For the record, I’m not a sports fan. It’s not that I dislike sports; I’m just not much of a spectator. So, if you ask me who won the World Series or who’s leading the AFC, you’ll get that classic “Joe Biden at a press conference” look — I’m clueless.

However, while I may not be a sports fan, I am a fan of courage and conviction. That’s why I admire Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker — not for his performance on the field, but for his actions off it. And according to NFL gear sales, I’m not the only one.

Butker made headlines this past spring with his commencement address at Benedictine College. He didn’t punt on controversial topics; instead, he ran right up the middle. He pointed to the harmful impact of COVID lockdowns as one example of “bad policies and poor leadership” that have damaged major life issues. He addressed topics like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, and euthanasia, attributing these and the growing acceptance of what he called “degenerate cultural values” in the media to a broader “pervasiveness of disorder.” He hadn’t even reached midfield when he went on to call out the Left’s sacred cows: DEI, LGBT, censorship, and big government.

Predictably, the Left had a meltdown. The media and commentators claimed Butker had crossed a line. But instead of issuing the usual half-hearted apology, Butker stood his ground. He didn’t backtrack. He said what he meant, and he meant what he said. There was none of that typical “if I offended anyone” rhetoric that so often follows controversy these days.

Earlier this week, the NFL Players Association released data showing that I’m not alone in my admiration for Butker’s courage to speak the truth off the field. He ranked 11th in sales of officially licensed merchandise — his first appearance on the NFLPA’s top 20 list. Even more notable, he’s only the second placekicker to ever make the list, following Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, who debuted in 2022.

Conventional wisdom suggested Butker’s controversial stance might hurt his merchandise sales, but the opposite happened. People are looking for heroes, and heroes don’t hide. They stand for what is right and what they believe. And they aren’t fueled by anger or hate. As Butker said in his speech, “We must always speak and act in charity, but never mistake charity for cowardice.”

It brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians: Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

My admiration for Harrison Butker won’t turn me into a sports fan — you won’t catch me buying jerseys or hats. However, on radio stations across the country, I’m applauding Harrison for his boldness and conviction in following Jesus Christ. My prayer is that his courage will be contagious, challenging others to live without fear of the critics. After all, we’re not living for the approval of this world, but for that day when we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Tony Perkins is president of Family Research Council and executive editor of The Washington Stand.