Faith and Football: Bronco has learned to lean on Jesus for strength

At right, Roman Caywood during a Bronco practice session on the blue turf. The redshirt freshman turned to faith after an injury sidelined him for the 2024 season. (Courtesy Photo)

By Philip A. Janquart

ICR Assistant Editor

A movement seems to have taken hold across the U.S., with athletes unapologetically proclaiming their faith in Jesus before the media in television interviews and newspaper reports.

“As cool as it is to sit on this podium, there are a lot of things in life that I appreciate a little bit more,” Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard said, referring to his faith in a press conference before the Jan. 20 NCAA National Championship between the Fighting Irish and the Buckeyes of Ohio State University (OSU).

Before the big game, OSU running back TreVeyon Henderson posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “We don’t have to be afraid to come to Jesus. He knows what we have done, and He still chose to die for you and me because He loves us. Put your faith in Jesus, and He will save you from sin and give you a new and eternal life. Don’t be afraid; follow Jesus.”

Several Philadelphia Eagles players gave praise to Jesus following their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

(As an aside, former Boise State University quarterback and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was given much of the credit for the win and has already accepted the head coaching job with the New Orleans Saints.)

Faith is one reason redshirt freshman Roman Caywood accepted a football scholarship offer at Boise State University where head coach Spencer Danielson recognized Jesus Christ after his team captured its second straight Mountain West Conference championship in December 2024.

“Thank you, Jesus,” he told a FOX Sports reporter in a post-game interview.

He added, “Jesus deserves all the glory. I mean, we serve a Champion. He died on the cross, but He rose again three days later. That’s the God I serve. Anything is possible. Our players don’t run from hard work. They just keep swinging…They deserve the credit. Jesus deserves the credit.”

Father Nathan Dail and Roman Caywood at St. Paul's Student Center on the campus of Boise State University. (Courtesy Photo/Father Nathan Dail)

Caywood is used to following men of faith. He belongs to a family of devout Catholics led by his father, Jason.

“My dad is an amazing man, an amazing Catholic. The same goes for my mom (Melissa) and my two sisters (Norah, 10, and Ava, 17). I have an amazing family” he said. “My dad was adopted at birth. It was a closed adoption, and his birth mother’s only wish was that he go to a Catholic family; it’s something he takes very seriously. He knows he was born to be Catholic, and so our whole family is very religious. I grew up in that environment, which is amazing.”

Caywood was recruited out of Corner Canyon High School, a 6A school in the Utah High School Athletic Association classification system. Corner Canyon High is located in Draper, Utah, not far from Caywood’s home in Holladay, a suburb of Salt Lake City.

After visiting with the BSU coaching staff, Caywood knew where his next step would be.

“My senior year in high school, I was excited to find that next place that would help me develop into the best football player and man that I could be,” the defensive end told the ICR. “Coming to Boise State was definitely the best decision of my life.”

Caywood graduated early and arrived in Boise in January 2024. He attended spring camp and was healthy all summer, but an injury at the beginning of fall camp put him on the sidelines.

He went through the healing process and, by the second game of the season, was ready to play. Unfortunately, things didn’t go the way he planned and, once again, found himself watching from the sidelines.

“I got healthy for Oregon (the University of Oregon game) and played a snap on special teams,” he explained. “Then, that next week at practice, I reaggravated the injury and was out for the rest of the season.”

It was a tough blow for a kid whose aim is to play in the NFL, but that’s where his faith came into action, helping him through the long healing process.

“Looking at it, I think my spiritual growth and my relationship with Jesus has definitely been the most beneficial thing coming out of this injury,” Caywood said. “There were times where I would feel like I’m getting better, and then something would happen, I would kind of regress or aggravate the injury, but I just always leaned back on God, knowing He has a plan.”

He added, “As bad as something might seem, everything happens for a reason, and good will always come out of the bad. God always puts blessings in disguise no matter what the situation, so recognizing those good things is key.”

He said we all have a choice when carrying our respective crosses.

“You can focus on the bad and feel bad about yourself, or you can get up and look at the good things, which has been a big thing for me—just doing what I could and being around my teammates, bringing good energy every day,” Caywood said. “That’s what I focused on, and I think that helped me a lot and helped me grow in my faith. Maybe that was part of God’s plan, for me to grow in my faith, and the injury was a way for me to figure that out.”

Caywood attends St. Paul’s Student Center on the BSU campus, where Father Nathan Dail regularly presides at Mass.

“He’s awesome, the way he’s able to keep everyone intrigued about what he is saying,” Caywood said of Father Dail. “He has an energy when he is talking, and it always keeps me engaged.”

“I love seeing him at Mass,” Father Dail said of Caywood. “He has a massive tattoo of a cross on his arm, so he is obviously proud of his faith.”