Pray Like a Champion Today takes you inside the heart of Notre Dame football—where faith, tradition, and teamwork collide. Before every game, as the Fighting Irish take a knee shoulder to shoulder praying the Our Father, their chaplain, Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, leads them in a rallying cry: “Our Lady, Queen of Victory!” The thunderous response—“Pray for us!”—echoes through Notre Dame Stadium, setting the tone for more than just the game.
Now, Fr. Nate invites you beyond the sidelines for an exclusive look at the faith-filled moments that make Notre Dame football truly special. With vivid storytelling, full-color photos, and links to highlight videos, he shares behind-the-scenes experiences that have deepened his faith—and offers inspiration for you to grow as a Christian too.
As both a football chaplain and a professor, Fr. Nate does far more than pray before kickoff—he supports the players, coaches, and staff in their personal and spiritual journeys. Whether he’s continuing the century-old tradition of handing out holy medals, praying with injured athletes, or officiating weddings for former players, he embodies what it means to be a champion of faith.
Through these pages, you’ll:
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Join the players’ walk to the stadium, where a roaring crowd and the Notre Dame band create an electrifying atmosphere.
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Step inside practices and the training facility, where the team embraces the motto “Choose hard” and pursues “team glory.”
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Discover how faith is embedded in every aspect of the program, from game-day rituals to personal moments of reflection.
For die-hard Irish fans and casual football followers alike, this book is more than a sports story—it’s an invitation to see how God moves in unexpected places. Whether on the field or in our personal lives, we’re all called to pray, persevere, and play like champions today.
About the Authors
Fr. Nate Wills, CSC is the chaplain of the University of Notre Dame football team. As an education professor at Notre Dame, he teaches in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program and is the founding director of the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Higher-Powered Learning program, which helps teachers and leaders leverage technology to meet the needs of all learners in K–12 classrooms.
He earned a master of divinity in theology and a master of education from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a doctorate in education leadership and policy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Ordained in 2006, he previously served as associate pastor at Saint Joseph Parish in South Bend, Indiana. He speaks nationwide on Catholic education, artificial intelligence, and leadership.
Marcus Freeman is the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
