Chicago Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker is sharing a milestone moment of faith with fans, announcing on Instagram that he was recently baptized at Gulfside City Park Beach in Sanibel, Florida.
"I was recently baptized with some of my brothers in Christ," Booker wrote, "as an outward declaration of the inward commitment I've made to follow Jesus Christ." He described the moment in deeply personal terms: "I was buried with Christ, and rose into a new life with HIM. I repented of my sins, and trust in Christ's finished work on the cross, and live fully for Him."
Booker closed his post by expressing hope that others would find the same freedom he has. "With this I desire for others to experience the joy of surrendering to the Lord," he wrote, citing Acts 2:38: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Booker, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick out of Kansas, joins a growing number of NFL players publicly professing their faith this offseason. Earlier this summer, several Cleveland Browns players - including Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and cornerback Tyson Campbell - were baptized during a "Cleveland for Christ" event featuring worship, testimonies, and prayer.
As NFL training camps kick into full swing across the league, Booker's testimony adds to a season already marked by visible expressions of faith among players - a reminder that for many athletes, what happens off the field carries just as much weight as what happens on it.
