Sam Acho

Sep 1

7 min read ⭑

“I realized that, although showing the world who you are is risky, there’s also freedom that happens — both for you and the people you’re sharing yourself with.”

Sam Acho’s skills as an NFL outside linebacker are impressive. But what’s even more impressive is his humility and willingness to be vulnerable — even when it doesn’t come naturally. The football star for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has a new book called "Let the World See You," which details the hard truths about honesty and authenticity that God has been teaching him.

In this interview, Acho goes deep into his most difficult struggles as well as the surprising places he finds God. Let his words of wisdom, his humor and wit, and — most importantly — his passion for God inspire you.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to a meal than palate and preference. How does your go-to order at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

My answer may be different than most. My parents were born and raised in Nigeria, and although I grew up in Dallas, Texas, I lived in a Nigerian household. Food (goat meat, oxtail, pepper soup); family (traditions, culture, respect); and faith in Jesus (singing and worship along with prayer every morning) were staples in my household.

So when I married a woman who had never been to America before, not much changed. Yes, my wife and I do go out on occasion, but my favorite meal is always going to be her rice, stew and fried plantains. Nothing beats it. She’s Nigerian, born and bred, and although I’m “Nigerian-American,” that Nigerian piece feels like home.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the way interests, but we tend to hide them. What do you love doing that might surprise (or shock) people?

I love memorizing things! Learning people’s names and interesting things about them has always interested me. I also love memorizing credit card numbers (mainly my own 😊) and phrases in different languages. I enjoy math, so I relish any chance to do math in my head or on paper.

To date, I’ve memorized Pi to the 14th decimal, Shakespeare, The Canterbury Tales (in Middle English), the Lyrics to most Frozen songs, and “hi” and “bye” in several different languages. I’m a nerd at heart. 😁

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human too. We're just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So, what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

I hate feeling duped, feeling like I’ve been taken advantage of. That’s my kryptonite. Oftentimes, I’ll just be going so fast that I won’t slow down to recognize that, instead of pleasing God, I’ve started pleasing people and doing everything I can to make everyone around me happy. I’m a middle kid, so by nature, I’m a peacemaker — I don’t like conflict. I also feel like I get good direction from God, so when I don’t listen, things usually go awry.

For instance, a few years ago, I was invited to a wedding that I had no business going to. I wasn’t close to the guy who invited me, and I just felt like something was going to go wrong. It did. I ended up going to the wedding, entertaining people and conversations I had no business entertaining, then lying to those closest to me about it. I was ashamed. And one thing I’m working on getting better at is naming my emotions. For me, showing emotions was always hard. I didn’t want people to see me sad, mad, angry or ashamed. So I would usually hide. That’s my kryptonite.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

The thing I’m most excited about is my new book, “Let the World See You: How to be Real in a World Full of Fakes.” This book was really birthed out of pain. I had just been released from my NFL team, lost a mentor to cancer, lost my house to a flood and lost my season to an injury. And after all that, I gained so much more. I gained the freedom of letting my guard down and showing the world the real me.

Interestingly enough, it wasn’t too long after that wedding I mentioned before that I found myself sitting down with a friend, in tears, telling him that I was just waiting for the football season to start so I could get back into a routine. He saw my tears. He saw the pressure of pretending that I had been holding on to. He saw me at my weakest point. He saw me. And his response was astonishing: “It’s nice to see you Sam — the real you.”

I had always thought that people didn’t want that side of me, the emotional, loving, kind, empathic Sam. I thought they wanted the football star who makes straight A’s and quotes Shakespeare. But at that moment, I realized that although showing the world who you are is risky, there’s also a freedom that happens — both for you and the people you’re sharing yourself with. So that’s what I’ve been MOST excited about, letting the world see me and showing others how to do the same.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?

God leads me. I can feel it. When I’m following God’s lead, I feel an overwhelming sense of peace. Even if I’m going through chaos. For me, I hear God the most during the seasons of uncertainty. A few years ago, while a free agent in the NFL, I was alone in Buffalo, New York. I say “alone,” but I was there with my wife and three kids. Yet I had recently been released by the Buffalo Bills, just days after my family flew out there to stay with me. I figured I would hang out for two weeks while I waited to sign on to a new team. Well, two weeks turned into two months, and I was still jobless. Staying at an extended stay isn’t easy, but now imagine you’re there with your entire family.

You would think it would have been chaotic, even stressful at times, but I felt an immense sense of peace during that time of uncertainty. That’s the place where I wrote a good chunk of my book. God was with me and my family, but he was with me. He guided me, he helped me, he healed me. I know God is real because he provides peace through the storm.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Some people divide things sacred and things secular. But you know, God can surprise us in unlikely places. How do you find spiritual renewal in so-called “nonspiritual” activities?

I find peace in the shower. Everyone is different, but I need long, hot showers every day. Not just to stay clean, but to stay sane. You see, my time in the shower is when I pray. It’s when I listen to God and let him download whatever he has for me. I’ll talk too. It’ll be a straight-up conversation. But those times alone are sacred for me.

I also find peace in writing. Oftentimes my emotions are bottled up, so when I write, the words just flow. Many times, I don’t even know what’s going to come out; but I just start going. And I feel so much better afterward.

Many times, like in my new book, the words don’t feel like my words. I feel like God is doing the writing, and I’m just letting it flow.

The last place I find peace is on a basketball court. Basketball was my first love, so something about being there and listening to the ball bounce brings me great comfort. Although I don’t play as often as I would like, I find that place sacred.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith. But you know about some really great stuff too. What are three of your favorite resources?

Hands down the number one best resource is “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. It’s a devotional I’ve been reading every day for the past two or more years. It’s changed everything.

Number two would be Steffany Gretzinger. She’s a singer whose voice is majestic. Just throw her name into anywhere that you consume music. You won’t be disappointed.

Number three would be to listen to the pastor at Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs. His sermons are on point.

We all have things we cling to in order to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it's done for you.

“Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. It’s a two-minute devotional that has literally changed everything. I’ve never been a big devotional guy, but this is different. I need it. You may too.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So, give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m excited. I’m scared at the same time. I’ve been playing football for a long time, but I feel like I’m a writer. I love how God has given me ideas on what to write — I just need to put it on paper. I couldn’t be more excited about that. My goal is to encourage hundreds of millions of people to know Jesus better. I used to think speaking was the avenue to do that (maybe it still is), but, man, do I love writing. That’s why I’m so excited about my current book, “Let the World See You.”

But I’m even more excited (or nervous maybe?) about my next book. Although I can’t share the topic just yet, I believe it’s going to bring peace and clarity to a lot of people. Hopefully to you as well.

If we were forced to let down our guard long enough for people to see who we really are, many of us would be terrified. What would people think of us? How badly would they judge us?

There are few things as scary as being vulnerable enough to let people see our ugliest weaknesses and our most embarrassing secrets. But Acho’s message is a much-needed reminder that when we do let our guard down, Jesus can do incredible things, no matter how far we’ve fallen or how hard our situation is. God is trustworthy — and he always will be.

Sam Acho is an NFL player, writer, public speaker and humanitarian. He speaks widely at colleges, events, conferences and churches, and is the co-host of The Home Team podcast. He is the founder and president of Athletes for Justice, a vice president of the NFL Players Association, and a graduate of the University of Texas and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Learn more at samachobook.com.