For Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey, football is about far more than touchdowns and highlight reels. The Georgia native says his Christian faith is at the center of everything he does — both on and off the field.

“Faith, family, football,” McConkey told Fox News Digital. “That’s really how I live my life.” Now in his second NFL season, the 22-year-old hasn’t shied away from talking about how his relationship with Christ gives him peace and perspective, even amid the pressures of professional sports.

McConkey says that faith isn’t something he leaves at the locker room door. It’s an integral part of the Chargers organization, thanks in large part to head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is also outspoken about his Christian beliefs. “Just to speak on Coach Harbaugh, he does such a great job of allowing that to happen in our program,” McConkey said. “J.K. Scott, our punter, leads chapel sessions every Friday night. We have coaches coming in, players coming in, and we’re all just getting around and worshiping. It’s awesome.”

That sense of unity and shared purpose helps McConkey stay grounded in a profession where performance and public scrutiny can be overwhelming. He says his faith frees him from anxiety on game days. “Just really experiencing God’s love – when you have that, all your anxiety goes away,” he explained. “You’re not worried about, ‘Oh, what am I going to do on the field?’ because you know that doesn’t fulfill you. When you’re fulfilled, you know Jesus loves you, and you have that love. Now, you can go out here and play for free and don’t have to worry about anything.”

It’s an attitude that resonates with his coach. Harbaugh, who often says “faith, family, football,” helps him “keep things straight,” has praised other Christian players across the league like C.J. Stroud and Patrick Mahomes for boldly sharing their faith. McConkey finds that encouraging. “It’s so awesome to see guys step up and speak about it, and just know that their experience is the same thing I’m experiencing,” he said. “We have hard times, and we go through struggles. But at the end of the day, if we have our faith, we’ll be OK.”

Though McConkey’s NFL schedule keeps him busy, his heart still beats Bulldog red. The former Georgia standout keeps a close eye on his alma mater, especially as they face top SEC rivals. He recently partnered with Dr Pepper’s “Pepper Portal,” a fan experience connecting rival college towns on game day. “It’s sick,” he said. “Just seeing what Dr Pepper can do with the college football fan base, just bringing everybody together.”

Still, it’s clear that for McConkey, the game — whether in college or the NFL — has never been the ultimate goal. His identity rests in something far greater. “At the end of the day,” he said, “if we have our faith, we’ll be OK.”