Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says he and girlfriend Ciara are abstaining from sex. Wilson also claims God told him, "I need you to lead her."
Click through the gallery for other instances of athletes talking about God.
Photo: Olivier Douliery, Getty ImagesRussell Wilson
Regarding his four interceptions in the 2014 NFC Championshp Game against Green Bay, the Seahawks QB said "That’s God setting it up, to make it so dramatic, so rewarding, so special. I’ve been through a lot in life, and had some ups and downs. It’s what’s led me to this day.â€
Photo: Ted S. Warren, STFAaron Rodgers
After the Packers' loss in the 2014 NFC Championship Game at Seattle, the Packers QB said "I don’t think God cares a whole lot about the outcome. He cares about the people involved, but I don’t think he’s a big football fan.â€
Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated PressJeremy Lin
Here's what the former Rocket wrote on his website about enduring a tough 2014-15 season with the Lakers: "Spiritually, I've really been challenged to seek humility even more each day. When life is tough, it forces me to re-evaluate everything and learn to depend on God more than I initially think I need to. God continually stretches me and challenges me through basketball, and Im just trying to live each day pleasing Him." Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston ChronicleTim Tebow
There probably isn't enough bandwidth to document the former Broncos and Jets quarterback's spirtuality. His star-crossed 2011 season in Denver put the issue of religion and sports in the national spotlight. Photo: Julie Jacobson, Associated PressMichael Chang
After winning the 1989 French Open, the 17-year-old American accepted his trophy and thanked God for his victory. That led to scattered boos from the crowd at Roland Garros. Photo: Lionel Cironneau, APRay Lewis
The former Baltimore linebacker didn't shy from mentioning God during the Ravens' Super Bowl run two years ago. When the topic of his role in a double murder during the 2000 Super Bowl in Atlanta was revisited, Lewis said "if you really knew how God works, he don’t use people who commit anything like that (murder) for his glory." Photo: AJ MAST, New York TimesStevie Johnson
After the former Buffalo wide receiver memorably dropped a game-winning touchdown pass in a 2013 overtime loss to PIttsburgh, he blamed God in a tweet: "I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO..." Photo: Karl Walter, Getty ImagesDiego Maradona
The signature moment of the Argentine soccer legend's career may have come at the 1986 World Cup, when he scored a controversial goal with his hand against England and later attributed it to the "Hand of God." Photo: APKevin Durant
After leading Oklahoma City to a victory over Miami in January 2014, Durant was asked by ESPN's Doris Burke about his hot streak. Durant credited it to God and Jesus Christ. Burke then laughed and asked "you had nothing to do with it?" and Durant replied, "it's all Him." Photo: Alan Diaz, Associated PressJosh Hamilton
Amid questions whether Hamilton would stay with the Texas Rangers -- who stood by him during his struggles with substance abuse -- when he became a free agent after the 2012 season, his wife Katie said "We need Jesus. We need God. He goes with us wherever we are. Yes, we’re comfortable in Texas. But maybe God hasn’t called us to comfort. I mean, he didn’t call Jesus to comfort.†Photo: Chris Carlson, Associated PressKurt Warner
After winning Super Bowl XXXIV, the Rams' quarterback thanked Jesus on the postgame podium. Interestingly, he had the following message for Tim Tebow years later: "'Put down the boldness in regards to the words, and keep living the way you're living. Let your teammates do the talking for you. Let them cheer on your testimony." Photo: DAVE MARTIN, APSeahawks quarterback Russell Wilson never has been shy about wearing his faith on his sleeve during his brief NFL career.
In a recent interview with San Diego's The Rock Church, Wilson says God talked to him on multiple occasions, including regarding his relationship with his girlfriend, the singer Ciara. Wilson said the two are abstaining from sex.
Wilson addressed that and some other topics, including his memorable interception near the end of Seattle's Super Bowl loss to New England in February.
Here's what he said regarding his relationship with Ciara:
“I met this girl named Ciara, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. She’s the most kind person. The most engaging person. I could probably learn more from her. Everything I could ever want.
“I’ll never forget, she was on tour traveling, and I was looking at her in the mirror. I was sitting in the dressing room, and she was getting ready to go, about 15 minutes before going on stage, and she was sitting there and God spoke to me and said ‘I need you to lead her.’
“I was like, ‘Really? Right now?’
“(God) goes, ‘I want you and need you to lead her.’
“So I told her right then and there, what would you do if we took all that extra stuff off the table and just did it Jesus’ way?â€
Wilson later acknowledged "We’re talking about sex. For me, I knew that God brought me into her life to bless her and for her to bless me and to bless so many people with the impact that she has; that I have."
Wilson also claimed he predicted he'd be in a relationship with the singer at some point.
“I told somebody that’s the girl I want to be with before I even met her. I was like ‘I’m probably going to end up with Ciara.’ She’s a special girl.â€
Regarding his infamous Super Bowl interception, Wilson said he heard from God while he was walking off the field.
"The play happens, and they pick the ball off. And I take three steps, and on the third step, God says to me, 'I'm using you. ... I want to see how you respond. But most importantly, I want them to see how you respond."
RELATED: Aaron Rodgers says there's no divine interest in football games
That isn't the first time Wilson claimed some kind of divine intervention when it comes to interceptions. After he was picked off four times during the Seahawks' NFC Championship Game victory over the Packers, Wilson said it was God "setting it up, to make it so dramatic, so rewarding, so special."
His Packers counterpart Aaron Rodgers responded by saying "I don't think God cares a whole lot about the outcome."
See above for other instances of athletes talking about God.
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