Latest / CBN Sports 1-ON-1 / EP.15 Bo Nix on Faith, Adversity and Finding His Purpose Beyond Football
Transcript
- Will Dawson: Welcome to CBN Sports One-on-One, where you'll hear exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in sports right here on the CBN Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host, Will Dawson. If you're like most of us and you love sports, but you're tired of the dark side of sports culture, me-focused athletes, or even organizations that bow to an unbiblical belief system, we think you're gonna love this podcast. There's no yelling, no sensationalism. Just great conversations with athletes and coaches who recognize that their purpose is bigger than their sport. Bo Nix has been incredible in his first two seasons in the NFL. In fact, he's the only quarterback in NFL history to record over 7,500 passing yards and 50 plus passing touchdowns in his first two career seasons. I sat down with Bo his senior year at Oregon and talked about the adversity he faced in college. Following in his dad's footsteps to Auburn and what it would mean to ultimately play in the NFL. Let's jump right in. When did you become a Christian? So I was born in a Christian household. both my parents, you know, had a great relationship with the Lord throughout my time. and really when I was about seven years old is when I kind of, you know, learned you know, what it meant to have a personal relationship. And so when I was seven, we lived in Atlanta. I asked Jesus into my heart and you know from then on it's been a relatively relatively steady you know, relationship and journey, you know, growing in my faith and and understanding what it means to have a personal faith and not depending on other people's and just 'cause you come from, you know, a family background with Christianity doesn't necessarily mean that that's you know, your same walk. So I learned you know, growing up about a personal relationship and it started when I was seven. It's a great foundation to have a have parents who are believing. then you're also not only growing your faith but growing on the football field as well. it's been well documented that your your dad, Patrick, is is an Auburn football legend. When did you decide that you wanted to play for Auburn? Growing up really from the time that you know I knew what football was, it was a goal and and a passion and dream of mine and you know, fortunate enough for me I was able to do that and I was able to follow that. that dream and you know growing up mom and dad, you know, with dad being a coach, mom being, you know, an Auburn grad herself, we always watched Auburn and then dad's team on Saturday. So it was something, you know, a part of our our life and a part of our family. Did you find it hard as a high school athlete, as a five star recruit, to live out your faith? Yeah, it was you know, it a daily challenge, but you know, growing up, you know, again I give great credit to my parents. They, you know, really taught me the the path and, you know, taught me the do's and the don'ts and you know, everything that it meant. And, you know, so when I got older as I grew up, you know, you had to make decisions really before they were were in front of you. So you had to learn how to say no before you were put in those situations. And it was difficult to kind of be that person to stand out for it and, you know, take a stand for it. But at the end of the day, you know, I understood why I was doing it and it wasn't really you know, something I was doing it for other people, you know, it was really, you know, strong in in myself and I felt like, you know, that was the right thing to do. The day you committed to Auburn, it probably had to feel like you were living out a dream. Was that the case for you? Yes. And, you know, it was a d dream come true and a a moment that I always looked forward looked forward to and you know, I just remember it being a very special you know, time in in my life because it was something that I worked very hard for, and I felt like you know, the Lord had had put it right in front of me and gave me the the opportunity to go, you know, chase my dreams. No, you you make the commitment to go to Auburn and things are great at first. They they start off really well, but you started having some difficulties on the field and what was that like? Take me through that 'cause I know that there was a low point for you as well. Yeah, that that was tough. that's really when I, you know, kind of learned about the the negative side of sports and the negative side of, you know, college football. And you know, I think what hurt the most is that, you know, I was you know, such an a huge Auburn fan and wan wanted Auburn to win every Saturday and when, you know, I was when I couldn't get that done on Saturdays, you know, I felt, you know, a bigger burden than I probably should have carried. But you know, I learned a lot about myself through that time, you know, resiliency and you know, toughness and and grit and so it's just each Saturday you just You know, you strapped it back up and you you went out there to do something special and you know, that's what I did and then you know, eventually it was just time to kinda let go of that. Mm-hmm. How low did it get for you? it was nothing more low than just a loss and, you know, heavy you know, losses that, you know, just stuck with me and and and, you know, carried a lot of weight. But I learned how to, you know, forget about it, move on and grow from 'cause that's all you can do. but you know, just your typical, you know, Sunday mornings and you had a tough loss the day before and you know you gotta go throughout another week and and find a way to do your best to win on the next Saturday. But you know, I think at the same time it put in perspective how, you know, there's a lot more to life than football. Hm. Did you ever consider quitting? No. When you made the decision then to come to Auburn, you had graduated early? From from Auburn? Did you graduate in three years? Yes, I did. I was fortunate to in three years from Auburn, you know, I got my diploma and that's another thing that, you know, I really wanted to do is graduate from Auburn and that's what I was able to do. And then it made my time of of leaving a little bit better because I had something to show for my time at Auburn. What were the circumstances? Why did you end up here? Well, you know, I think it ultimately came down to my time on the field. I felt like I could, you know, could do more and so with that being said, I felt like Oregon was the best place you know, to go. I knew Coach Dillingham because he was my OC my freshman year and you know, he coached me last year. Now he's head coach at ASU and you know, so that relationship was there. I knew Coach Lannon 'cause I'd played against him several times at Georgia and I knew what kind of coach he was and then I always knew the Oregon brand. I knew what kind of players they had each year. I knew that they always, you know, were gonna have a top ten program and I just wanted to go be able to go compete for a championship and you know, I've been very fortunate enough to to be on teams now to where we were able to do that. Did you feel like you were following God's direction when you were here and and what did that look like? You know, I did because I never felt you know, anything but peace about my decision. so I knew the hardest part was just deciding to leave and then you know, I just followed my heart out here to Oregon. I think, you know, he placed it on my heart because he didn't put anything else you know, in the way. He didn't you know, make my decision difficult. He kinda just p made all roads lead to Oregon and he just pointed, you know, in the direction to to Oregon and you know, I felt like that decision was was fairly easy. When you got here did it feel like a fresh start then? It did, yeah. I you know, they welcomed me in with with huge open arms and with love and s and value that, you know, I've I admired and I thought it was just very special to see a program and a university. you know, treat me like that and ever since, you know, I've just been able to play free and just go out there and have fun on Saturdays because ultimately that's you know, the the reason why you do things is to go out there and just enjoy what you're doing and and have a passion about it and then, you know, as you're doing that you can have influence on other people. Playing free and having fun, that's something that you did when you were at Auburn, but there was that pressure there having been the team that you grew up rooting for and your dad played there. When you came here Was that pressure off? Did you feel like that? Yeah, I I I felt so. I think it's just 'cause, you know, I didn't put so much added pressure on myself and, you know, it's enough pressure to go out there and convert third downs, you know. So I think at at the time, you know, I didn't really know or why I was I was doing it, but it's just I think it was the situation. And so when I moved here, you know, it was much easier to go out and just play football and just enjoy it. You talked about having an impact on people. What does that look like for you on and off the field? Well, that's you know, very dynamic. you know, ultimately I believe, in Matthew where it says you're the light of the world and you know, I think that our main goal on earth is to go and, you know, influence others and and to point them towards you know, the Lord and in their direction. So, in doing that, you know, I think it goes well beyond you know, the field, just off the field. You know, it's it's about, you know, hanging out with the guys and building connection and and really just meeting where they are because you never know what path the person's gone through in their life. You never know what situations they've been through and you know that makes each and every one of us different and special in our own way and it's really about us finding that out about the person and then that's how you can really make connections and and grow your relationship. Bo, what is your relationship with Jesus mean to you? It's everything. you know, I wouldn't be here, wouldn't be the person I am today without it. I think when you look back and you look at the things I've been through, you know, it shaped me and it shaped that relationship and I wouldn't have, you know, the relationship with Jesus without the life that I've lived. and so at the end of the day, you know, life has taught me to have an eternal perspective, have a r perspective outside of, you know, your daily habits and your daily decisions because at the end of the day, you know, this life is a vapor, it's a mist and it's gonna be gone. relatively quickly and you know what did what what was I able to do with that? what was I able to do with the blessings and the situations that I have to really, you know, dictate the eternal life and you know, decisions of of so many people. Last year was a was a great year for you. and you had an opportunity to go to the NFL and every player who plays football, I'm sure if you ask them the dream is the NFL, but you decided to come back. What what played into that? Well, you know, I felt like, you know, you only get your colleagues experience one time and the NFL will always be there and then once you get there you can kinda fight and battle to see how long you can play. There's no really you know, time to where you have to, you know, spend your NFL career. You know, it's up to you and you know, your success. But in college, you know, you're you're only gifted so many tim so many seasons, so many years. and I felt like there's just a lot of things that, you know, I wanted to continue to grow in a lot of things that you know I wanted to accomplish and I didn't want to give up on it without having the chance to do that. I'm guessing you probably prayed through that decision as well. Mm-hmm. Yeah, a lot of you know, prayer and a lot of time spent you know, with Izzy and my family because now all the decisions I make are a lot more than myself, you know, with married and s you know, with a family and, you know, it's just each decision is gonna affect a lot more people as I go and so, you know, it's not just what my heart feels, it's just what you know, what Izzy feels and and you know, what she feels comfortable with and together we made that decision. Has being married taught you about your your faith? Has it taught you how to be a better football player? Yeah, it's it really just taught me how to be a better person. and like I said, you know, now being married your life's a lot more than than just yourself. So, it teaches you a lot how to be selfless and how to you know, do things for other people and You know, Izzy is is really good at grounding me and she reminds me about the important things in life and you know, she doesn't really get caught up in the X's and O's and the football plays and all that kind of stuff. She just wants me to go have fun and be safe and so and you know, when I get home and I'm around her, she just reminds me a lot about that. And you know, at the end of the day, you know, our goal as a married couple, we just wanna influence other people and and influence people with our walk. This being your last season it's an important season. You have y you're a top top ten, top fifteen team, the college football playoff is is there, the Heisman Trophy could potentially be there. What are your goals for this year before the NFL? What are your goals? Well, my goal ultimately for our team is to win a championship, no matter what it looks like, because I believe championships lead to other championships and so you know, if we have that goal as a team, if we have that mindset going in and you know, we can mi win as many games as possible to give us a chance to win a championship. You know, that's ultimately what I want. and you know, when you look at all the the really great teams, personal accolades usually come along with it. So it's not something that I necessarily have in the forefront of my mind. I just know that what I can control right now is is how our team does and how we do on Saturdays and you know that'll lead to other things and and probably different goals that we all have in the back of our minds and and goals that are good that that we should strive for. but at at the end of the day you know the team is most important. There's a verse that a lot of athletes use and it's Philippians four thirteen. Are you familiar with that one? Yeah. And you know obviously like you know it's it's sometimes a lot taken out of context. Right. because you know they can say like I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Like I can do whatever because I have God's strength. And it's more like, you know, whatever you're in, whatever season you're in, whatever you're doing, you can get through it because of the strength that that God gave you. So you know, that's you know, a very powerful, strong verse, and definitely one that, you know, I've is well known it to me and and is one that, you know, I think about a lot. I'm glad that you said that, that it can be taken out of context because I was gonna say that Philippians four twelve, Paul talks about being able to be brought low. He's he knows how to be brought low and how to abound. Yeah. In looking back over your career, you have been brought low. And I'm not comparing you to the Apostle Paul, but you have been brought low and know how to abound. And I'm sure that in some way that helps keep things in perspective for you. Yeah, it does. And, you know, I think my my story is a lot like everybody else's, you know, we we go through life, we want to succeed, we want to have a lot of pride in what we do and we wanna do well with our life that we've been given and you know, at times we're gonna be knocked down and we're gonna be you know, at at our lowest point and it's about how you respond and it's about what is round the corner and what God has for you and you know, you can take my my my life as as a great example, you know, you you think you have what you wanted at Auburn but, you know, you get into a low point and then you end up at Oregon where you never thought you'd be. but you have such a story in that. So it's just, you know, an encouraging word to other people who, you know, have have gone after something and maybe not reached it and maybe not got the goal that they wanted, but I think it's because, you know, God has designed us to you know, to you know, to follow him and and to be where we are and and if that's not what we necessarily think, it's not because, you know, the Lord doesn't have a plan for us, because he does and I believe that, you know, he you know, he never wavers, he never shakes and and he's g always gonna be there for us and he's always gonna put us exactly where we need to be. What does the story look like for Bo Nix, say five years from now? You mentioned life is a vapor, we're not promised tomorrow, but what is your hope for your professional career and then what is your hope spiritually with your wife in the ministry that you hope to have? Well, you know, that again, that's a fully loaded question because, you know, in five years, you know, I my dream and my goal, hopefully I'm, you know, playing in the NFL and just continue to use my talents for for other people and at the same time, you know, as as life continues to go on, you know, I hope to, you know, have a family and and grow, you know, the Knicks family and and just be around all the people I love as much as possible and you know, take advantage of our time here on earth. but, you know, I would say just as far as ministry goes, if if Izzy and I are just able to continue to do what we love doing around the people we love, making an impact and and, you know, pointing people towards you know, what's biblical and what's right and you know, the truth of the Lord, then you know, I'd say we we're you know, having success no matter what it looks like. and w at the end of the day, we just gotta keep the main thing the main thing. What really struck me about Bo when talking with him in college was his maturity. He was the fifth quarterback taken in the twenty twenty four draft behind guys like Michael Penix and JJ McCarthy. And he's proven himself as a consistent winner. Unfortunately, he was injured in the playoffs last season, which Really should have been an opportunity for the Broncos to play in the Super Bowl. I think they're going to be back. One thing's for sure, Bo Nicks is a winner. I do love that he highlighted Matthew 5, 14 through 16, which says, You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others. That they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Bo continues to live out his faith in the NFL with his wife Izzy, proclaiming the goodness of Jesus on the biggest platform. We'll continue to cheer for Bo and the Broncos. Even if you're not a Broncos fan, he is worth cheering for if you're a believer. If you enjoyed this podcast, please follow us and check out our weekly sports show with guests, Fuel the Fire with Will Dawson. You can watch this podcast on YouTube and we have feature stories with athletes as well as video shorts we think that you'll enjoy. Email us as well, cbnsports at cbn.org. We'd love to hear from you. Maybe we'll read an email on the podcast. And we're on social media, on Instagram, we're at CBN Sports underscore. Just search for us on Facebook, X, and TikTok. And until next week, we'll see you then.