Chris Garrett, Super Bowl Champion, UFL Special Teams Player of the Year, and NCAA Division II all time leader in forced fumbles at 15, has a resume that speaks for itself. But what fuels the awards, tackles, and statistics? For Garrett, it all points back to something straightforward – faith.
Growing up in Milwaukee, Garrett’s journey wasn’t an easy one. As his parents separated him at the age of 6, life turned uncertain for him and his five siblings very early.
“I’ve been homeless, lived in cars and in shelters,” Garrett said recently in an interview with LHS Publications. “But in the midst of all that, I discovered my faith in God.”
That faith, he says, has been the solid anchor in a life of turbulence. “I would be nothing without my trust and faith in Jesus.” This life is too hard to just rely on yourself.
Not even football, his love, could be the center of Garrett’s identity.
“With football, it’s so easy to make your identity in it,” he said. “But you can’t. It’s always gonna let you down. You gotta have something else to keep you grounded. Sports are too hard—you gotta have something to keep you human.”
Garrett does admit that it wasn’t a cakewalk. The transition from college to the pros was too great. “Luckily, we did have rookie minicamps,” Garrett said. “It was tough on me. In college they would just tell me to line up and hit the quarterback. Learning coverages and the playbook was a huge learning curve, but I did work hard on it.”
Despite the steep increase, Garrett never failed to come up—with help. He thanks coaches, mentors, and especially his NFL position coach, among others like Thad Bogardus and Sean McVay, who never lost faith in his capability. “It was hard to learn things, but they always believed in me,” Garrett said of his coaches. “That meant everything.”
His devotion to faith that began even earlier, in high school, when Garrett’s grades were jeopardizing his dreams.
“I wanted to play football so badly, but my grades were terrible. None of the teachers believed I could do it. But a few people did. That was all I needed—and God knew that.” His words to others? “Some people will say your dreams are crazy, but you need to believe. You need to.”
Now, Garrett isn’t just a great player—he’s a role model. He makes appearances at kids’ camps regularly and speaks at Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) events, just waiting to guide the next generation of athletes. “I love to serve and help the community,” he states. “I’ve been there. I know what it’s like.”
The best advice he’s ever received? “Next play mentality,” Garrett states. “It’s not the mistakes. It’s how you move on. Are you gonna continue messing up, or are you gonna improve?”
Garrett’s beliefs aren’t something he pushes on other people—but he never hides them, either.
“It’s kinda sensitive talking about faith at times, but I just try to be a shining light. Be an example. People know when someone’s different. And when those opportunities arise, don’t ever be afraid to pray or speak of your faith. God will provide you with those opportunities.”
He is not a fan of social media, yet he acknowledges the growing influence of it in sport. “It’s enormous for players, and coaches notice it a lot,” he says. “But personally? I don’t like it.”
Chris Garrett’s story isn’t just football—it’s faith, hard work, and destiny. He’s living proof that with the right mind, a little bit of motivation, and unshakable self belief, you can rise from nothing—completely the backseat of a car or in a full shelter—to the biggest stages in football. And so far as he can tell, this is just the beginning.
