Pastor Practice What He Preaches, Joining College Football Team at 47
Justin Buzzard, the 47-year-old founder and lead pastor of Garden City Church in Los Gatos, California, is putting his philosophy on masculinity into practice by earning a spot as a defensive end for the San Jose City College Jaguars.
Key Details of the Comeback
- The Inspiration: Buzzard was motivated to try out after his son showed him a social media video of a 60-year-old playing college football.
- Past Experience: He played four years of high school football and one year in college before an injury cut his athletic career short.
- Team Dynamic: Despite initial worries about how his younger teammates would react, Buzzard says the team has welcomed him warmly, noting that “no one’s going easy on me… and I’m not going easy on them.”
- Family Boundaries: His wife supported his attempt to make the roster, though she requested he refrain from actually playing in the games.
Living the “Play Big” Philosophy Buzzard, author of Date Your Wife and an upcoming book on masculinity, views his return to the gridiron as a direct application of his teaching. He argues that “manhood is a mess” because too many men “play small” and settle for passive lives.
“Decades after an injury ended my first shot at the game, I’m back on the field to practice what I preach: If you don’t risk, you rust.” — Justin Buzzard
Beyond pastoring and playing football, Buzzard offers paid coaching cohorts and speaking engagements focused on helping men improve their friendships, finances, and fun.