When something you love is either going really well or really poorly, it can be easy to become consumed by it and have it become your identity.
For Virginia Tech safety Tyson Flowers, 2025 wasn't an easy year as the Hokies struggled mightily with a 3-9 record and the dismissal of head coach Brent Pry after only three games. That is the type of challenging year that absolutely will test a man's identity and his mental fortitude, and expose what someone's life is truly built on.
At his core, Flowers was grounded in his Christian faith and growing in it amidst a tough 2025 while also working with a mental performance coach to help as well.
"I started working with a mental performance coach kind of in the middle of last season. And I think the biggest thing that I've learned is just to be as present as possible and enjoy it. That if you really trust in the Lord and trust His plan and follow Him, and enjoy everything else, everything's going to fall into place. We know all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. If I really trust in that and trust and believe in Him," Flowers said.
"I know I love playing football. So if I just focus on playing football and being as present as possible and enjoying it, then I feel like that's when I play my best and I can just trust everything else to fall in the place."
If you talk to Tyson Flowers for even a short time, it becomes quickly clear that football is not the most important thing in his life or his identity. Rather, it is his Christian faith that ultimately guides him in all that he does including as a football player for a Power 4 program rather than the other way around.
"That's the most important thing in my life is my faith. I feel like I can't talk about anything in my life without mentioning what Jesus has done for me and how much He's loved me and how much He loves us enough to sacrifice His life for us. I think I'd be a fool to not tell people about Jesus and not to talk about Him. And especially just the way my career has gone so far. I feel like, though I may not understand it all the time, His hand is on my career, and I feel like I can trust him. I think that gives me a certain level of peace when it comes to football and when it comes to everyone else," Flowers said.
It was his Christian faith that helped Flowers endure the struggles of a rough 3-9 football season and keep his head held high, even though it wasn't easy given his competitiveness.
"Well, that's something that I've struggled with transparently. It's probably something I'll struggle with as long as I'm playing football is like my identity is not in the game as Jesus tells me I am through His word. And that's hard, especially with how competitive I am and competitive college football is. You want to win and you want to do things. And our FCA director, Brother Dave (Gittings Jr), I'm so thankful for him. All the meetings that we had. He's one of my best friends. And I meet with him all the time and talk with him all the time. That's something we walked through last year is like the year's not going well but God is still boss. I guess that's just kind of the basis for me is faith and football," Flowers said.
One person that has had a major impact on Flowers, his faith, and his growth as both a person and an athlete is Dave Gittings Jr, a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Metro Director and football team chaplain at Virginia Tech. The two have built a deep bond with Flowers being very grateful for the impact that Gittings has had on his life.
"He's probably one of one of if not the best person I've been around that can mesh
helping me grow in my faith and also helping me grow as a football player and how those two connect. I've said it since I've been here. He's done a great job of making those two mesh in a way that makes sense and that's applicable and practical in your everyday life. And so he's awesome. I started going to his church (The Vine Church). He's got a church that he's a pastor at, so I'll go there. But a lot of the guys go there too. And so it's just been awesome to grow in the faith and the way he can apply to football as well is very unique," Flowers said.
Amidst a tough 2025 and a buzz-filled 2026, Tyson Flowers is remaining grounded in his Christian faith that has helped him persevere and endure whatever comes his way in life. And while it may be tempting to put his hope in football, Flowers is choosing to put his hope in Jesus, freeing him to enjoy football and play to his best without worrying about something other than his faith defining him.
