When the Philadelphia Eagles run out of the field today you might notice several players wearing different cleats. This is the week the NFL allowed players to wear special cleats to support their causes. The week is nicknamed “My cause my cleats”.
The Eagles chose to support their quarterback and their faith. Carson Wentz is still a rookie but he’s had a profound impact on his team, on and off the field.
Audience of 1 is Wentz’s life motto. He plays for only one. God. His faith is first in his life. Wentz and several Eagles have formed a strong bond based on faith first, football second. These players regularly attend church together and have their own bible study. In a league full of larger than life personalities, they are humble.
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I first heard of AO1 months ago when Jordan Matthews talked about Wentz and how the outside world had no effect on him. “He doesn’t play for them, teammates,” Matthews said when asked about the critics. Wentz showed up to the Eagles training camp with AO1 tattooed on his wrist and it’s a motto adopted by teammates.
The cleats some Eagles will wear feature AO1 on one side and Romans 5:8 on the other. In reference to the bible verse, Romans chapter 8, verse 5. It reads, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Stefen Wisniewski, Carson Wentz. Jordan Hicks, Chris Maragos, Matthews and others all plan to wear the cleats and then auction them off and donate the proceeds to charity.
Whether you support their faith or not, you have to admire their unity and their brotherhood. The AO1 movement is dominated by younger players and players new to the organization. Their cause is their own and not blasted across national television screens weekly as reports of flag protests have been.
The Eagles dare to be different. They wear their faith on their sleeves and in this case, on their cleats.