NFL Draft

May 3, 2023 | 2 comments

-by Annastasia Bassil (She/Her), Admin/Comm Dir. of LEAD

I have always thoroughly enjoyed watching football, but I have never had an interest in the NFL Draft. That is until this year when I learned a bit about the history and process. The NFL Draft explained at its most simplistic level is that the team who finished the previous season with the worst record gets to pick first and the Super Bowl champions get to pick last. I learned that in 1934 the Philadelphia Eagles co-owner Bert Bell identified an imbalance in power in the team-building process. So, in 1935 he voiced the issue and proposed a solution, then in 1936 the inaugural NFL Draft occurred.

The following is probably not how people generally interact with the NFL Draft, but it has affected me deeply. Part of what really spoke to me is that Bell identified an imbalance, voiced the issue, and acted upon a resolution. It is not lost on me that in addition to draft meaning “recruitment” the word draft can also refer to a “preliminary version.” As the league has grown and become more popular, they have regularly altered the draft and implemented new rules and regulations to maintain fairness. As people who follow Jesus, we are perpetually participating in working with God to create equity for all people and have an ethical responsibility to regularly identify imbalances, voice issues, and act upon resolutions. Jesus calls us to live this way all throughout the Gospels. Consider his words in Matthew 20:16, “So the last shall be first, and the first, last.” Knowing our own power and privilege in order to use it for the good of all people is a message that comes to us in the Old Testament as well as in Proverbs 31:8-9, “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

As we encounter imbalances daily; let us not sit idly but rather let us be implored towards action. The prophet Micah reminds us what the Lord requires of us – “Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.”

2 Comments

  1. Roxanne

    You have drawn a correlation between some of my favorite things, football and Jesus. I shared this verse with my friends in our daily checking, “Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.” I continue to evolve in my faith, thank you for encouraging me!💗

    Reply
  2. Leon

    As always you continue to impress me with your theological insight and perspective on daily life. Like I said recently, “you got this!”

    Reply

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