What effect does your faith have on your lifestyle?

I have always tried to live my life in such a way that those who know me the best, love me the most. I hope that at my funeral people would say, “He was the same dude, no matter what social circle he was in.” It’s only by my faith and trust in God that I can do this.

Describe how your Journey with Christ began.

I grew up in the church and was baptized at the age of 11. I knew I didn’t want to go to hell and wanted my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, however, my public profession didn’t lead to a substantial change in my behavior. It wasn’t until I was 26 years old and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and met Coach Tony Dungy that my life began to turn towards Christ. Tony’s life had a profound impact on mine and I surrendered my life to the Lord in 1999.

Who have been the mentors in your life? How did God bring these people into your life?

I didn’t have a mentor until 2001 when I signed with the St. Louis Rams and met Aeneas Williams, who represented everything that I had wanted to be. During that same time period, O.J. Brilliance was my accountability partner and served as a mentor as well. God knows exactly what we need and provides it when we need it. He knew that time of my life was critical and was going to lay the foundation for the next decade. 

What does the Increase of Christ mean to you?

Selfishness comes so easy, doesn’t it? It is amazing how everything publicly in our lives is designed to put the focus on self. That is the culture. The increase of Christ means to focus on what is counter-cultural. It means you fight to re-focus on Jesus, because everything is truly about Him. And I don’t mean in a over-saved, super creepy Christian kind of way, but a daily realization and acknowledgement of the supremacy of Christ. 

What is your life verse and why?

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, therefore it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” — I daily remind myself that the old Don is dead and the new Don lives according to the rhythm of Christ who lives in me.