Steve Grant
| No. 59 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | December 23, 1969 Miami, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Miami Southridge (Miami, Florida) | ||||||||||||||
| College | West Virginia | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1992: 10th round, 253rd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Stephen Mitchell Grant (born December 23, 1969) is an American former professional football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers.[2] As of 2019, Grant is the chaplain for the Texas Tech University football program in Lubbock, Texas.[3]
Professional career
Grant was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1992 NFL draft.[4][5] Grant was the Colts' Hard Nose Player of the Year in 1994, when he recorded a fumble recovery.[6] In 1995, Grant started all 16 games of the season and recorded his first career professional interception. Injuries ended Grant's career early in 1997 however, after spending six seasons in the NFL.
Grant, who was active in the Indianapolis community during his career, was known by his teammates as the "Naked Preacher" for his habit of sitting in the locker room after showering, draped in a towel, and reading a Bible, asking his teammates if they knew Jesus. Though some were dismissive, others came to Grant for advice. He first encountered teammate Derwin Gray in 1993, encouraging the latter to explore faith and later convert to Christianity. Gray went on to become a pastor after his own football career ended.[7]
After football
After retiring, Grant went on to become a motivational speaker.[8] He was later hired by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, of which he was a member, as its chaplain at Texas Tech University.[9]
References
- ^ "Transactions". NFL.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ Fauber, Gary (May 23, 2016). "Former WVU All-American Grant delivers message to FCA audience". Register Herald. Register Herald Beckley West Virginia. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Keenan, Steve (September 12, 2019). "Grant stresses character, good relationships to local students". Fayette Tribune. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Woods, Daniel (June 25, 2020). "The Mountaineers By The Numbers: No. 4". Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Ellis, Alexandria. "A Voice Away From Home". Texas Tech Athletics. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Gray, Derwin (March 3, 2014). "Pro Football Was My God". Christianity Today. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ^ "Special guest speaker: Steve Grant comes to Bellwood". The BluePrint. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ Tribune, Steve Keenan The Fayette (September 12, 2019). "Grant stresses character, good relationships to local students". Fayette Tribune. Retrieved May 24, 2026.