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Faith guided Justin Snow’s football career, teammates
ROACHDALE — As a former long snapper for the Indianapolis Colts, Justin Snow perhaps would not get the recognition of teammates like Peyton Manning or Reggie Wayne. It was perspective, however, that gave him purpose on and off the gridiron.
Snow discussed the role his Christian faith has played in his football career and life during a meeting time of North Putnam’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes Friday morning.
Snow, 44, grew up in Abilene, Texas, where he was a Texas Sportswriters Association All-State pick playing for Cooper High School. He then took his talents to Baylor University, where he played as both a long snapper and a defensive end.
Though he went unselected in the 2000 draft and was a free agent, Snow signed with the Colts as their long snapper. He went on to play in 192 consecutive games, the second-longest run in the franchise’s history, and helped the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI.
However, Snow was released from the Colts in August 2012, after which he played a season for the now-named Washington Football Team as a free agent. He was ultimately waived after long snapper Nick Sundberg was activated from its injured reserve.
Asked by Snow what sports have taught them, one student said sports has showed the importance of teammates being accountable for one another. Another said it shows that someone can do anything he or she sets his or her mind to.
“Growing up, I was a knucklehead probably like some of you, had a few decisions that I probably regretted,” Snow said. “I really feel like sports, for me, taught me everything that I know moving forward.”
For Snow, there are life lessons with the preparation and work to be successful, and in also dealing with that success as well as failure. The core elements, Snow said, are faith, support of coaches, teammates and friends and making impactful decisions, as people can have either a good or bad influence.
“Let’s think about the decisions we make,” Snow said. “There were a lot of stuck-on-stupid moments that I had. But by the grace of God, I was saved. I feel fortunate for that because I’ve had both those friends pull me in that direction.”
Aside from football, Snow graduated from Baylor with his bachelor’s degree and also earned a master’s degree in speech pathology. He related this to his childhood as the youngest of three brothers, one of whom had cerebral palsy and depended on him.
“He’s probably my hero,” Snow shared. “He really made me who I am today. I feel fortunate because that was somebody who looked up to me when I looked up to him.”
His brother passing away while he was at Baylor, he said, was his “calling” to “get on path,” and his teammates helped him do that. Thinking he would never play in the NFL, he wanted to earn his degrees and be around others he could help.
Snow also asked about having a purpose in life. For him, it was initially getting a scholarship to an NCAA Division I school. Coming from a modest upbringing, he said his mother instilled in him how to work for something.
Snow noted that he only long-snapped during his junior year at Baylor. Nonetheless, former Colts general manager Bill Polian, who was attending a game on a bye week, saw him practice with his punter despite playing as a defensive end.
“If you’re telling me there’s not always somebody watching, point in hand right now this was a God moment,” Snow said. He related this to making a difference and being able to meet the friends he made playing for the Colts.
“Being with guys who generally loved each other and were family, life-changing,” Snow said about his and his teammates’ faith and successes. “It was because of the men that we had in our locker room and on our field. It makes that walk a little easier.”