University of Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard led the Fighting Irish to a 23-10 upset win over the University of Georgia Bulldogs in Thursday’s Sugar Bowl – and a berth in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs.
At the conclusion of the highly anticipated context, Leonard was asked by ESPN about the victory.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” the Alabama native told sideline reporter Molly McGrath. “Without Him, I wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be here.”
In recent years, Christian players are increasingly using their public platforms and precious few seconds in the spotlight to share their faith.
But this isn’t the first time the Notre Dame captain has been vocal about his faith-rooted perspective.
The 22-year-old Leonard has led his team this year to a record 13 wins (12 straight), but has made clear the final score of each game isn’t what’s driving him.
“When I go to bed at night, I’m not thinking, ‘How many touchdown passes did I throw?’ ‘Did we win or lose?’ I’m thinking, ‘Did I better my relationship with Jesus Christ?’ ‘Did I treat my girlfriend with respect?’ ‘Did I call my parents?’”
Riley’s faith is still relatively new, having only started going to church in the 9th grade. Leonard said he was struck and concerned by how his moods and spirits would rise and fall based on football and basketball games.
“I was just like, ‘Man. There’s gotta be more to life than feeling good for a week about making some team,”he wrote just before this past Christmas.
“I felt this weird emptiness inside. And that’s when I started to pay attention as all these people in my life were preaching the Bible. Whether it was on a mentor level, like some of my football coaches and pastors in the community, or it was on a personal level, like when I met my girlfriend Molly, and she’d bring me to church. Once I started to find my faith, and find a purpose besides just being an athlete, I feel like the world kind of opened up for me. And I ran with it.”
Riley has recruited 40 other players to attend a weekly Bible Study on the Notre Dame campus.
The Fairhope, Alabama native originally thought basketball was going to be his main pursuit, but when COVID hit, he was allowed less time in the gym and more time outside with football.
Though originally playing at Duke, Leonard transferred to South Bend after his junior year following an ankle injury, fulfilling a dream of playing for the Irish. His great grandfather played for the university’s legendary coach Frank Leahy in the 1940s. “Rudy” was Riley’s favorite movie growing up.
Prior to Notre Dame’s first playoff game against Indiana, Leonard wrote about how badly he felt following the team’s lone loss in game two against Northern Illinois. He was so embarrassed to show his face on campus that he asked if a stadium police officer could drive him to his apartment.
But then came Monday, and the realization that life goes on and difficulties shape us. Head coach Marcus Freeman told him, “Riley, I’m telling you. One day you’re gonna be thankful for this.”
Following Thursday’s win in New Orleans, Leonard was quick to credit his whole team for the victory – a sentiment consistent with Jesus’ words which he wears on his wrist each game:
“Those who exalt themselves or praise themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be praised” (Matthew 23:12).
Of course, Leonard doesn’t know if Notre Dame will win out. But he says, “We’re going to dare greatly. And maybe we’ll stumble again. Maybe we’ll come up short … We just have to keep digging.”
Image credit: Instagram / Riley Leonard
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