San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (aka Mr. Relevant) is headed to his first Super Bowl after leading his team to a 34-31 comeback win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

The Niners were down by 17 points (24-7) at halftime, before going on a 17-point run in the third quarter and scoring 27 consecutive points in the second half.

The victory clinched the Niners a spot in Super Bowl LVIII, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

A reported 56.6 million people watched the NFC Championship game, which means millions of people saw Purdy – who threw for 267 yards with one touchdown and one interception – glorify God after his victory.

“First of all, glory to God,” Purdy said in a postgame interview on Sunday.

You can watch the clip below:

Purdy has had a remarkable rise in the NFL – a story sports fanatics will likely be recounting for years to come.

Purdy was drafted into the NFL in 2022 – but he was chosen very last; Purdy was pick number 262 of 262 – a spot that traditionally earns the draftee the disreputable title “Mr. Irrelevant,” since most players drafted last go on to have unremarkable NFL careers.

But not Brock Purdy.

Purdy began the 2022 NFL season as the Niners’ third string quarterback behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. After both Lance and Garoppolo were injured, Purdy took over as the team’s starting quarterback and went on to win all five of the regular season games he started. He also led his team to win a division title and appear in the NFC Championship Game.

Purdy began the 2023 NFL season as the 49ers’ starting quarterback, garnering a 13-5 winning record, a repeat division title, and this time around – a victory in the NFC Championship Game.

Now, he’s headed to the biggest game of the year – and has earned the nickname “Mr. Relevant.”

Purdy went on to talk more about his faith in a postgame news conference on Sunday.

“Honestly, I think it’s just a testament to God and where He’s taken me in life,” Purdy said.

“I’ve never been the biggest, the fastest, the strongest, or any of that. I feel like I’ve always sort of had to fight for what I get and work for what I get. But God’s always given me an opportunity, whether that was in high school, college and then obviously in the NFL.”

Purdy added:

Getting drafted last, people overlook you and all that kind of stuff, and then all you need is an opportunity and watch and see what He does. I put my faith and trust in Him, and He’s gotten me where I’m at.

So when I’m down 17 at half, honestly, I’m just like thinking, “All right God, You’ve taken me here, and win or lose, I’m going to glorify You.” That’s my peace, that’s the joy, that’s the steadfastness — that’s where I get it from.”

Purdy’s public statements betray a man of humble character who knows what is most important in life. He knows each football game is a chance – win or lose – to glorify God with his speech and actions.

Remembering that winning isn’t everything allows us to maintain an attitude of peace and joy – rain or shine. In our finances, careers and relationships – whether they’re going well or poorly – all give us a chance to glorify God by our choices, words and actions, and show Him to others.

Purdy has put this exhortation of the Apostle Paul into practice:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV).

Each game, Purdy is aiming for a prize. But as Christians, we know that each day is an opportunity to take one more step towards our heavenly prize – eternal life in heaven with God Himself.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. … Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

As the last draft pick, Purdy readily acknowledges that he’s not “the biggest, the fastest [or] the strongest.” But as a result, God has been able to shine through Purdy’s nascent career.

If there’s a verse from Scripture that can aptly summarize Brock Purdy’s career, surely its 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (ESV).

Congratulations to Brock Purdy on his success so far. Tens of millions will be watching him play in Super Bowl LVIII in less than two weeks. Chances are – win or lose – Purdy will be giving God all the glory.

Some areas of our lives are likely going better than others. What’s one area in your life that you feel you should turn over to God, and choose to glorify Him – no matter the outcome?

Check out C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere Christianity. You can also check out Focus on the Family’s award winning Radio Theater: C.S. Lewis at War.

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Related articles and resources:

49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy: ‘Jesus Christ Came Down, Died for My Sins and Rose Again’

Christian NFL Quarterback Brock Purdy: ‘It’s a game, it’s not my life’

NFL’s Brock Purdy’s Main Goal: ‘Keep my eyes on God and nothing more than that’

Mere Christianity

Radio Theatre: C.S. Lewis at War

Focus on the Family: Faith

Photo from Getty Images.