This week’s Faith, Family, & Football feature is: Adam Hayward, Current Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
Adam Hayward was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 6th round (182nd overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft and is in his 6th year with the organization. Throughout his career, Hayward has provided consistent production at his position and evolved into one of the team’s leaders serving as a special teams captain in 2011.
In 2010 Hayward was named the Buccaneers’ 2010 Man of the Year for his leadership on and off the field and efforts to make a difference in the community. Hayward has participated in several community outreach initiatives in the Tampa area including cancer awareness programs, military appreciation visits, and charitable giving efforts.
Hayward is also a leader in his faith and takes pride in living out his beliefs. This week, he gladly participated in our Faith, Family, & Football feature and shared what these three pillars mean to him.
PE: Why is faith important to you?
Hayward: It’s my life. My faith has saved me from a life no one should have. Knowing Jesus my Lord and Savior died for me and my sins is a gift I can never repay. It shows me true values in life, not the world’s views on things. Those tend to die out fast. God’s word has been the same for thousands of years.
PE: Tell us about your family and the impact they’ve had on your life?
Hayward: My family has been the reason I play. After losing my mom it helped me focus and changed my life around. My family is the reason I try to live right and serve as an example of living for God.
PE: What does being a father mean to you?
Hayward: Being a father means showing someone how to be a man or woman and who God is. You have to teach morals, Gods word, and show your children how to live by them.
PE: How has your faith and family helped you develop off the field?
Hayward: My faith and family have helped me realize what the important things in life are. They help keep me humble. Sometimes as players we get so caught up in the game that it causes us to lose sight of what’s important. It gives me a great platform to help others.
PE: How do you balance faith, family, and football?
Hayward: It’s hard to when you have so many distractions out there, so I use other things to help me stay focused and in the Bible. I use apps to get messages and emails sent to my phone so that I experience God’s word in other ways than just the bible. I spend my time outside of work with my family in order to help me stay balanced. I’m away from them enough as it is, so I try to take advantage of every moment I have with them.
PE: What advice would you give to student-athletes and current professional athletes in regards to their faith, family, and football?
Hayward: To remember that your priorities should fall in that exact order (Faith, Family, & Football). If you put your faith first, your family will be well and blessed. These are your two priorities. Football is a game, we will be forgotten one day, so use your platform to help others and share your faith.