Michigan State Album & NFL Hopeful Chris Norman Forging New Career Path with His Faith

 

Michigan State Album & NFL Hopeful Chris Norman Forging New Career Path with His Faith

Who would give up a possible professional football career and potential earnings of $400,000?  Who would suffer ridicule by some of his Michigan State University teammates and even questioning of his decision by his own mother? That guy would be Chris Norman. 

"My motivation behind this whole thing was me knowing Christ," said Chris, "and if that meant counting something as loss, then that was a sacrifice I wanted to be willing to make for the sake of knowing Him more."

A strong leader on the Michigan State Team, Chris was a 6-foot-1, 233-pound linebacker.  In his Senior year in 2012, his teammates elected him captain.

Loving football since childhood, his dream was to follow in the footsteps of his boyhood hero, Detroit Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.  However, in January, 2013, after his last college game, he decided not to pursue that dream, but rather to pursue a new dream of reaching Detroit, where he had grown up, with the Good News of Jesus.

"That may sound like a big thing, but we serve a big God," Chris said.  "I would love to see everybody in Detroit come to repentance and to bend their knee to the Lord Jesus Christ.  That is my heart's desire."

Norman is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree and working with the youth group at his church as he builds his leadership style for his next chapter. 

"Do I miss football?  Yes, I do," he said.  "I think about the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry and all the moments I was able to enjoy.  But there's a pretty clear distinction between missing something and regretting something."

"I don't regret any decision that's been made," Chris added.  "If I had to rewind time, I would do it all exactly the same."

 

 

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