Touchdown Alexander

By Chad Bonham

Seattle's Shaun Alexander talks about seeking God's timing and imitating Christ while under the NFL spotlight.

On the surface, Shaun Alexander's autobiographical book release might seem like the typical cool and calculated marketing move any other star athlete in his shoes would have made. After all, the guy is the National Football League's reigning MVP and he did lead the Seattle Seahawks to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance.

Forget the fact that last season he also tied the NFL record for rushing touchdowns. His 27 scores matched Kansas City tailback Priest Holmes' 2003 performance.

So it all makes sense except for one small detail: Alexander originally planned to write his story two years ago. While one might think his decision to wait was a stroke of good luck, the native Kentuckian says it has more to do with a deeply-rooted personal philosophy. "I just try to wait for God's timing," Alexander says. "I keep things real simple. God's timing is flawless."

The release of Touchdown Alexander couldn't have come a better time. Despite his team's disappointing 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Alexander's popularity is higher than ever.

As an NFL superstar, Alexander's platform has grown significantly. But that increased positive attention has been joined by a certain measure of scrutiny as well. For example, during the 2004 season, Alexander finished one yard shy of the NFL rushing title and could have easily reached the mark had he received one last attempt late in the final game against Atlanta.

Afterwards, a reporter badgered him with questions and ultimately misled Alexander to believe that head coach Mike Holmgren purposely denied him the opportunity. That led to the now infamous "I guess he stabbed me in the back," comment that, according to Alexander, was severely blown out of proportion. With just a little more thought, he didn't think Holmgren would have done something like that purposefully, and the title wasn't of supreme importance. The two talked the next day, and Holmgren explained that he didn't realize Alexander was so close to breaking the record.

Alexander went on to reassure Holmgren that he wasn't speaking maliciously. "It wasn't a big issue," he says. "But I learned that if it could [seem] malicious to someone else, then it's wrong. I think that's a valuable lesson to learn. Sometimes you don't think it's wrong because you didn't do anything that looks wrong, according to your core beliefs."

Not only has Alexander learned how to choose his words more wisely with the media, he has been taught some hard lessons about how money can severely distort people's perception about professional athletes—especially those that espouse Christian values. Alexander took his time before signing an eight-year contract extension in March of 2006. That $62 million contract made him the highest paid running back in the NFL.

"People need to understand that God plans even for the financial things," he says. "We're small-changing God. He'll take care of everything. It's the whole nine yards. He'll give you the big contract if it is designed for you to have the big contract. Get focused on going after God and then watch God go to work."

As Alexander continues to reap the benefits of his career-best effort, he makes sure to keep the fame, the accolades and the financial windfall in perspective. He does so by remaining faithfully thankful to his ultimate source of success.

"It's always good (to be named MVP)," Alexander says. "But it's a dangerous thing because anytime people start calling you valuable and it's not wrapped around Jesus Christ, it's very easy to fall in that trap of thinking, 'Now I'm something' or, 'Now I'm somebody.' It's honorable. I wouldn't mind being called MVP again next year. But at the same time it really humbles me to say, 'Okay God, I want to make sure that I'm Your MVP first.'"

Alexander was also humbled by his team's lackluster performance in Super Bowl XL. Several months after the runner-up finish to Pittsburgh, he still maintains a certain level of frustration from being so close to the prize yet falling short.

"I honestly believe that we blew it," Alexander says. "I think that a good team can get to the Super Bowl. I think that great teams win the Super Bowl regardless of what happens around them. We didn't make enough plays. The referees probably didn't have their best day. The coaches probably didn't have their best day. And we had some players that didn't have their best day. All of those things mean you blew it and that's what we did."

But in the life's bigger picture, Alexander isn't really that concerned about winning or losing. He's most passionate about being the husband to wife Valerie and father of two daughters, Heaven and Trinity. He also personally mentors 30 young men at different stages in life.

Beyond that, he is a father figure to countless teens and young adults through the Shaun Alexander Foundation, which empowers young men through education, athletics, character programs and leadership training. Future plans include the expansion of these goals through burgeoning mentoring program aptly named Club 37—inspired by an accountability group he was a part of at University of Alabama. "What if every young man had a chance to be around buddies who would hold him accountable? The result would be strong men of faith—and a changed world."

The ministry is his way of combating what he calls "the Fatherless Plague." "It's a powerful thing to speak into somebody else's life," Alexander says. "I think that's one of my callings. We have the future running through this program. We have future Presidents. We have future men of integrity, future vice presidents and presidents of companies and future football stars. They are the next mentors of the world. That's the heartbeat (of Club 37). We're raising young men up to do this now."

Alexander describes himself as a "blunt person." He believes that an upfront and honest approach speaks to the current youth culture. "In today's society, young people need some really true, authentic, direct love," he says. "If a person's missing something and they can get the answer, they'd want it straight. If it's red, [then tell] me it's red. Then they can make a true choice. But nowadays, it seems like everybody tells them, It could be brown or green or yellow or red. Give them the total truth wrapped in love."

Shaun Alexander may be known as a great football player, but he's far more interested in letting people know who he is as a Christian man. And through his words and his example, he hopes to shake up some people's perceptions of what a Christian man is all about.

"Somewhere in the world's mind, a Christian has to be weak," Alexander says. "They can't go out and win the game and think they've got to barely make it. I believe that God's children are the kings. They stand up. They're the ones that help the poor who are needy. They're the ones who will be victorious."

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For more information on the Shaun Alexander Foundation and Club 37, visit www.shaunalexander.org. To purchase Touchdown Alexander, visit your local Lifeway Bookstore or buy it online at www.lifeway.com.