh, I have something that I 159 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: know I'm going to be doing what I've done, and 160 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: while I'm doing it, I can even begin to start 161 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: this process. It's one thing to play football in front 162 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,640 Speaker 1: of thousands, Derek's a whole another thing speaking in front 163 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:45,079 Speaker 1: of dollusards of people. Tell me about that, You're right, Um, 164 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: I started off you know in college. My I'll never 165 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: forget my senior year. Right before my senior in college, 166 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: I told our f C a director in our chaplain 167 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: at the time, his name is Lauren Bell, played the 168 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: safety with me in college, hard hitter, just like yourself. Uh. 169 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: It was yeah, yeah, absolutely Uh and an amazing man 170 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 1: of God. He showed me what it was really supposed 171 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: to look like to be a Christian and a lock. 172 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: He he was the one that, you know, I was 173 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: told by my brothers and taught things along the way, 174 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: but he's the one that showed it and walked it 175 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: every day. And we became great friends even to this day. 176 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:22,959 Speaker 1: And I told him, I said, man, I want to 177 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: speak everywhere men, I just have out my heart. So 178 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: we went to the little f c A events all 179 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: across the Central Valley in California. I mean two cities. 180 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: So I I lived in the Central Valley almost my 181 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: whole whole life, and I didn't even know these cities existed. 182 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: And we went and so, uh, speak to thirty kids, 183 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 1: forty kids, you know, things like that. And what I 184 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: did not know is what what God had planned for me. 185 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: And I stood in front of all of those people 186 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: with the most confidence because my my ministry did not 187 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: at all start by someone just saying, oh, you play football, 188 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: here's and microp. My ministry started by me getting on 189 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: my face and just trying to go deeper in Christ 190 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: and just trying to figure out more about and uh, 191 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: that's where I got my confidence from. To be honest, 192 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: just like in a playbook, right, You don't get your 193 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: confidence stepping on the field. You know, you gotta know 194 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: what you're doing. You gotta know what you're talking about. 195 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: You gotta you gotta live it a little bit. You've 196 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: gotta experience it a little bit. But your second year 197 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: in the NFL is a lot easier than your first 198 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: year in the NFL. We all know that, um and 199 00:10:20,160 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 1: and so I think through time, the Lord just gave 200 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: me this confidence and has just put me on this 201 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: journey to where we're after that, to where it doesn't 202 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: matter if there's you know, you know, ten people in 203 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: the stands or ten thousand. You know, I feel the 204 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 1: most confidence because I know who I'm speaking about. I've 205 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: experienced these things, and I just get excited that I 206 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: get such joy doing those things. Derek, you've mentioned a 207 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: number of times mentorship, but you're being mentor. And then 208 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 1: also when you mentioned fellowship of Christian athletes, it's really 209 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: a fellowship of a bunch of athletes and christ followers 210 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: all connecting. Here's my question and doing this this uh pandemic, 211 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: what could you share with those that are listening on 212 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 1: how to connect in their faith, how to connect with mentors? 213 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: In and being in a community. Uh and there their 214 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: faith are just in wherever they are in order to 215 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: help Uh, I guess make the best of what we're 216 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: currently going through. Could you speak to that? Yeah? Absolutely, 217 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: And it's I'm no professional, right like, this is a 218 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: first for everybody, I think, you know, I don't know. 219 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: This will be definitely in history books, you know where 220 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 1: pretty much the country shuts down and you know, we 221 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: gotta we gotta figure some things out. What I what 222 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: I found in my life is I'll say this, I 223 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,880 Speaker 1: haven't always I've always claimed to be a Christian, but 224 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: I never always lived it out. Um. You know what 225 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: I have found now during this time, though, is my 226 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: search for truth as I as I as I continue 227 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 1: to search for truth and search for more because I 228 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: believe that in a God that there is no end 229 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: to I believe that there is only increase, and I 230 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 1: believe that for me every single day. If I am 231 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 1: gonna claim to be a Christian and claim these things, um, 232 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: that I need to be searching it out all the time. 233 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 1: So I'm in my Bible every morning. I actually, through 234 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: this time started a started a journal that I've been keeping. 235 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,520 Speaker 1: It's getting pretty filled up now, um, about the things 236 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,560 Speaker 1: that I've learned throughout my life, about what God has 237 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: taught me for my children. I have three boys right now, 238 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: and it was just on my heart to start writing 239 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: this letter to my to my sons. I have three sons, 240 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 1: to write this letter to my sons every you know, 241 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: every couple of days, just writing a new thing and 242 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: speaking on it for a little bit, um. And for me, 243 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: what that has done is not only uh, has it 244 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: has a challenged me obviously, you know. I'm like, man, look, 245 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: I run out of things to say, and I have 246 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: to remember what God doesn't run out of things to say, 247 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: you know, and uh and uh. And I've been doing 248 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 1: this and it's been a challenge for me, if I'm 249 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: being honest. But what I've found is if I've accepted 250 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: that challenges that I found is not only am I 251 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: writing to this to my boys, I'm leaving them an 252 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: inheritance far greater than anything I can leave them on 253 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 1: this earth. But I'm leaving them with that, But I'm 254 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: also solidifying and putting this foundation just put you so 255 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,440 Speaker 1: to speech, just just ironing out any wrinkles and things 256 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:31,839 Speaker 1: like that. As I go back through some of the 257 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 1: things I've learned have written down over the years. I 258 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: have a whole note page full of the past five years, 259 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,440 Speaker 1: things that I've learned from, things where I've grown, and 260 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm just kind of sharing these now as I As 261 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: I'm sharing them, I'm writing them to my boys and 262 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: how they can apply them to their life. And it's been, Honestly, 263 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: it's been great because I'm just growing deeper and what 264 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: I believe and remembering things and saying, yeah, that's right, 265 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: or I can't believe I wrote that, you know, things 266 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: like that, you know. But it's been, it's been, it's 267 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 1: been fun, and it's been good for me, especially in 268 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: the time because you know, we don't know, and I 269 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 1: think the hardest thing and you can probably speak on 270 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: this for a lot of us um also is what 271 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: the fear of the unknown. We don't know what's gonna happen. 272 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: We don't know what's next, We don't know if we 273 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: go to the grocery store off someone and has it, 274 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: you know, or anything. We just don't know, right, you know, 275 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: and we have to have faith and trust and something 276 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: that we can't see and uh, and for me, I 277 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: can see it, right, I see it every day when 278 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:28,480 Speaker 1: I see my children and see it every day, when 279 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: I see my wife and my son and God's goodness 280 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: on my life. I see it every day, I really do. Uh. 281 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: And I and and when I worship and when I 282 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: pray and things like that, I see him every day. 283 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: But uh, it's it's it's it's a lot harder, uh 284 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: to do it right. With the Bible talks about hearers 285 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: of the word of doers of the world, it's a 286 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: lot harder to do it right. It's easy to say, 287 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 1: but when you when you don't know what's next, you 288 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: know what are you doing? So I've just I just 289 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: you know, I've guessed I how to say it. I've 290 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: dug a hole and just planned my feet down and 291 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: saying I'm going deeper in my foundation and what I 292 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: believe so that I have hope and faith for the 293 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: future and what's what's to come from my family. One 294 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: of the things we want to get your website out 295 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: the alter conference dot com the alter conference dot com. 296 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: In researching and preparing for this, we saw an article 297 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: in what you said almost gave you almost gave up 298 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: on football, and I wanted to go into the ministry. 299 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: What is it about the role of being a religious 300 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: lead appeals to you. Yeah, you know for me, uh, 301 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: I'll said, I guess that this um being being a 302 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: pastor or being someone that was in charge of uh 303 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: you know, teaching the truth and things like that was 304 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: something that on my was on my heart when because 305 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: I watched my grandfather right before my eyes, he left 306 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: a legacy and an imprint. He left the footprint so speaking, 307 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: so that if I just follow him footsteps on, I'll 308 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: probably end up in in a safe place. And I 309 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: watched him do it every day of my life where 310 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: I actually lived with them for a little bit growing up, 311 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: and I watched him at six am every morning go 312 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: to go to the go to the den upstairs and 313 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: close the door and he would pray. I remember even 314 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: being late to school because I left my backpack in 315 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: there on accident, and my grandmother said, we're just going 316 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: like the grandpa financially have to be late today. And 317 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: that's the legacy that worked in my life. And so 318 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: the impression that that made to me was that, hey, 319 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: there are things that come up in life, but this 320 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: is more important right now. And he was a pastor 321 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: and then charge of a lot of things and It's 322 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: not that I wanted to be in charge of anything, Honestly, 323 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: growing up, I just wanted to tell people about Jesus, 324 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: just what he's done in my life, what he can 325 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: do in there. So that's you know why, that's what 326 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: he He completely changed my life. I promise you that 327 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 1: you could ask my life to bet that um. And 328 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: I want to share that with people because I know 329 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: that other people dealing with things that I deal with, 330 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: I just want to help them. And I guess the 331 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: passion came from wanting to help people. You know, I 332 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: love people. I love people since I was little, and 333 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: I have found a place now, uh and in the 334 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: altar conference and in in my daily life, you know 335 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 1: where when I go to the grocery store, everything in 336 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: my life can be an example. Right Like we say 337 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 1: our film is our silent movie of who we are. Well, 338 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: I want to make sure that the way I live 339 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: my life is my movie and who I am too. 340 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: And so I've been just I've just carried that since 341 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 1: I was a little kid. It's been on my heart 342 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 1: to speak and do those things. You know, a number 343 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: of players, current players and legends have defined themselves Derek 344 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: based on what what we accomplished on the field. Why 345 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:51,159 Speaker 1: is it important for legends and for current players to 346 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: have other roles in their lives? You know, I think 347 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,479 Speaker 1: it's important to me because I've been around. I've been 348 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 1: around a lot of Hall of Fame players on my team, 349 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: not on my team, older than me, all sorts of things. Um, 350 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: I've been on around a lot of Pro Bowlers, a 351 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: lot of things. And the the constant thing that I 352 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: have heard in my life is with some with some 353 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: of these guys, is I I just asked him because 354 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: I'm curious, and I just say, what are you gonna do? 355 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: In football? Is over? And some of the answers I've 356 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: gotten back just break your heart. It's I don't know, 357 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,919 Speaker 1: like I get I don't know, or I don't know 358 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: who I am without this, or it's like, man, you know, 359 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 1: this thing, this football thing, for for most last three 360 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: or four years, right, like for most of the Like 361 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 1: I'm going into my seventh year, thanking God that I've 362 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: made it this far, right, I'm thankful, Like that's that's 363 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: an accomplishment that no one can take from me. Like 364 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 1: that is about norm You know, I think I just 365 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:56,680 Speaker 1: drafted last year. Man, you mean seven years you're in 366 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: and you know it's it's crazy because I asked them, 367 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 1: these guys, what are you gonna do? And again, like 368 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: I said, they don't they don't know, Like, well, I 369 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 1: think I'll do this, Maybe that will be fun, maybe 370 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: that will fulfill me. But what I found is if 371 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:16,680 Speaker 1: there's if there's no foundation of who you are without 372 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 1: what you do, UM, there's so many questions and you 373 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: can get swain, you know, pulled in different directions, or 374 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: you can choose different paths or things like that. But 375 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: if you have a rock solid foundation of who you 376 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: are and you won't conform to anything, and that's what 377 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 1: you're gonna do, I think you're just better off no 378 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: matter if you have a faith or not. I'm just saying, 379 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: if you just have a foundation of who you are, UM, 380 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: and you search for the truth. This is my belief. 381 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: If you have a foundation of who you are and 382 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: you search for the truth, I'm sure you'll end up 383 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 1: in the right place. UM. And I guess that that's 384 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,560 Speaker 1: the best advice that I could give, being a twenty 385 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: nine year old. And this this virus, in this COVID, 386 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 1: I would call it a pandemic. It's impact there's so 387 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:04,719 Speaker 1: many was obviously pat impacted a lot of churches, pastors, 388 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: ministers with the work that you do. You had a 389 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 1: big event that was playing off the Los Angeles. How 390 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 1: have you adapted the work that you do? You know 391 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,800 Speaker 1: it's been tough. You know what what this did? I 392 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:19,680 Speaker 1: think for everyone is it kind of hit a pause, 393 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,240 Speaker 1: but and it kind of let everyone. You know, we 394 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 1: all we all say we need a break sometimes, and 395 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 1: we're getting the longest break we could ever ask for it, right, 396 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: We're all kind of arrest. We're all kind of getting 397 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: that much needed rest, right, And I think it's so 398 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: vital right now more than ever of it. We don't 399 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: just take this time and just be lazy with it. 400 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: But we can be diligent in our work from our 401 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 1: home and on the phone, and we can still get 402 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: some stuff done and get things prepared and steward the 403 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: things that we have now so that when the time 404 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 1: comes when everything is open again, man, we can hit 405 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 1: the ground running better than where we left it before 406 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: this pandemic happened. Right, And so for us and our team, 407 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,479 Speaker 1: we have been an email, been on phone calls, all 408 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: all sorts of things with people that will take the 409 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,000 Speaker 1: time and you know, still trusting this thing or that 410 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: are still working. So we and we've kind of just 411 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 1: taken that time, uh this time so far and just 412 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: kind of said, well, what can we do? You know, 413 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: what can we do next? How can we how can 414 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: we make it better? You know? This is what a great, 415 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: what a blessing. Let's look at what a blessing right 416 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: now for us? Right now that this that we have 417 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: we hit a pause and uh you know, and that 418 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: we have to we have this opportunity to make it better, right, 419 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: and so that we're not we don't have to rush anything. 420 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 1: We can you know, kind of just take our time 421 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: and make it right and perfect and all this kind 422 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: of stuff. So it's been it's been good. And it's 423 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: hard to say something like this would be a blessing 424 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 1: because I know that there are people going through some 425 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 1: tough times. I really understand that. I and with that. 426 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I have to believe that 427 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: all things for me work together, uh for good or 428 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: they're about to be good. Right. I have to I 429 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: have to believe that that's what my Bible teaches. And 430 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: I have to stand on that even if with my 431 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 1: own eyes and I can speak on that for an hour. 432 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: Even with my own eyes, I don't see it. I 433 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: have to believe it. So that's just kind of how 434 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 1: we've taken it as a team. Derek. We've gotten started 435 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: in I thought we had we go through four quarters 436 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: by now, but we've only gotten through the first and 437 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: second quarter. So if you don't mind, if we can 438 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: do a halftime pivot and then do the second half 439 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: in a part two, if you don't mind, that's no problem. 440 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: That's no problem for Thank you. This has been the 441 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request a topic 442 00:22:45,920 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at nfl dot com.