The Biggest Win offers an inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at how faith shaped the lives of six Super Bowl–winning NFL players, helping readers see that true victory is found in Christ.
Through the real stories of Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton, Jordan Hicks, and Chris Maragos, author Joshua Cooley highlights how these athletes navigated success, pressure, and adversity while remaining grounded in God’s Word. Their journeys reveal what it looks like to pursue excellence in sports without losing sight of a deeper purpose—living faithfully for Jesus both on and off the field.
Blending personal testimony with biblical truth, this book serves as both encouragement and discipleship for athletes and fans alike. With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, it’s ideal for small groups, teams, and church settings, equipping readers to handle competition, success, and failure while anchoring their identity in Christ rather than performance.
About the Author :
Joshua Cooley is a sports writing veteran of twenty-plus years for various print and online publications, including Sports Illustrated, FCA Magazine, Sports Spectrum, Orioles Magazine, Clubhouse, and Highlights. He is the author of The Biggest Win: Pro Football Players Tackle Faith, The One Year Devotions With Jesus, and the Heroes of the Bible Devotional, among other books. Joshua is the full-time children's minister at Chapel Hill Bible Church in North Carolina.
Review :
"With icebergs, we celebrate and are amazed at what we see above the water but there is so much more below the surface. As the entire world watched Super Bowl LII, we witnessed and celebrated the amazing elements of sport that we can see. The Biggest Win takes you below the surface to see how much more God is at work in these players as well as in our own lives and how to win the biggest game of all."
Shane Williamson, President/CEO, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
"Josh Cooley, a talented sports writer with unusual spiritual insight, has written a unique and engaging book. Neither fanboy nor critic, Josh shows these pro football players as what they are: authentic and imperfect brothers striving to honor Jesus. The timeless biblical principles at work in their stories carry over seamlessly to readers. Well written, true-to-reality, and spiritually uplifting, The Biggest Win is one of the finest sports books I've ever read!"
Randy Alcorn, Author of Heaven, Seeing the Unseen, and Courageous
"As the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator during their Super Bowl LII championship season, I enjoyed a close, personal look at how real the stories are in this book. These men are true brothers in Christ whose lives have impacted me significantly. In The Biggest Win, Joshua Cooley not only does an incredible job helping us learn from their examples, but he also uses the platform of sports to equip and inspire us in our Christian faith.
Frank Reich, Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts
"I couldn't read this book fast enough. Throughout my baseball career, I always long for teammates who are hungry for God's Word and bold about their love for Jesus Christ, just like the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles were during their Super Bowl season. The Biggest Win inspired me and it will do the same for you because it shows what genuine Christian faith looks like for any athlete as we compete."
Adrian Gonzalez, Major League Baseball Player and Five-Time All-Star
"If you are an athlete struggling with how to balance sports and your walk with the Lord, I definitely recommend The Biggest Win. Joshua does a wonderful job showing how your faith can be strengthened not compromised while you pursue your athletic endeavors. After reading this, you'll realize that true victory can be yours long before you even start the game."
Jordan Matthews, NFL Wide Receiver
"The Biggest Win is far more than pro athlete testimonials. This book lays a much-needed foundation, starting with the Bible, for how athletes should view and engage in sports. Joshua has given us a great resource."
Mark Householder, President of Athletes in Action
"In The Biggest Win, Josh, has done a wonderful job combining God's word, real life athletic experiences, and thoughtful self-reflective questions regarding faith and how it intersects with life and sport. It's like having a devotional and a road map to success for the Christian athlete and is a must read for any aspiring athlete or fan!"
Bryan Clay, Olympic Decathlon and World Champion; founder & CEO, The Bryan Clay Foundation
"Joshua Cooley, one of the premier Christian sportswriters in the country, shares fascinating stories about six NFL players who are playing for more than gridiron glory, but what I enjoyed most was how Josh shared spiritual insights and lessons that we can all take to heart."
Mike Yorkey, Coauthor of the Every Man's Battle series and Picking Up My Shattered Pieces with Gina Pastore
"As a pastor, I usually read non-fiction, theology books. But I was refreshed to read how the good news of Christ is powerfully revealed in the athletic world. I think you'll find Joshua Cooley's retelling the story of an unusual group of godly men who played on the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles to draw you in to the best story ever, the gospel. If you are a young athlete, an old athlete, or a non-athletic pastor, you will get both a great sports story and a glorious Jesus story in one place."
Jay Thomas, Lead Pastor at Chapel Hill Bible Church, Chapel Hill, NC; author of Sex, Dating, and Relationships
"I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Biggest Win. Joshua Cooley seamlessly weaves solid biblical truth with the God-honoring testimonies of the six featured Eagles football players. Their stories bring the theological concepts Josh presents to life. The Biggest Win isn't just a book for athletes; this is a book for everyone."
Marty Machowski, Pastor; author of The Ology, Long Story Short: Ten- Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God, and The Gospel Story Bible
"With the question in the foreword, 'Are you ready to glorify God?,' the author had me hooked. In The Biggest Win Cooley's spiritual commitment to the gospel is laced together with his journalistic field experience and his ability to craft a compelling narrative to produce an entertaining and encouraging read. Each chapter contains personal snapshots of well known athletes' spiritual victories and struggles woven together with God's Word to provide all of us a fresh challenge to glorify the Lord in all things."
Ken Coley, Senior Professor of Christian Education, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC; author of Entrusted to the Faithful
