Mike: We’ll start off easy. What’s your helmet and shoe size?

Howard Griffith: I’m a 12 1/2 shoe, and I don’t know what my helmet size is! [He looks inside his helmet and laughs.] I guess it’s extra-large. Who knows?

You’ve succeeded in going from being a ninth-round draft pick to a practice squad player, to a backup, to a starter for a two-time Super Bowl championship team. What does it take to achieve that kind of success on the football field?

Hard work and dedication. I was on the practice squad for two teams. My first year, I was on a practice squad for Buffalo. I wasn’t going to play much there, but I took the opportunity to learn a lot [about] staying focused on my goals. I got to learn from guys like Thurman Thomas, who’s probably a future hall-of-famer. [Later, I learned from] Marion Butts at San Diego and Ronnie Harmon. You know I’ve played with some great guys whom I ended up backing up. But I learned a lot from them. I watched them practice. I watched them work.

How does that compare to what it takes to be successful as a Christian walking a Christian life?

There’s no difference. The one thing athletics has taught me is that no matter what you’re doing in life—whatever it is—it’s [useless] if you’re not dedicated, you’re not a hard worker, and you’re not hungry for striving to be better. You know, your walk with Christ doesn’t happen overnight, but I think if you stay focused on what’s important, read your Bible as much as you can and have strong people around you, it’s going to make you that much better.

Tell me about your spiritual journey.

It has been interesting—as most are. When I was growing up in high school and grammar school, I was really into church. I went to Sunday school, and I participated in Bible study and all those sorts of things in the church.

Where did you grow up ... and what was your childhood like?

I grew up on the south side of Chicago. It was pretty gang-inhabited, sort of drug-inhabited. I grew up with the drug dealers’ younger brothers and gang-bangers’ younger brothers. So as opposed to them wanting me to join the gang, they encouraged me to stay out of the gangs. We used to play softball and football against the gang members. I’d go to Sunday school and church in the morning on Sundays and then I’d come home and play football.

Why didn’t the gang members recruit you? Were they just trying to help you out? Do you think God was in control of that?

I think so. I mean, obviously He’s in control of everything, and there had to be a reason for it, because they never pressured me to be in a gang or to sell drugs for them. They were always encouraging me to stay involved in sports. [Also] my mom and dad were involved in the church, and I had a lot of positive role models.

How would you describe what’s it like to be a Christian who is involved in big-time college or professional athletics?

It’s tough to be a Christian on a [professional] football team—or in any sport for that matter. Sometimes you’re looked at as being weak or meek because you’re serving the Lord. And sometimes people see that as a weakness. [They] don’t think you can get in there and mix it up with the rest of them. It’s tough from the standpoint of all the distractions. You know you really have to stay grounded and stay focused. There are very few people who are able to stay focused throughout this whole process of the NFL. On the other hand, there are some special people who are able to do this, [like] Anthony Johnson, who [was] a running back with Carolina. It’s the same way with [Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman] Tony Boselli.

How do you feel you’re handling it all?

You know, I’m trying my best to have a strong walk with Christ. There are probably other people on this team who are stronger and are more into the Word and can quote a lot of different things. I’m not there yet, but I’m smart enough to understand that. But I read a lot and, you know, I’m trying do the best I can.

Finish this sentence: One thing every kid should know about Howard Griffith is ...

... he’s human. There’s nothing really different or special about Howard. One thing I encourage people to do all the time is be careful about the role models you choose. Try to keep them close to home. If you don’t have a mom and dad in the house, [a role model] could be a neighbor. I was fortunate and blessed that I had two parents at home. But not only that, I had some neighbors who were awesome, strong Christians. And [I found role models] in the church.

Before we go, will you share the best advice you ever received?