A King Without a Crown

As Coach K and I and our St. Paul Catholic High School Football program embark on the journey of the 2025 season, much of our after-practice reflection has been about leadership, resilience through adversity, and optimizing performance of our athletes both on and off the field. Building team identity—and manifesting that identity across 34 young men and our staff—isn’t about crowns or titles. It’s about serving one another and embracing grace in the process.

The Crown We Don’t Wear

In the Gospels, Christ is called King of Kings, yet He wore no earthly crown. His throne was a cross, and His leadership was rooted in sacrifice and humility. That image—of a king without a crown—is a reminder for us that leadership in football isn’t about who wears the “C” on their jersey, who scores the touchdowns, or who gets mentioned in the paper. It’s about who puts the team above self and shows up when it matters most.

Grace Through Adversity

This season, there will be injuries. There will be missed assignments. There may be tough losses. Those are the moments when the crownless leader emerges. The player who steps into a role he didn’t expect, and does so with courage. The teammate who helps pick up a brother after a mistake, reminding him, “Shake it off, next play.” These moments are where grace takes form—where a young man chooses to lift another instead of tearing him down.

We’ve seen this at higher levels of the game. Jalen Hurts, benched at Alabama, didn’t sulk or walk away. He stayed ready, supported his teammates, and when called upon, delivered. That is the parable of the faithful servant in Luke 12 lived out on the gridiron. Drew Brees, at the height of his career, wrote personal notes to his teammates before games. He didn’t need to; he chose to serve. That echoes Paul’s words in Philippians: “In humility, value others above yourselves.”

Process Over Outcomes

In faith, we are reminded that the path matters as much as the destination. We don’t measure our discipleship by outcomes we can tally on a scoreboard, but by our faithfulness in the daily walk. Football is the same. Wins and losses will come, but the question is: did we honor the process? Did we play with effort, integrity, and resilience?

A dropped pass, a blown coverage, or even a loss on Friday night does not define us. What defines us is how we respond. Do we find grace in the mistake, learn, and recommit to the process? Christ taught His disciples not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Our focus, too, must be on the present moment—the practice rep, the block, the assignment—trusting that if we are faithful in the small things, the greater things will follow.

Living the Identity

For our program, the identity we build will not be about flashy celebrations or chasing headlines. It will be about the everyday servant leadership that binds us together:

• The senior who helps clear the field after practice.
• The player who encourages his teammate after a missed assignment instead of scolding him.
• The one who is faster on the final sprint, even though they’re tapped out.
• The assistant coach who models humility by owning mistakes and showing that leadership means service.

These are mustard-seed moments—small acts that grow into brotherhood, resilience, and grace. In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the mustard seed: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” What seems small in the moment—picking up a teammate, hustling on a play no one else notices—can grow into something far larger: trust, character, and a team identity rooted in service and grace.

Final Reflection

A king without a crown still leads his people. Our goal this season is to raise up leaders who serve without needing the spotlight, who embody grace under pressure, and who understand that the process is as important as the outcome. If we can live that identity on and off the field, we will not only be stronger players and teammates, but also stronger men of faith. And that’s the kind of victory no scoreboard can measure.

At Mission Football, we believe football is the ultimate team sport—one that teaches lessons in humility, resilience, and service that extend well beyond the field. Parents, parishioners, and community supporters, we invite you to follow along with our journey and learn more about how Mission Football Academy is shaping athletes into leaders grounded in faith and character. Visit Mission Football Academy to see how the game we love prepares young men to live more fulfilling and successful lives.

We wish you all success in the upcoming season – work hard, stay healthy, and get better every day!

Coach Jazz & Coach K