“What is Jesus to me? I don’t even know really how to answer that,” Emeka Egbuka said. “He is everything, like you want to say everything, because He is. He’s everything.”

Egbuka is only 23 years old, but hearing him speak, one can sense how he is wise beyond his years. Entering his second NFL season, Egbuka has learned plenty from his time in Tampa Bay and what others have taught him from an X’s and O’s standpoint.

When it comes to his faith, Egbuka has built a firm foundation that has allowed him to form a unique, tight-knit bond with several teammates. Former NFL running back Matt Forte recently interviewed him on the Sports Spectrum Podcast, and he spoke about more than just football, diving into deeper thoughts about life and what Jesus means to him.

Emeka Egbuka Is Standing On Business With His Faith

It was around this point last year that I wrote an article about how Emeka Egbuka was out to turn his faith into an immediate NFL breakout. Every story serves a purpose, but this story provided a closer look into Egbuka’s mission as a faith-filled wide receiver.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: IMAGN Images

Going back to his days at Ohio State, he has not been shy proclaiming that everything he has is a gift from God. To him, there is a greater mission to fulfill than just living out his dreams; it is about building a strong, Christian brotherhood. That gives him a unique standing within Tampa Bay’s locker room.

“Having that foundation that I had already built [at Ohio State] allowed me to just stand on business with my faith, and I think the guys in the locker room in Tampa Bay know what I stand for,” Egbuka shared. “It even gets to the point where if I’m sitting next to somebody in the locker room and they’re talking about something crazy, they’ll see me and be like, ‘Oh, my bad, man. That’s right there, I didn’t mean to…’

Egbuka carries himself differently, and not like most first-round draft picks in their early twenties who become instant millionaires. While veteran wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. breathed confidence in him throughout his rookie year, he shared who else has helped build him up spiritually.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka and TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I’ve challenged myself with being bold in my faith and just sharing it with my teammates,” Egbuka said. “We have really good Bible studies that are led, and there are a couple of guys on the team who have helped pull me a long way in my faith as well.

“Cade Otton, in particular, was really cool… He’s kind of from the same hometown that I’m from in Seattle. His high school is my high school rival; I lost to them in the State Championship. I didn’t actually play him, but I played his younger brother, and he tore it up on the field. He’s helped me along in my faith as well. Chase McLaughlin has been someone I’ve continued to lean on, and our head of player engagement [Duke Preston], he’s been a Godsend.”

Being in and around the Bucs locker room, I have personally spoken with several players who have discussed the value of the team’s Bible studies and how it has increased in membership size over the years. It is not just Egbuka, Otton, or McLaughlin.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has also been a guest on the Sports Spectrum podcast discussing his testimony.

Running back Bucky Irving was baptized just before a game last year.

Outside linebacker David Walker has created a separate Instagram page primarily to make spiritual videos and posts.

Going back to Egbuka’s answer on what Jesus means to him; his message is powerful. It is one that many can resonate with as there are not just highs and lows of being an NFL player. There are plenty of highs and lows of living life, and it all connects back to scripture.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s sovereign, He’s the Lord of my life,” Egbuka said. “He’s my best friend. He’s my hope, my joy, my peace. He kind of fills every gap in my life that I need. He’s my sustenance, my strength. The way that you continue to develop in your faith, there are seasons in life where you go up, you go down — kind of riding this rollercoaster that life ultimately brings.

“No matter where you’re from, whether you’re the richest man alive or poor, you’re sick or you’re healthy, whatever the case may be. No matter what, trials and tribulations come for us. In some seasons of life, it can shake you and can rock you to your core, but I think when you look back at everything, you just see the true character of Jesus and how faithful He’s been. The things He’s brought you through and the things He’s brought you out of. It just continues to strengthen you year after year, trial after trial.”

At this time last year, Emeka Egbuka was just beginning to lay the seeds of his NFL career. His seeds of faith have already been planted, and he has spent the past several months watering them both. Egbuka got married just before training camp began in late July, and he has made it crystal clear where his priorities lie.

Faith, family, and football.

For more on Emeka Egbuka discussing his faith, the connection he has with Baker Mayfield, his expectations entering the 2026 season, and more, check out the full interview below: