Your Faith
Reggie Hodges: Knowing Who We Are In Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17 I am in Christ, a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Reggie Hodges played college football at Ball State, where he set a school record for punt attempts. In 2005, he was drafted in the sixth round by the St. Louis Rams and signed to a three-year contract. A young boy’s dream of being a professional athlete had come true, as Reggie’s NFL career was set to take off. However, after only five games into the 2005 season, he was released by the Rams. Since leaving the Gateway City, Reggie has become a journeyman in the league, joining five other teams, including most recently the New York Jets.
Raised in a Christian family, Reggie recalls accepting Jesus Christ into his heart at the young age of nine during an alter call at his hometown church in Illinois. But it was through football that God challenged him to walk out the faith that he professed. In an exclusive interview with InnerVoice, Reggie Hodges shares how God used football to mold his identity as a believer.
IV: Reggie, I know it hasn’t always been an easy road for you in the NFL and you’ve moved around quite a bit. Looking back, can you share with us how God used football to help you grow in your faith?
Reggie: Though I was saved when I was nine, there were periods in my life when I was drifting and caught up in the world. I was drafted by the Rams in 2005. I got into the NFL, but I didn’t tithe, I wasn’t being smart, and I wasn’t glorifying God. It was all about football and nothing about God. I played five games there and got cut and then went home and kind of fell on my face. My heart was really heavy and I didn’t know what was going on, but I still didn’t turn to God. I went onto Philly and got another chance at it, played three more games and got cut again. I went to Indy after that off season and I met Hunter Smith. He is one of the most genuine and authentic Christian brothers I’ve ever met. It was as if God was saying, “Look, you can be an NFL football player but you have to do it this way.” Hunter and I played the same position and were competing for the same job. God had me there so He could show me what a Christian NFL punter was supposed to be like. The authenticity and consistency of Hunter’s Christian walk; it made sense to me.
Around that time, I felt the Spirit was moving in my life and a flame was lit. As I think about it, every different place I’ve been to, there’s been a Christian man there to help me grow. God was using these players to get into my heart. Christian men who were playing in the NFL while glorifying God – this was what God was trying to show me. That was exciting to me obviously.
IV: After sitting out a couple of regular seasons, how did you eventually end up with the New York Jets last season?
Prior to the start of the 2008 season, I got released from New England and I didn’t think I was going to be playing that year. I recall praying to God and finally turning football over to Him at that point. I said, “God, football is Yours. If you want me to play, let me play and make a way. If not, please give me direction and tell me what You want me to do. I was on my knees praying for hours that day trying to figure out what God was doing with me. It really took that day for me to hear God say, “Reggie, if you glorify Me, then I’ll handle football.” That was an exciting and scary time for me because I literally had to let football go. That week I gave football to God. God had football and I was going to be OK. I continued to stay in the Word and continued loving my babies. A week later, the Jets called and I had a great workout and ended up getting the job during week 3 of the 2008 season.
I’ve been on six different teams over five NFL seasons. Looking back, I see what God was doing across all these different cities… building me up and breaking me down, then building me up and breaking me down, so that He could teach me how He wanted me to glorify Him with football. Now I understand who I am in Christ first and that punting is a way to glorify Him. It’s not about the money, cars, clothes and all that sort of stuff. It’s really about getting to know God and helping other people to get to know Him.
IV: When a game is close and good field positioning is crucial, what goes through your mind as you get ready to do your thing out on the field?
Reggie: Thanking Jesus… That’s what’s going through my mind. I understand that I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t His will. All I can do is say, “Thank you.” The football player in me is saying, “This is a big kick, big game, I’ve got to do it right.” But my spirit is thanking Jesus.
IV: What message do you want to send out to anyone reading this who might be struggling with their own identity?
Reggie: 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that He who had no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. So as a result of Jesus Christ dying on that cross, I have a right standing with God… I have the righteousness of the Creator of everything! That chokes me up every time. It’s like this… I am cool with God as a result of my belief in Jesus Christ. It’s important to know who we are as Christians. We are incredibly influential and powerful people as a result of Christ dying for us. When you know that you are the righteousness of God and that He’s got you, you can’t walk around with your head down. I’m on fire for Christ and I’m excited about everyday because I’m the righteousness of God and I get to tell somebody about it. I want someone else to feel that. That’s so important to me.
IV: What do you want the audience to know about Reggie Hodges as a person?
Reggie: What I would like the audience to know about me is that firstly, I’m the righteousness of God and I’m excited about being who I am. Secondly, I’m a father and a husband…that’s what I do. I love my wife and I take care of my babies. To have a responsibility of raising two kids is great and to have a wife is a blessing. That’s kind of like icing on the cake.
IV: Thanks Reggie for sharing this inspirational testimony.
Reggie Hodges currently plays for the NFL's Tennessee Titans. He continues to be a role model both on and off the field. His testimony is a challenge to all of us as believers to embrace our identity as Christians and live out that identity. 
Reggie’s Twitter profile says it best…“Servant of Christ disguised as an NFL Punter.” Follow Reggie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Reggie_Hodges