Sarah Hasselbeck’s passion for the game of football may exceed that of even the most die-hard fans – still, her team spirit pales in comparison to her spirit of service.

Nearly all of what I know about being an NFL wife I learned from Sarah. For 17 years, this NFL quarterback’s wife and mom of three has been influencing young players’ wives toward Christ and teaching them what it means to be a wife in the National Football League.

Matthew has been a part of four different teams. He set passing records, played in three Pro-Bowls, won countless game balls for his performances in clutch games. What has been the highlight of his career for you?

Seeing Matthew at Packers Training Camp, taking the field for the first time, was amazing. I thought, “Wow, he did it!”  He wasn’t a superstar at Boston College. In fact, he made his own tape that he sent to NFL coaches. It worked. The Green Bay Packers drafted him in the sixth round. Being in training camp at all was a testament to his hard work and determination. 

Years later, winning the NFC Championship in Seattle and taking the field at Super Bowl XL with the Seahawks was amazing for me because I knew what it meant to him.

Both of those moments were the dreams of a little boy brought to fruition for Matthew.

How did you learn what it means to be an NFL wife?

The community of NFL wives is so special, past and present. When we first arrived in Seattle, former Seahawks families who lived in the area still made an effort to connect with new players and their wives. They led Bible studies and invited us for dinner. We were lucky that we had older, wiser people who came into our lives who helped us along.

The newest NFL players and their wives were not even in grade school when your husband, Matthew, was drafted.  What advice do you have for the wives of these players?

If I were to give advice, I’d say:

1. Be community-minded and be excited to meet people from all different backgrounds. I have loved being a part of the NFL for so many years.  There are a lot of cool, interesting, smart, fun girls from all over the country who I have had the chance to meet. They come and go from each city, but I have made so many great friends in this league.
2. NFL wives are resilient, even during the hard times. Get involved with these women and they will be there when things get hard.
3. NFL teams offer great opportunities to be involved in the community. Don’t be intimidated by charities trying to connect with you. You are not necessarily expected to give massive amounts of money. Sometimes, giving time is even more beneficial than giving financially. Being a part of local charities will help you connect to the community in which you’re living – which is ultimately the biggest win.  Being a part of charities is also a great way to learn how to be charitable – and that is never a bad thing. Because of your connection to the NFL, you will get to be intimately involved in just about any charitable organization. You will get to see how the organization is run and you’ll get to take part in their fun activities. You will see the best of what is successful.

You met Matthew at Boston College where you were both student athletes. You were a Field Hockey superstar and you were even invited to play for the US National Team. While his is now a household name, only one of you is a part of the Boston College Sports Hall of Fame. Does this topic ever come up at the dinner table?  What do your kids know about your playing days? 

I hope that knowing that I was a competitive athlete impacts the way they hear the advice I give them for sports. I tell them, “I’ve been there, I know the adrenaline is running – but if you really want to impress your coach, keep your mouth closed.” I think I can coach my children well because I’ve felt what they are feeling.

Matthew deserves to be in the BC Hall of Fame too. We just need someone to apply for him! He is actually being inducted into his high school hall of fame this fall.

I love your love and dedication to Matthew and the sport he loves. You recently traveled to Guatemala for a mission trip with Medical Teams International (MTI) where you built stoves to combat women and children dying of smoke inhalation. Some people might ask why you got your hands dirty rather than just sending money in an attempt to combat the problem. What did the trip mean to you?

Matthew set the example when we were in college. He went to Jamaica and spent time hands-on with victims of leprosy. That trip brought his faith alive in a new way. I saw how it impacted his life and that set the tone for how he and I spend our free time outside of football. We want to give back.

When I went to Guatemala, Matthew stepped up to take over my day-to-day duties with the kids. Things in life have times when they should happen. We gave money to the organization. We worked on the MTI auction committee. It was time for me to take the next step.

Your follow-up to the trip to Guatemala was taking Matthew and your three children to Malawi, Africa with Charity:Water.  What did you see while you were there?

We saw the rural and underdeveloped African countryside. We saw “the least of these” and we saw their needs for things such as basic sanitation, clean water, and education. We saw the need for teachers, roads, shelter, and clothing. It brought to life how much a government affects a people.

While we were there, we saw the impact Charity:Water and their partners were making in the area.  We visited villages that just received wells and we saw those that didn’t have clean water yet.  We witnessed the community’s reaction as clean water shot from the ground for the first time.

Basically, I saw mothers who wanted the same thing that I want as a mom—for our children to be healthy, for our kids to have a better life than we had, for kids not to have to spend their whole lives collecting water.

I saw the strength of women, both physically and spiritually.  They have nothing but each other and the land they live on.  I don’t like when people say “they had nothing but they were happy.” The truth is that they have no way out. If they could get to the city or better their lives, they would go. We saw the impact that clean water can make and that giving makes a difference generationally for them.

I loved experiencing the trip through the eyes of my children. Before we left, they sold popsicles from a kayak to boaters in Lake Washington. They sold their toys at a garage sale. Their soccer team did a tag sale for clean water. They cared about the issues before we arrived, but being there made it real for all of us. As we pulled away from a village that had just received water for the first time, there was a boy chasing our van. My kids were watching him and shouting, “Look at how fast he is – he should in the Olympics!” Or, earlier that day, my son said, “That kid kicked that ball so hard, I wish he was on my team!”  Maybe, now that he has clean water, he will have a chance.  

When you got back from Africa, you committed to raising awareness for Charity:Water via your platform as an NFL wife. How is that going?

For each point that the Colts score this season, I am donating money to Charity:Water. With our team’s success on the field, I want to be sure that others are benefitting in a meaningful way. I would love to see other quarterbacks’ wives join me in the effort. Perhaps we can make it a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money on behalf of their team!