**News Release***
Stories of Super Bowl-Winning Sons and Their Fathers Told in New Book ‘The Biggest Win’
Author Joshua Cooley Highlights Faith Stories of Six Christ-Following Philadelphia Eagles Players in New Book on Sale July 30
PHILADELPHIA—The game of football is often a unifying bond between fathers and sons. Whether Pop Warner, high school, college or the pros, dads and their boys find common ground over this American pastime.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, stories of dads and sons make their way into the new book by premier sports writer Joshua Cooley. In “The Biggest Win,” Cooley tells the faith stories of six members of the Super Bowl-winning 2017 Philadelphia Eagles team—Zach Ertz, Nick Foles, Trey Burton, Jordan Hicks, Chris Maragos and Carson Wentz, including the father-son relationships of some of the players.
Soon to be released by New Growth Press on July 30, “The Biggest Win” gives athletes and sports fans a unique, insider’s look into the lives and faith of these champion players. Through the ups and downs of the game of football, Cooley shows how these high-profile athletes remain committed to God’s Word, genuine Christian discipleship and sharing their faith.
Foles is one of the players who talks about the relationship with his father, Larry—and a father-figure, his former coach Andy Reid.
It was Larry Foles who first put a football in his little Nicholas’ hands for a cute photo op at just one day old.
“The infant spread his itty-bitty fingers across the laces and, to the great amusement of his parents, assumed a legitimate throwing grip—the same one he’d use 23 years later in becoming one of only eight quarterbacks in NFL history to register a seven-touchdown performance,” Cooley wrote.
Nick grew up in football-mad Texas, with Larry supporting him all along his football career. He starred at Westlake High School in Austin, where in two seasons, Foles broke famous alumnus Drew Brees’ school records for career passing yards and touchdowns. Then in college, Foles transferred from Michigan State to Arizona after one year and became the Wildcats’ all-time leader in passing attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns.
Fast-forward to several highs and lows in the NFL. And when Foles realized he didn’t have the heart to play football anymore, he leaned on both Reid and his dad for guidance and wisdom.
“Foles woke up with an awful feeling in his gut and a heavy load on his mind,” Cooley wrote in “The Biggest Win.” “Millions of football fans across the nation would have loved to switch places with Foles; meanwhile, he was trying to find an escape hatch.”
He had texted back and forth with Reid about what to do next—quit or play one more season. And when Foles returned home from an offseason fishing trip to clear his head, the serenity was short-lived.
Six interested teams called. His agent called. His dad called. The message from everyone was the same: “Give it one more year.” Foles and his wife, Tori, had some long conversations, with Nick ending many of them with the phrase, “I can’t do this anymore.”
“But something was still eating at his soul—a feeling of unrest, a glaring incompletion,” Cooley said. “Foles knew he was on the sidelines. He needed to take a step of faith. As Foles prayed and sought the Lord’s guidance, he recalled Jesus’s parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. God had given Foles some unique abilities and opportunities to sow spiritual seeds through football, and he began to see how they would vanish if he retired. So he made a bold choice: He would continue playing—not because he wanted to, but precisely because he didn’t want to.”
Foles also tells Cooley: “It sounds crazy, but I knew that God was working and that I had to trust in him.”
Football fans know how the scenario played out. Nick Foles ended up with a Super Bowl ring and an incredible story, thanks in part to the support he received from his earthly father, a father-figure and, most of all, his Heavenly Father.
“The Biggest Win” combines biblical truths with practical direction on issues that every Christian faces, including dealing with adversity, competition, change, success, failure and how to thrive by faith in a pressurized world. Encouraging male and female athletes in any sport, “The Biggest Win” guides them in finding their ultimate identity in Christ, not their athletic achievements.
A percentage of the book sales from “The Biggest Win” will go to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the international sports ministry with a vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.
Cooley is also the author or co-author of “The One Year Devotions with Jesus: 365 Devotions to Help You Know and Love the Savior,” “Heroes of the Bible Devotional: 90 Devotions to Help You Become a Hero of God!” and “The One Year Sports Devotions for Kids.” He also co-authored Nick Foles’ forthcoming memoir, “Believe It,” which is scheduled for release in late June.
New Growth Press (NGP) publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based materials that provide churches, families, and individuals with resources for personal and spiritual growth and change. The growing Christian publisher produces a wide variety of gospel-centered resources for individuals, families and churches. NGP also publishes books, minibooks, small group and Gospel Story for Kids resources that provide churches, families and individuals with gospel-driven publications for all ages.
“The Biggest Win” is available now for preorder at Amazon.com or ChristianBook.com. View the media page for “The Biggest Win” here, or visit joshuacooleyauthor.com/the-biggest-win or the New Growth Press page at newgrowthpress.com/the-biggest-win.
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