Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence says his successful football career comes after his relationship with God. His journey to NFL stardom started during his college football career with the Clemson Tigers at Clemson University. He gained widespread acclaim and recognition for his outstanding skills on the field.
During his freshman year, Lawrence became the starting quarterback midway through the season, leading Clemson to a National Championship win against the University of Alabama. He threw for three touchdowns and 347 yards during that game. In his sophomore year, Lawrence continued to succeed, leading Clemson to another college football playoff appearance. Despite losing in the National Championship game against LSU, he showcased his skills and maintained his reputation as one of college football’s top quarterbacks.
Lawrence was considered a top option for the NFL Draft throughout his college career, so he decided to forgo his senior year of college eligibility and entered the 2021 NFL Draft. He was selected as the first overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite Lawrence’s ability on the field, he finds his identity in God. He said on the Faith on the Field podcast, “No matter what happens, I have my foundation. I know who I am.
Lawrence continued, “I don’t put everything into how I perform. I’m going to do everything I can to prepare and play the best I can and be ready every day. But at the end of the day, if I don’t have a great day, I’ve got to know who I am outside of the game.” He told Sports Illustrated, “I don’t think anyone has abilities for no reason. I don’t think anything is a coincidence. God gave me these things for a reason, not just talent on the field, but other opportunities to be a light to people.”
Lawrence is also grateful for the Jaguars’ dedicated fans. In February 2023, after the team lost the playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he expressed his appreciation for the fans’ support throughout the season. After a streak of comebacks, he wrote in The Players Tribune, “I really felt the city come to life. There was this energy in the air. The beach had a buzz. Downtown was alive. Even Publix felt a part of it. I don’t think people realize how die-hard our fans are — how much Jags fans love this team and how hungry they are for a winner. They just want us to be great. They want to get there. I felt that.”
He concluded, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with us. For believing in us. We couldn’t have done it without you.” Throughout wins and losses, Lawrence continues to keep his focus on Christ. “Football’s important to me, but it’s not my life. It’s not the biggest thing in my life,” he said during a press conference at Clemson. “I would say my faith is. That just comes from knowing who I am outside of that. No matter how the big the situation is, it’s not going to define me.”
In his third year with the Jaguars, Lawrence and the team faced the Dallas Cowboys in their preseason opener, where they won 28-23. There, Lawrence completed five passes for 36 yards and had one touchdown. The quarterback is ready for another action-packed season and plans to compete for another top spot in the playoffs to showcase his talent for a Super Bowl ring in 2024.