After two decades in the NFL and two Super Bowl rings, Jerry Palmieri is trading the weight room for spiritual discipleship.
Speaking on AFR's "The Stand Radio" program, the retired coach explained how his high-intensity career naturally became a platform for his faith.
“I didn't stand on a plyometric box with the Bible in one hand and raise my fist and another's ... sharing the gospel. But Jesus was a part of my life, and in conversations, sooner or later, Jesus is going to come out, because everything that I believe in is centered around the Lord.”
Prior to the Giants, Palmieri coached with Boston College and Kansas State at the collegiate level and with Jacksonville and New Orleans in the NFL.
Today, Palmieri and his wife Ellen dedicate their time to the North Jersey Fellowship of Christian Athletes, running marriage getaways designed specifically for coaching couples.
He believes strong leadership on the field starts with a solid foundation at home.
“If we can minister to the coach, then the coach will minister to the athletes. And the way we need to minister to coach is really in the marriage. Because, you know, divorce rates are so high here in our country. Well, it's even higher among coaches because of the commitment they have to their athletes.”
By anchoring his daily walk in scripture, Palmieri continues to remind believers that faith can be lived out effectively in any career path.
