Whenever Ethan Wolf had struggles playing football at the University of Tennessee (UT), he would turn to his favorite Bible verse, Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.”
“I tell myself to work as hard as I can to please the Lord and not anybody here on earth. … That is my goal,” said Wolf, who has the verse tattooed inside his right bicep.
“I give everything I have every day. I am going to push myself every day to get better.”
Now a rookie tight end at the professional level, Wolf has focused on faith, even as he has waited for his chance in professional football. Attending church, listening to Christian music, reading the Bible and praying keep God central to his life, he said.
“It is not easy to be a Christian at all. It’s hard to do the right thing sometimes in this world. Everyone is driven to be liked. You have to make hard decisions that people don’t want you to make. I don’t like to upset people. I am a pleaser, but I can’t fall into peer pressure.”
Coming to know Christ
Baptized at age 8, Wolf grew up going to Brandywine Community Church in Greenfield, Indiana. His parents and grandparents were instrumental in leading him to Christ. He moved to Minster, Ohio, in the fifth grade.
At Minster, Wolf was second team All-Ohio as a senior and junior. He was rated by 247 Sports as the No. 15 tight end and No. 16 prospect in Ohio, and ESPN ranked him No. 15 tight end and No. 24 prospect overall.
At Tennessee he was the first true freshman to start at tight end in school history. He ranks fourth all-time in receiving yards for a tight end with 822.
His junior year he caught a touchdown pass to help UT in a comeback victory over Florida. The win was his biggest thrill as a college player.
He opened the 2015 season with two touchdowns against Bowling Green, the first tight end to score two since Luke Stocker, now a tight end with the Titans, did it in 2009.
Helping people
“I always thought God’s purpose is to play football and help people with the platform that He gives me,” Wolf said.
Another of his goals is to help people and be known as a hard worker with good character.
Titans safety Kevin Byard, who played at Middle Tennessee State, said, “He handles himself like a pro, like a gentleman, yes sir, no sir. It’s great to see that. I think (Titans head coach) Mike Vrabel and (general manager) Jon Robinson only sign guys who are not only great teammates but are great people. Ethan represents that as well.”
Recently cut from the Titans 53-man roster, Wolf is waiting to see how football will play a role in his future. But he has not let setbacks discourage him or stop him from passing on what he’s learned to others, like his younger brother, Eli, a redshirt junior at Tennessee.
A member of Cross Point Church, Nashville, Wolf also reaches out to teammates.
“I am a follower of Christ. We have an NFL Outreach. I am a big fan. I look forward to that conference every year. As a veteran, I invite young guys.”
Time spent in ministry with other players is important, he said.
“It is a time we can get together and worship Christ.”
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