LA Chargers' Friendship with Jesus is #1

In a game of forward progress, where running the football through defenses is a necessity and careers become a traveled journey, consider the rare proximity of Chargers running back, Joshua Kelley, whose pilgrimage stays close to home, playing collegiately at Cal-Davis before transferring to UCLA, then drafted by Los Angeles in 2020, gaining ground for a living, while experiencing a charged transformed life.

Question: “You’re playing professional football in your first city of Inglewood! Does that carry more purpose for you?” 

Joshua Kelley: “Oh yeah absolutely, man. It carries a lot purpose. Three years ago, when I first heard my name get called to the Chargers. I was like wow, that’s crazy! You know staying right here, right home, Inglewood, Sofi. There’s a purpose of why God wanted me here. So, I’m just trying to do my best for the team, for the community. So that’s been like the hugest blessing for me. Just trying to leave the place better than when I found it!”    

Question: “You do the walk-on at UCLA. Got a scholarship. Back to back thousand-yard seasons. Your success at UCLA, how did that mature you?” 

Joshua Kelley: “Yeah, it really shaped me, man. It gave me a lot of confidence. Like my faith in God really showed like how to go deeper in that relation with him. ‘Cuz when I was at Davis, I was there two years and the coaches got fired. I really wanted to play D-1 big time! I put myself in a transfer portal and there was no interest. I was kind of sad. I was like, dang. But I believe man, I believe and kept trusting in God and my family, my support system. I’m a walk-on. It’s time to go here and get it!”

Question: “Let’s go to your running game. Describe your running style.” 

Joshua Kelley: “Um-huh, for me downhill. I’m not a dancer. I know I fall forward. I know I have good vision and instincts. I’m really decisive.”

Question: “And you see some daylight or space, what kind of a sensation does that give you?”

Joshua Kelley: “It’s a spidey-sense. It’s crazy, yeah, it’s a spidey-sense, bro. You get this tingle. For me it’s like a little, ‘oh here it is, I see it.’ And now it’s like burst through it because if you have that hesitation – it’ll close! So yeah, seeing that open hole is like, ‘oh shoot, let’s go!'” 

Question: “There’s been much made of late about that unfair running back market. For you and your running back colleagues, is this a window of opportunity to remedy the value of the running back?” 

Joshua Kelley: “I think that’s a good question. I feel like regardless of what position you play in football you have to reward production. Every position puts on shoulder pads and helmets. The guys who go out there and dominate, the guys who rush for a lot of yards, score touchdowns, who make plays, I just feel like they should be compensated fairly. I love football! I understand that my purpose is bigger than a contract. My purpose is bigger than a touchdown. It’s to inspire people and do my best on this platform.”

Question: “How do you walk in authentic Christ-following life in a profession that really is high-profile?” 

Joshua Kelley: “You’re playing professional football. But at the same time, bro, it’s like what is your identity? I’m Joshua Kelley, I’m not number 25. Everyone sees you as 25, but I’m Josh Kelley! This is who I am. This is my identity, as I’m in Christ. And my family members, my wife, they all remind me regardless how things go you go out there and ball out. Don’t take 25 everywhere you go. Be grateful for who you are and stay true to yourself.”

Question: “The support you got growing up. Your childhood was a lot like a lot of other childhoods where it was - single mom.” 

Joshua Kelley: “Yeah. You see your mom work so hard. It’s tough! It makes you grow up a lot faster too. Me and my best friends today made a pact that’s like, ‘Look, when we become fathers, we’re gonna be there. We’re gonna be there for our kids! We made that deal so I’m trying to hold myself accountable to it because I know the struggle and pain that goes through that. My wife, Mikayla, she is awesome, she’s also been someone who’s helped me in my relationship with God. My mother, like even to this day will text me a verse – ‘hope you’re doing well,’ just reminding me about - ‘are you praying,’ are you seeking Him first?’ I don’t think people realize playing at this level is not just how good you are, but everybody bro, everybody! Your teachers, your coaches, your family members! I couldn’t be here without the people God put in my life.”

Question: “Spring of 2021. (Joshua responds, "Yeah!") Chargers Chaplain baptized you (Joshua responds, "Yes!")?” 

Joshua Kelley: “It was one of the best days of my life. Me and George are really close. We have a great relationship. ‘George, hey I haven’t been baptized yet.’ I was like, ‘this is something I gotta do!’ He took me aside, we prayed together. He dipped me. It was like ‘oh man.’ Going back down and you come back up – you’re renewed! I’m getting closer to His presence and chasing it every single day.”

Question: “Your name Joshua, God is Deliverance. How did He deliver you?” 

Joshua Kelley: “Yeah, man! I’m still in the process. It’s like yeah, man it's cool to do our best, go out here, be the best person we can. All these people cheering for us. But when the day comes, when we have to step away, it’s like, what part of you as a man is gonna be there? So, I feel like God delivered me from that.”

Question: “Who has Jesus Christ become for Joshua Kelly?” 

Joshua Kelley: “Definitely my savior. A friend! There’re times when you go through like bad moments in your life and you’re like, ‘man, where is God?’ But then you see there’s something He’s working within you. I’m like ‘wow, this is really like a relationship. It’s a friendship. That was the biggest thing Jesus did! He came to love people, saw people where they were at. And I think that’s what we’re supposed to do.”