“Sometimes the ball just comes out of your hand just perfectly, and this one, this one came out really, really well.” NFL quarterback Case Keenum remembers the joy of the Minneapolis miracle, a last second touchdown to beat the New Orleans saints in the 2017 playoffs. He says “It was so much fun, so cool. And I remember getting grabbed by the sideline reporter, Chris Myers, he asked me, ‘This has got to be the best moment of your life right?’ But I said no, this is not the best moment of my life. This is—this is third. This is probably going to go down as the third best moment of my life. The first being when I gave my life to Jesus Christ. The second when I married my wife. And this will be third.”
Case experienced the highest of highs as a professional athlete, yet manages to keep every highlight in perspective. “Those things that we have in this world that are of the world, man, they don’t last. You know, they’re over. And if you count on those things to be everything for you, they’re just going to let you down. Just like we had an incredible moment one week and it let us down the next week. But if you hold onto your relationship with Christ and your relationship with your –with your family and those people that, you know, that will be with you, that care about you, that’s what’s most important.”
Case’s love for football started with his father, a former coach who modeled unconditional love – win or lose. “He started texting me, ‘Pray hard, play hard, take care of the football, and have fun.’ That’s what I’ve prayed before every game. No matter what happens, I’m going to play as hard as I can and I’m going to give the glory to God. That no matter what God, I want my light to shine for You.”
His NFL career faced early disappointments as case went undrafted after a record-breaking college career. Many people said he didn’t have what it takes to make it in the NFL. “Yeah, I heard all those things. You’re not tall enough, strong enough. You know, your arms, you know, you can’t throw it far enough. You can’t, you know, you don’t have a strong enough arm. But for me it was a lesson in you’ve got to listen to the people in your life that really mean something. Your family, your friends your coaches that believe in you. But most of all you need to believe in your savior in Jesus in his identity for you.”
In his book ‘Playing for More’, Case talks about the importance of trusting god with his life in the midst of the pressures of professional sports. “He has carried me through, you know, those tough times. And has been there, you know, more than anybody else could possibly have even tried to be.”
This offseason case was traded to the Denver Broncos and named the starting quarterback. “To have John Elway say that –and introduce me as the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos is incredible. And to remember that, you know, as a kid, I was John Elway for Halloween three Halloweens in a row. And I had my little 7 jersey and I rocked it. God has me right where He wants me and He’s equipped me for the time that He has me here.
Case looks to the future with high expectations, knowing he’s doing all he can to be successful and trusting God with the outcome. “I hold myself to a very, very high standard. That I want to give everything I’ve got, every single play that I play. Every single time I work out. Every day I come into, you know, my office here, I’m giving it everything I’ve got. I’m holding up my end of the bargain as well as I can and I know that God, you know, we know, through His promises, through His Word, that He’s going to hold up His, you know, His end of the bargain. So, you know, I can rest easy in the results and know that I’m doing everything I can. I’m going to give Him the glory for it.”