It’s a small act, but for a few Titans players, it’s an important one.
On game days, several members of the team emerge from the tunnel with religious crosses made of eye black painted on their faces. For safety Kenny Vaccaro, it began recently.
“Really just this last year,” Vaccaro said earlier this week ahead of the Titans' matchup against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday (2:05 p.m. CT, CBS) in the AFC championship game. “I’ve always wanted to do it, but, you know, all these rules and stuff,I didn't know what you can or cannot do. But it means a lot to me.”
Running backDerrick Henry—who began his 2015 Heisman Trophy acceptance speech with, “First off, I just want to thank God” —also shares his faith on his face on game days. So does A.J. Brown.
“I’m a Christian first, before anything,” said the Titans rookie wide receiver, who added he’s been painting crosses in eye black on his face since college. “When I step out on the field, I want to say thank you for the blessings, for everything, because I don’t have to do this. I get to do this. So I always wear a cross.”
Vaccaro has similar reasoning.
"Just understanding that I go into battle asking God to watch over me, from the crown of my helmet to the sole of my feet. I say it all the time when I pray," Vaccaro said."Kind of remind myself it’s already written. Just go out there and play. Go play free. Don’t fear anybody."
Vaccaro said he wasn’t necessarily inspired by anyone else to begin sharing his faith on his facethis season.
"It just kind of came to mind," he said. "We always put the one (line across of eye black), let’s just put two."
Reach Erik Bacharach atebacharach@tennessean.comand on Twitter @ErikBacharach.
