Pat McAfee says he loves 'the thought of Jesus Christ': 'I’m in the middle of my journey'

Former athlete-turned-TV personality Pat McAfee says he loves “the thought of Jesus Christ” as he reaches the “middle” of his spiritual journey. 

McAfee, a former NFL punter who now hosts “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN, spoke with street preacher Jordan Kreisle as part of his “Reel Evangelism” video series outside the ESPN ESPY Awards earlier this month.

The program's goal is to "tell everyone about the love of Jesus Christ and to encourage Christians to do the same all over the world," according to its website. Kreisle did not appear to know who McAfee was when he approached him on the street. 

McAfee responded to a question from Kreisle asking, “Did you know Jesus loves you?” by stating, “My dad went to Catholic school, so obviously we grew up Christmas, Easter, in that particular order.” He answered in the affirmative when asked, “You were a Chreaster,” referring to someone who only attends church on Christmas and Easter. 

McAfee acknowledged that while he had not “dove completely into it," he has “gotten more invested in the conversation of … there has to be a reason for everything” as his life has become more “lucky and fortunate.” The retired Indianapolis Colts punter and wrestling personality expressed a desire to host a show “talking about finding my God” that discussed “all the different religions.”

“I love the thought of Jesus Christ,” he added. “I love the thought of that being it, and I think, inevitably, I will land there because that’s kind of how I feel right now.”

“I’m in [the] middle of my journey right now," he added, agreeing with Kreisle that it was “a divine moment” that the two met. 

Kreisle said he's served as a preacher since age 13. He recently decided to “step away from 15 years of full-time pastoring to step into full-time street evangelism.”

“There’s a persona and perception of like ‘what church is’ and people really think that’s who God is, and it’s not really true," he said. 

“It’s religion versus relationship,” Kreisle proclaimed before assuring McAfee that “God really wants and desires a relationship with you.”

According to Kreisle, “He knows every hair on your head, man. He knows every tear you’ve ever cried. He knows everything you’ve ever done, and He still loves you so much He sent Christ, and Christ is crazy in love with you, man.”

McAfee replied, “That’s awesome," and Kreisle described Jesus Christ as “so crazy that He’d send me, some weirdo, just to stop you on the street when I’m headed down to the Apple Store.”

“You’re not a weirdo, man. You’re a 40-year-old legend who’s taking the word to the street," McAfee replied.  “I appreciate you doing that, man."

McAfee and Kreisle prayed together as the video concluded, with a specific focus on McAfee’s daughter. Kreisle insisted to McAfee that God told him that he had a daughter and that “for some reason, we need to pray for her.” 

Kreisle referred to the prayer on behalf of McAfee’s daughter as “an identification for you to see how much God’s crazy about you,” adding, “He’s trying to grab you, Pat. He’s trying to get a hold of you before … that day when you land on Jesus, He’s saying ‘land on me now because I am the answer.’”

“That’s awesome,” McAfee replied. McAfee’s appearance on “Reel Evangelism” is not the first time McAfee suggested an openness to the Christian faith.

In an episode of his show last year, McAfee abruptly asked Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston to pray.