This week’s Faith, Family, & Football feature is: David Tyree, Former New York Giant & Baltimore Raven.
With Super Bowl Sunday only two days away, NFLPE thought it would be fitting to feature an individual who notched one of the all-time greatest plays in Super Bowl history, David Tyree.
Tyree was drafted in 6th round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the NY Giants (211th overall). Despite the humble beginnings as a professional, Tyree was named to Pro Football Weekly’s All Rookie team as a special teams player & one the few Giant rookie receivers in recent years to record a 100 yard receiving performance (5 rec 106yds). He was named to the 2006 Pro Bowl & was a unanimous decision as an All Pro special team’s player.
Throughout his career Tyree provided the New York Giants with reliable depth at the wide receiver position and made big plays when called upon. Nothing could be more true the night of Feb. 3 2008 when the relatively obscure Tyree etched himself in NYC folklore as well as NFL history by making what many consider to be the greatest catch in Super Bowl history. What Tyree likes to call “Catch 42”, he was one half of the most memorable moments in Giant and Super Bowl history when he pinned the football on top of his helmet as the Giants went on to score the go ahead touchdown with 39 seconds left in the game. At the end of the day all he could do was give God the glory!
Understanding being a professional athlete was not merely for self-enjoyment but an opportunity to be a voice to a generation that worships sports, Tyree has made the most of this platform by serving various ministries and charities over the course of his career and still to this day. In 2010 he retired as a NY Giant and has made a healthy transition into life after football working as a Player Benefits Assistant for the National Football League.
David and his wife, Leila, have been married for 8 years and together are privileged to raise 6 amazing children. In the midst of a busy week, we were able to catch up with David before his trip for Super Bowl week in New Orleans. NFLPE would like to thank David Tyree for taking the time to sharr his Faith, Family, and Football.
PE: Why is faith important to you?
Tyree: My faith in Jesus Christ is beyond importance. It is the air I breathe. I have experienced the vast majority of my life not knowing the wonders of God's love and forgiveness through Christ. I grew up in Essex County NJ where as a young man I was my own god. I called the shots in my life and football was the vehicle to my own glory. All things went according to plan into my rookie season in the NFL. Externally I secured the image of success but my character suffered great need of a makeover. I was in bondage to alcohol and marijuana to point where I convinced myself selling marijuana was a good way to recoup money from the fines I had accrued during the season. These actions among others lead to my arrest in March 2004. Alone in that jail cell was the lowest point in my life provoking me to cry out to God sincerely for the first time in my life expressing my need for Him. Since I have repented and followed Christ I have secured peace, stability, and passion for life I never knew.
PE: Tell us about your family and the impact they’ve had on your life?
Tyree: I am a husband of one beautiful wife Leilah Tyree. I am the father of six glorious children that we homeschool as well (Teyon-11, Josiah-8, Sophia & Hannah-5, Solomon-2, and Samuel-1). My family dynamic has created a measure of freedom and love through the surrender of my own personal desires enabling me to secure what is best for others. They encourage me, heal me, chasten me, and most of the time they don't have to use words to complete the task.
PE: What does being a father mean to you?
Tyree: Fatherhood for me focuses on the responsibility of shaping the destiny of my children on earth through eternity. I have come to value the tremendous gift of stewarding life. The joys, frustrations, and overwhelming moments of insufficiency at times. It's an amazing dynamic!
PE: How has your faith and family helped you develop off the field?
Tyree: Jesus has shaped my eternal perspective and caused me to see the futility of many of my involvements in this life. My commitment to family reminds me that this life isn't about me. As an athlete people esteem us in ways that are often unmerited. My faith and family bring value to my character, which completes my person.
PE: How do you balance faith, family, and football?
Tyree: I'm not a man of great "balance" I am radically abandoned and zealous for God. I have learned that through Christ I am a better husband, father, and athlete, worker, etc. So my balance is to give Christ all my affection and He will empower the other areas of my life.
PE: What advice would you give to student athletes and current professional athletes in regards to their faith, family, and football?
Tyree: Don't put God first....make God all! By honoring the One who is worthy, the immense value of our family and the endeavors we have great passion for grow exponentially. The emphasis cannot start and end with something as temporal as the game of football. These areas must translate into lives impacted for generations to come.
Check out David Tyree online:
“The Catch”
The story behind “The Catch”
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