Retiring for the Gospel: Colts Safety Khari Willis Gives up Millions to Pursue Ministry

Khari Willis, a safety for the Indianapolis Colts, made a surprise announcement Wednesday, saying he was leaving the team before his fourth season started in order to dedicate himself to “the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Willis, 26, made the announcement on his Instagram account. After thanking the Colts for allowing him to play, he wrote:

“With much prayer and deliberation, I have elected to officially retire from the NFL as I endeavor to devote the remainder of my life to the further advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I thank all of my family, friends and those who have supported me on this journey thus far and I look forward to your continued support through the next phase of my life. I am both humbled and excited to pursue the holy call that God has for my life which brings me much joy and purpose. Thank you for all your support over the years.”

It is a decision that will cost Willis millions of dollars. Drafted by the team in 2019 in the fourth round, he signed a $3.2 million contract and the 2022 season was expected to be his most lucrative, with a base salary of $2.54 million according to the Indy Star. He would also become a free agent after the ‘22 season, leaving him open to pursue an even bigger contract with another team. Willis, however, seemed to have a calling on his heart as he’d previously requested time off from the team’s activities and the mandatory minicamp during the offseason. He made the announcement of his retirement soon after.

The Colts head coach, Frank Reich, released a statement in support of the player:

“We’re thankful and appreciative of Khari’s contributions to the Colts both on and off the field over the last three seasons. Khari’s character, leadership, and professionalism will be missed in our locker room as will his play on Sundays. I admire and respect his decision to transition into the next stage of his life and ministry and my prayers will always be with him.”

Although Willis did not give further details about what his pursuit of ministry will exactly look like, his decision to give up millions for a life of service certainly is reflective of Jesus’s decree in Matthew 16:24, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”