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“Faith, family, football” is a mantra lived by many on and off the field, but for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey, it really is everything.
The Georgia native may be in his second year in the NFL, but he has never shied away from expressing how much his Christian beliefs mean to him, whether on the field, in the movie room or at home with his wife, Sydney.
It just so happens that McConkey head coach Jim Harbaugh shares the same values and beliefs. In fact, many Chargers players and coaches celebrate and practice their faith daily, and McConkey couldn’t be happier to be part of an organization where, no matter your beliefs, you can express them every day.
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Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts after the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“Just to talk about Coach Harbaugh, he does a great job of allowing that to happen in our program,” McConkey told Pak Gazette Digital while discussing his partnership with Dr Pepper before Pepper Portal headed to Athens for the showdown between the Georgia Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns on Saturday. “JK Scott, our punter, leads chapel sessions every Friday night. We have coaches come in, players come in, and we all just walk around and worship. It’s amazing.”
When you watch McConkey play on game day, you can notice that he seems very free when he gets to the line of scrimmage and runs his routes. While that comes from a strong work ethic all week, McConkey believes his faith plays a big role in his success at the highest level of football.
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“Just really experiencing the love of God; when you have it, all your anxiety goes away,” he explained. “You’re not worried about ‘Oh, what am I going to do on the field?’ because you know that doesn’t satisfy you. When you are satisfied, you know that Jesus loves you and you have that love. “Now you can come out here and play for free and not have to worry about anything, and I’ll be fine at the end of the day.”
In an interview last year with Pak Gazette Digital, Harbaugh said that “faith, family and football” help him “keep things clear in my mind.” He also found it “inspiring” that others outside his team, such as Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, have shared their faith during the NFL season.
As a fellow player, McConkey feels the same way.
Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates a touchdown in the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium on November 9, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
“It’s wonderful to see guys come forward and talk about it, and know that their experience is the same one I’m experiencing,” he said. “We go through tough times and we go through struggles. But at the end of the day, if we have faith, we will be okay.
“So it’s great to see guys like that talk publicly about it. I’m lucky to have Coach Harbaugh who allows that on our team and allows that in our organization.”
While McConkey keeps his faith strong in the Chargers, he also always has his eye on his Bulldogs.
McConkey won’t be able to be at Sanford Stadium this weekend to watch No. 5 Georgia take on No. 10 Texas in a crucial SEC matchup, but he will be watching ahead of his own game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on from the sideline during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium on October 23, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Dr Pepper continues to host special game day events this college season with “The Pepper Portal,” a one-of-a-kind fan experience connecting rival college cities before the big game.
“It’s sick,” McConkey said of “The Pepper Portal.” “I just see what Dr Pepper can do with the college football fan base, just bringing everyone together. I know what it was like at Georgia: those fans are always ready. Just having that and the Pepper Portal, being able to have some trades with Texas and they’re now in year two of the SEC. We’ve got to show them what a real SEC, Dawg Nation, is all about.”
