Steve Bartkowski

Biography

Success and winning have always been important in my life. The thrill of competition and the need to measure my prowess against others have been key motivators for me. My philosophy has always been that anything worth having is worth fighting for. Every worthy goal has obstacles that simply present another opportunity to overcome. Determination, hard work, and an unwavering focus would always bring me the victory.My father was my first, and best, coach. He taught me all about sports and spent his time helping me learn the essentials of success. He was a gifted athlete himself, and knew first-hand what it would take for me to achieve my goals. He taught me that my very best effort on each and every occasion was the elementary foundation for success.By the time I became a Junior at Buchser High School in Santa Clara California I knew that Id have a chance to fulfill my dream of becoming a professional athlete. I was a football, basketball, and baseball star who attracted a great deal of attention from college scouts. By the Spring of 1971 I had over 100 scholarship opportunities to choose from. I decided to go to the University of California at Berkeley where they would allow me to play both football and baseball. I made All-American in baseball my sophomore year and All-American football my senior year. I became the first pick in the 1975 NFL draft by the Atlanta Flacons.Growing up I gave very little thought to the things of God - - other than to attend church on Sunday and offer up a quick prayer before a big game. I was totally oblivious to the fact that God was working in every detail of my life to bring me into an understanding of #1 who He is - and #2 what real winning is all about from His perspective.I was thrilled to be the first pick of the Atlanta Falcons, and shortly thereafter signed the richest rookie contract in the history of the NFL. I had arrived at my goalAll obstacles had been overcomeI was a Professional Athlete. I was instantly inserted as the starting QB for my rookie year. In the fifth game of that first season my elbow was injured. Two games later it was dislocated for the fourth time. I missed four games but was still voted the NFL Rookie of the Year. It was necessary to have the elbow surgically repaired during the off-season.A spiritual battle had begun within me, and God was beginning to let me see myself as a proud, self-sufficient, man who simply trusted myself and my ability alone to succeed. The events that led to my giving my life to Christ were quite dramatic and I can clearly see how God orchestrated all those experiences. During the next three years, Atlanta and the nation would watch my rise, fall and rebirth. They would witness the dramatic change, but not know the details of how God was working in my life.My second year with the Falcons began with a great deal of excitement. My off-season conditioning and preparation were intense and thorough in anticipation of a great sophomore season. My elbow had healed nicely and I was ready to make 1976 a great year. However, we failed, as a team, to get it together and I played very poorly during the first several games. During the fifth game of the season vs. New Orleans I was grabbed by the face mask and because of the drastic swing of my body, my knee was severely damaged. As I lay in pain on the ground I can remember saying Oh, no this cant be happening to me. After being helped to the locker room in the superdome, I remember being completely baffled as to why this would happen to me - - two seasons in the NFL, two severe injuries- - I would have to sit on the sidelines watching rather than playing the game I so dearly loved.In January of 1977 when the cast was removed from my knee, I found myself extremely lonely. The season was over, my teammates had gone home and I would go to the stadium alone to rehabilitate my knee. My only choice was to gut it out and work on it alone. How I hated to go to that lonely pit to rehab everyday. To add to the complications, I was extremely lonely in my private life. There was no reason for me not to be the happiest person in the whole world; yet, there was this terrible lack of fulfillment. I thought that the next purchase, the next night out on the town, or some other tangible thing would suffice. I honestly thought I might find something that would make it all better.During my third year with the Falcons, the repaired knee slipped again and again in pre-season. Finally, the doctors announced that there was a piece of torn cartilage in the knee. I was crushed. I left the room and cried. It seemed like my whole life was caving in. Everything was on a downhill slide.After another surgery to repair the same knee, and another 8 weeks of rehab, I returned for the last half of the 1977 season. I played poorly, the fans were critical, the press was down on me, and I had to face the most critical year of my life. There was no where to turn. I was ashamed of being Steve Bartkowski. In hindsight, though, I clearly see how God was taking all the earthly props away and was getting ready to make an interception in my life.It was during the 5th pre-season game of my fourth year in the NFL, against Philadelphia that the crash came. The harder I tried, the worse things got. The fans were booing and the press was criticizing. The pressure hit me from all angles. That night following the game I knew I had to get alone. I told myself This is it- I have tried as hard as I can in every game and things still continue to get worse. There is nothing else I can do. There is no more ability left in me. Alone in my room, I recalled that a man once told me how to become a Christian*. I bowed my head and repeated a simple prayer. I asked God to put HIS plan to work in my life. I asked Christ to come into my life and take over as Number One. Although, I wasnt sure at that moment what had happened, the one thing I was sure of was the terrific sense of peace that came over me as I prayed. A huge burden had been lifted. I knew I had an encounter with the living Lord, even though I was not sure how to explain it to anyone.During the next three games, June Jones started as the Falcons quarterback. At the end of the second game he spoke to me about getting my life right with God. I did not tell him about my recent conversion, but listened intently while he spoke boldly about God. Bart, he said, Im going to quarterback this team until you give your life to God. I experience peace and freedom from pressure for the first time ever and knew that God was in control of all the events in my life. I also became eager to learn more about God through the study of the Bible. I found more and more fellow Christians who helped me to grow. As I struggled to stay within Gods purpose for my life, everything began to turn around. I led the Falcons to their first ever playoff game in 1978. God brought my wife, Sandee, into my life in 1979. I was MVP in the NFC in 1980 and again led the Falcons to the playoffs in 1982. I accomplished all this not by myself, but by letting God have control over my life. Six operations on my right knee forced me to retire in 1987.God has blessed my life in countless ways. My wife, Sandee and I, have two wonderful sons. Ive been privileged to have a television career as an Outdoor Show Host and Im enjoying the continuing competition as a member of the Celebrity Players Golf Tour.I enjoy all the opportunities that God has given me to share the story of my on-going personal journey of faith. There is no greater attainment than to know God personally.Portions condensed from Intercepted by Christ by Dan Dehaan