What inspired you to write your first book, Playing for More? It’s funny, the first idea I was kicking around in my head was about my dad, Steve Keenum. I’ve been blessed to be the son of a football coach and a Christian man. I’ve learned so much from him and I wanted to share those lessons. But then when I started thinking about it, I realized my father’s influence shows up in every part of my life. I thought that telling my whole story would bring the things my dad taught me to life.
Tell us about the title of your book, Playing for More. What is the “more” that you play for? I am a very competitive person. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing football or a silly card game – I want to win at everything. But if that’s all I’m playing for, I’m cheating myself and my Lord. As I say in the book, I’m playing for an Audience of One. God gave me that competitive instinct and the ability to throw a football. I’m not out there just to break records or rack up big numbers. Those are nice. But the real motivating factor is much bigger. I’m out on the field for one reason – to glorify God.
A lot of people were surprised when you said the Minneapolis Miracle was the third best moment of your life. Tell us about the two moments that topped that one. There were some crazy moments after the Minneapolis Miracle. I could barely put together a sentence. But this was an easy one. Marrying my wife Kimberly is obviously above that. If you knew Kimberly, you’d know why. Giving my life to Jesus Christ is the most important thing. How can anything else possibly compete with that? Winning football games is amazing. But to wake up every day and know that Jesus loves me has given me true happiness.
You wrote this with Andrew Perloff, a writer for Sports Illustrated and a part of The Dan Patrick Show. How did you guys meet each other and how did you choose him to be a part of this project? I met Andrew when I first got to the NFL. He was writing a story for Sports Illustrated on quarterbacks who came from Texas. We instantly hit it off. We’ve been able to get together for dinners, usually during Super Bowl week. This year we started talking about doing a book and both got excited. Andrew immediately understood why I wanted to do this. Not to brag about my football accomplishments. But to show how my faith has guided me throughout my career. Working together was easy because we both wanted to send a positive message out to the world with this book.
People look at your success and often don’t realize the difficult road it took to get here. What are some of the biggest challenges you had to overcome? Nothing in my football career has come easy. I was lightly recruited out of high school and only received an official scholarship offer. During college, I injured my knee and had to petition the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility. After a difficult rehab process, I finally returned to the field and had success. But I still wasn’t drafted by an NFL team. I spent my first pro season on the Houston Texans practice squad. Then even after I had the opportunity to start eight games for the Texans in my second season, I was released the following offseason. My pro career has had plenty of ups and downs. I’ve had to earn every snap I’ve ever gotten. I think that’s why I appreciate everything that’s happened so much. I’m not sure I’d have it any other way.
It’s obvious from the book that family plays a huge role in your life. Tell us a little about your family, and the importance of family for you. My wife Kimberly recently showed me some video she took after the Minneapolis Miracle and one of the best parts is that my family is there after the game. I’ve been blessed to be part of a very tight-knit family. My dad has been at every football game I’ve started in high school, college and the NFL. My mom is often there as well. If she can’t make it in person. she’s always one of the first messages on my phone after the game. My parents have provided an incredible model of a Christian marriage and set a standard Kimberly and I are trying to live up to. My sisters are great and were a wonderful resource for writing this book. And I’m very close with Kimberly’s family as well. I’ve gotten to travel to some neat places in my NFL career, but Abilene will always be home because that’s where my family is and it’s with them that I’m truly grounded.
What do you hope readers gain from reading it? I wanted to tell my story so fans could get to know me better and so people could see how having Jesus Christ in my life has made all the difference. I’m just a guy from West Texas… I couldn’t have predicted some of the things that have happened. I hope my journey inspires others to believe in themselves and dream big. Especially the young readers who are about to reach the point when they have to make real decisions. Decisions with consequences. I got a lot of help at critical points of my life. I wrote Playing for More with the intent to show that anything is possible with the Lord’s help.
The following is an excerpt from Playing for More
My dad’s father left his family when my dad was a kid. As a result, my dad didn’t have a positive male role model in his life when he was growing up. By God’s grace, he got invited to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle meeting by a coach at his high school. And at that meeting, he accepted Christ as his Savior. This led him to live a very different life than that of his own father.
The choice to follow the Lord changed his life and the entire trajectory of our family for generations to come. I’m sure as a seventeen-year-old kid, he wasn’t thinking about the impact this decision would have on his future family, but without his faithfulness as a father, I would not have grown up into the man I am today. My opportunities to grow into a professional athlete, marry an amazing woman, and eventually raise godly children are in large part possible because my dad modeled what it looks like to be a man of God.
As I’ve grown up, I realize more and more how blessed my sisters and I are. After leaving home and living around the country, I draw back on countless lessons that my parents taught me. I can’t imagine going through life without the foundation that I have. My dad’s words “Do the right thing, son” ring in my head still today when considering situations. Did I always listen to them? No. But as time has gone on, I have learned that even if it’s hard to admit, my parents were right about most things.
My grandfather started coming around again when my sisters and I started getting older and participating in organized sports. My dad had reached out and wanted to give his father the opportunity to be in his grandkids’ lives. I have some good memories spending time with my grandfather during the holidays and at games, and I really appreciated him coming. As every kid does when he gets older and starts to learn more of the truth about the world, I slowly came to realize that it wasn’t all rainbows and roses. My grandfather wasn’t very good with money and he got involved with the wrong people time and time again. To this day, I still get phone calls from debt collectors looking for my grandfather.
I may not have had the best example of manhood from my grandfather. But my dad . . . he is a stud. It seems like every day I learn something new about Dad and come to admire him in an even deeper way. I’m sorry-not-sorry about being boastful here, but I have to brag a little about my dad because I think he is the best example in my life here on Earth of what our heavenly Father is like.
I realize that this topic is painful for many whose fathers were not around, who feel rejected or unworthy. I know there are many young men who have longed for the love, approval, and pride of their earthly father. While my dad was in the stadium for every athletic event, I know there are kids who are competing and looking up to the stands to find someone to cheer for them. The gift I have in my dad isn’t lost on me, but even in his great love for me, he falls short every time compared to the love of my heavenly Father. That’s the power, the secret I want to share with you.
Excerpted with permission from Playing for More by Case Keenum. Copyright 2018, B&H Publishing Group.
Case Keenum has traveled one of the most unique paths in the NFL. Recruited by just one college, undrafted, and released three times, Case has overcome every obstacle to become a successful starting quarterback. In 2017, Keenum captured America’s imagination by leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 13-3 record and an NFC North title. His game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of their divisional playoff game against the Saints, the "Minneapolis Miracle," made Case part of NFL history.
Keenum shares stories from every stage of his life, starting out as a ball boy for his father’s college team in West Texas, going on to win a state title in high school, and rewriting the NCAA record book at the University of Houston. A devastating knee injury almost derailed his football career, but helped him get closer to the woman who would soon become his wife.
Throughout his story, Case will explain how being a Christian helped him navigate the winding path to success. No matter what obstacle has been placed in front of him, Case believes God has a plan for him. That’s why he plays football and that’s why he’s writing this book: To glorify God and to help others who face adversity in their everyday life.
Playing for More by Case Keenum
Throughout his story, Case will explain how being a Christian helped him navigate the winding path to success. No matter what obstacle has been placed in front of him, Case believes God has a plan for him. That’s why he plays football and that’s why he’s writing this book: To glorify God and to help others who face adversity in their everyday life.