To win the Super Bowl, an NFL team has to have talented players, smart coaches and a few lucky moments.
But does it also need God on its side?
A new Lifeway Research report explores Americans' views on divine intervention during the Super Bowl, noting that few adults believe God picks the winner.
“Around 1 in 5 (19%) believe God determines the winners and losers in the Super Bowl. Most (65%) disagree, 12% aren’t sure and 4% don’t believe He exists,” Lifeway Research reported.
A smaller share of Americans — 13% — say God cares about who wins.
More than half of U.S. adults — 61% — strongly disagree with that idea.
“While a large number of Americans believe God exists, far fewer think He is a fan of either team in the Super Bowl,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, in a press release about the new survey.
God in sports
The new research isn’t surprising, since past surveys have also shown that few U.S. adults believe divine intervention determines the outcome of the Super Bowl.
But the Lifeway Research report does serve as a reminder that sometimes what athletes and coaches say about their achievements is at odds with what other Americans believe about God’s role in sports.
In postgame interviews, sports stars often thank God for helping them secure a big win.
Depending on their phrasing, these remarks can be controversial, such as when the University of South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach criticized nonbelievers while celebrating God’s role in one of her team’s win in last year’s NCAA tournament.
“If you don’t believe in God, something’s wrong with you, seriously,” Dawn Staley said.
Some viewers took to social media to question whether God actually cares if Staley and her team succeed, as the Deseret News reported at the time.
Those who are skeptical about the idea of God influencing sports likely appreciate it more when athletes thank God for giving them the opportunity to compete, not for helping them win.
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum took the former approach in June after winning the NBA championship.
“First of all, God is the greatest,” Tatum said during a postgame interview, as the Deseret News previously reported. “Not because we won, but to put me in position to maximize my God-given ability to surround me with these guys, my family — this is an incredible feeling.”