Baltimore Ravens linebacker Justin Houston recently explained that he chose to continue to play football after contemplating retirement following the 2021 season because God asked him to.
Justin Houston via Baltimore Ravens YouTube
Houston told the media, “I was actually thinking about retiring and I just — me and my wife took a vacation and I turned my phone off and we was there for three or four days and I just prayed and I just prayed and I prayed . And I literally heard God say, ‘Give me all of you and I will give you your desires. And I told my wife, I said, ‘Listen, I’m going to be all in this season, and I just want to glorify God in all I do.”
“And the things that is happening on the field I can’t even explain,” Houston said. “I don’t even know what I am doing some of these times. Until I come off the field and guys like, ‘You just did this! You just did this! You just did that!’ And so I think it is amazing how God is working through me right now.
“I just pray he going to continue to work through us and we heading to the top baby,” he added.
Justin Houston via Baltimore Ravens YouTube
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Following a historic night against the New Orleans Saints where he had 2.5 sacks as well as interception he said, “To all, God. This is God. To God be the glory, man. He healed me, restored me, renewed my body, man.”
“Listen, if you die to self and give Him all the glory, man, the sky’s the limit,” he praised. “And he showed up in a big way for me and this team. I think the sky’s the limit for this team, we just got to stay focused.”
Justin Houston via Baltimore Ravens YouTube
Houston’s been in the league for over a decade. He first played for the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2011 where he had 5.5 sacks and a total of 56 tackles, 46 solo and 10 assists. He had one forced fumble as well.
He had a breakout year in 2014 where he racked up 22 sacks, 69 total tackles, 60 solo and 9 assists with 23 tackles for a loss. He also forced four fumbles.
Justin Houston in Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 1, 2011. Photo by Mike Morbeck. Photo Credit: Mike Morbeck, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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This year, Houston already has 8.5 sacks along with 13 tackles, 10 solo and 3 assists and 7 tackles for a loss. He’s also hit the quarterback 9 ties. On top of that he’s got an interception as well.
Those numbers well surpass what he put up in his previous year with the Ravens. He only had 4.5 sacks last year with a total of 34 tackles, 19 solo and 6 assists and 8 tackles for loss. He had 17 quarterback hits and one fumble recovery.
Houston has the second most sacks of anyone in the NFL tied with Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith and 49ers’ defensive end Nick Bosa. The New England Patriots’ linebacker Matthew Judon currently leads the league with 11.5 sacks.
He is currently 25th on the all time sack list with 110.5. Bruce Smith holds the record with 200 sacks. Of active players he has the third most sacks ever behind Von Miller who has 122.5 and Cameron Jordan who has 112.
Houston and the AFC North leading Baltimore Ravens have a bye week this upcoming weekend. They face off against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, November 20th in Week 11 and then travel down to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in Week 12.
Justin Houston in Baltimore Ravens versus Cincinnati Bengals in a game at M&T Bank Stadium on October 24, 2021. Photo Credit: Maryland GovPics, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
More people should learn to follow Houston’s example and give glory to God for their successes and everything they do. St. Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
This echoes the first book of Chronicles that states, “Yours, LORD, are greatness and might, majesty, victory, and splendor. For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, LORD, is kingship; you are exalted as head over all. Riches and glory are from you, and you have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give greatness and strength to all. Therefore, our God, we give you thanks and we praise the majesty of your name.”
Justin Houston via Baltimore Ravens YouTube
What do you make of Houston giving all the glory to God for his success on the football field this year?