Bryce Young prays for an injured rival, then wins
The Carolina quarterback leads the NFL in yards per game and put his faith first when a Philadelphia defender went down on the field.
Bryce Young prays for an injured rival. The Panthers quarterback bowed his head when a Philadelphia defender went down on the field, Sports Spectrum reported. Then he threw two touchdown passes and won 25-14.
The game was on Sunday, October 18, in Philadelphia. Carolina improved to 3-2 and took a two-game lead in the loss column of the NFC South. Young finished with 281 passing yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. Both of his touchdown passes went to tight end Tommy Tremble: one in the second quarter for the 10-0 lead, and the other late in the fourth quarter to seal the final score. With 11 touchdown passes in five games, he set a franchise record and leads the NFL with 309.8 yards per game, according to Sports Spectrum. Philadelphia played without its starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and running back Saquon Barkley.
The prayer came before the numbers. In the second quarter, when he saw an Eagles defender on the ground, Young bowed his head. It was not an isolated reaction: he had already prayed for an injured opponent in the December 2024 game between the two teams.
«Scripture does not promise victories to those who pray, or starting jobs to those who are humble.»
He had done it in 2024
His faith did not just show up this fall. In 2021, when he received the Heisman Trophy with Alabama, he thanked his Lord and Savior first. In 2023, the night Carolina took him with the first overall pick in the draft, he told ESPN he felt blessed and thanked God for letting him get there. A year earlier he had said on the Sports Spectrum podcast that he grew up in a family that brought him closer to Christ and that he tries to reflect Him in everything he does.
The bench he called a blessing
His path was not a straight line either. In his rookie year, Carolina finished 2-15. The following season started 0-2, with three interceptions and no touchdowns, and he was benched before the third game, with no return date. He came back later that same year. In February, on The Pivot Podcast, he described that period as a blessing: he said it was one of the first times professionally that he had no choice, that he doesn't think it was an accident, and that God put him there to strengthen his faith. He is now 25 years old.
What doesn't change with the scoreboard
After the game, he told CBS: "First and foremost, all glory to God. I am nothing without my Lord and Savior" (translated by Sígueme). The line weighs differently when it comes from someone who has just thrown two touchdown passes. Scripture does not promise victories to those who pray, or starting jobs to those who are humble. "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3, ESV).
In your classroom, at your job or on your team, there is always someone competing for your spot. Praying for that person costs more than any speech. And it doesn't guarantee you the spot: it changes the way you look at things while you fight for it.
This week, write down the name of the person who is taking your spot and pray for them before an exam, a practice or an interview. Young plays again next Sunday in Charlotte against Tampa Bay, who come in with a 1-5 record, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time). Would you pray for the one who wants your spot, even if the scoreboard doesn't move?
