Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 01/27/25

Betting the farm. In Green and Gold (due in theaters Friday, January 31), Craig T. Nelson (Coach, Young Sheldon) plays Buck, a struggling farmer who reluctantly wages his home and his land on the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl while his supportive granddaughter Jenny (Madison Lawlor) dreams of a career in music. He spoke with me about what led him to the role as well as his incredible knack for landing memorable parts in hit TV series.

JWK: So, tell me about your role in Green and Gold.

Craig T. Nelson: I play Buck, the land master, if you will. He’s a farmer that has a generational farm that he’s unable to keep going. So, it’s marginalized and he gets foreclosed on and he has to do something that he’s unwilling to do. He has no recourse.

JWK: I actually watched the film and enjoyed it. I’m a fan of yours in general. What drew you to this particular film. I know you’re a man of faith – and also a Green Bay Packers fan.

CTN: Yeah, I’m a great Green Bay Packers fan. I’m also a fan of some other teams also – but, yeah, I grew up with the Green Bay Packers. What drew me to it was the story. It was basically a story of hope. I think that the journey that this guy goes through – and the family goes through – was so inspirational that it was hard not to be a part of it. The script was wonderful and the vision they had for the movie I thought was really extraordinary. So, it was a project of love.

JWK: I don’t want to give anything away but the film seems to take a lot of inspiration from Psalm 27, particularly the the line that goes “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” and the idea of maintaining hope no matter how bleak things may appear. Would you agree?

CTN: Yeah. I also think that in order for some of us to connect to God we have to go through a period of enormous testing and trial. In this guy’s case, it’s a sense of powerlessness and hopelessness. He’s in that area where it can go either way and where he turns is to a faith that, I think, he found in himself – or, at least, the desire to reach out and ask for help.

JWK: What role does your faith play in choosing the parts you accept? Does it play a role?

CTN: Oh, yeah. It’s everything. I mean I pray about every project that I get involved in (and) how I can be of service to Him. Will God’s glory be revealed in this or is it all about me? What’s the story about? What’s it saying? You know, I think you can find the sovereignty of God is all reaching and all powerful. He lives with us and in us. That story and that Gospel can be preached on any level. Although, I will pray about what I get involved in – because I can be susceptible to my own predilection to be “something” rather than a servant.

JWK: You’ve had an incredible career. I actually am a fan. You’ve played key roles in no less than four hit TV series – including Coach, The District, Parenthood and Young Sheldon. I think that might be a record. Any thoughts on how that happened?

CTN: The only thing that I can say is that I was led to those, was given them, was blessed by them and that I fulfilled, I think, the destiny that was written within them. I do want to make sure that I’m responsible to (the project) which would be God’s will – and how that can best be served. Right now, that’s where I am overall on them.

JWK: Two of those shows – Coach and Young Sheldon – I would place among my all-time favorites in the way that they brilliantly balance character, heart and really being laugh-out-loud funny. They’re great comedies with a lot of heart. Do you have any thoughts on that?

CTN: Yeah, they do. Again, I was given that providence to make something of them in terms of how best to be of service to Him. I’m always in that mindset. That’s really been a hard lesson, one that I need to pay attention to. So, I have to stay close to the Word of God which is in the Bible and make that a part of my life and my children’s lives, my grandkids’ lives and my great grandkids’. I can best do that by reflecting on the roles that I take because, perhaps, that’s basically what they’re gonna be witness to. So, I have to be careful about what I do. That has not always been the case.

JWK: I know that your family is important to you. I know your son Noah is a scriptwriter who I believe got his start with a script for The District.

CTN: Noah’s doing a film right now (about) the Free Burma Rangers which is a missionary organization in Burma. It’s led by Dave Eubank. They’re an extraordinary group. They’re fighting a war…against genocide and have been since the 1980s. So, Noah’s working on that movie. It’s been sold. It’s a script that he’s doing. I’m really proud of him and prayerful about that. With regards to what I’m doing, I’m currently writing a book of historical fiction. The other kids are doing what they do. So far, they’re just fantastic! They’re doing really well!   

JWK: Well, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you. Is there anything you’d like to say as we wrap up?

CTN: No – just how proud I am of the movie and working with (directly/co-writer) Anders (Lindwall) and the group of men and women that put it together. The community that surrounded this movie is important. It was really an honor to be part of it.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.