By Mark Ellis –
While San Francisco has one of the lowest rates of practicing Christians in the US,(1) there are a band of brothers on the 49ers who shine brightly for Jesus.
Leading the charge is tight end George Kittle, a three-time Pro Bowler whose infectious energy and 1,000-plus receiving yards through Week 8 have made him a cornerstone of the offense. In a 2023 Sports Spectrum podcast, Kittle declared, “My faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of everything—it’s what gets me through the tough days.”
Kittle and his wife, Claire, host the All Things with George and Claire Kittle podcast, where episodes weave biblical wisdom into daily life, and have sometimes quoted James 1:2–4 on counting trials as joy. Kittle’s support for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and donations to Christian charities reflect the serious of his convictions.
On defense, linebacker Fred Warner, the team’s captain and a two-time First-Team All-Pro, anchors the unit with a strong faith. Despite a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6, Warner’s leadership endures. In a 2024 Faith on the Field interview, he shared how Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life led him to Christ after his graduation from high school, saying, “God’s plan is bigger than any playbook.”
Warner posts Proverbs 3:5–6 on Instagram (@fredwarner54) before games and mentors teammates through informal Bible studies, even from the sidelines. His 45 tackles before the injury were a testament to playing “as unto the Lord.”
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, a Super Bowl LIV champion with the Eagles before joining the 49ers in 2023, has a Baptist background. In a 2022 The Players’ Tribune essay, he wrote, “Football is my job, but Jesus is my Savior—He carried me through poverty in North Carolina to this point.” Hargrave leads pre-game prayers with the D-line and supports Houston youth ministries, crediting Ephesians 2:10 for his 4.5 sacks this season, according to The Players’ Tribune.
Running back Christian McCaffrey, the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year, carries a quieter Catholic witness. Though less vocal, he’s thanked God in post-game appearances and supports the McCaffrey Family Foundation’s faith-based youth programs, reflecting gratitude rooted in Psalm 118:24.
Chaplain K.A. Womack leads weekly chapel services, where players like wide receiver Deebo Samuel—who shares Scripture on Snapchat—gather to pray. Coach Kyle Shanahan has praised this “faith-driven culture” for fostering unity amid injuries like Warner’s and Nick Bosa’s lingering absence.
In a league where fame is fleeting, Kittle, Warner, Hargrave, and their brothers point to the One who never fumbles—Jesus Christ.
(1) San Francisco, known for its liberal culture, reflects U.S. trends of declining religious affiliation, with a low percentage of residents identifying as Christian and even fewer attending church regularly. Based on the most recent comprehensive data from Pew Research Center’s 2023–2024 Religious Landscape Study (surveying over 35,000 U.S. adults), approximately 46% of adults in the San Francisco metro area identify as Christian, a slight decline from 48% in 2014. This is well below the national average of 62% and contrasts sharply with more religious regions like the South (e.g., 78% in Dallas). Among Christians in the area, the breakdown includes about 18% evangelical Protestant, 14% mainline Protestant, and 12% Catholic, with the remainder in other denominations.
Religious “nones” (unaffiliated, including atheists and agnostics) make up 35% of the metro area population, the highest among major U.S. metros, highlighting a secular lean influenced by the city’s tech-driven, urban demographics.
Church attendance among San Francisco residents is even lower, with only about 17–21% reporting regular participation (defined as at least once a month or “practicing” Christians who attend services and consider faith very important). Barna Group’s 2023 Cities & States report pegs the practicing Christian rate in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area at 17%, compared to the U.S. average of 36%. — Grok
