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Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure, and Overcoming the Odds
* New York Times Bestseller*
Get ready to defy the odds when everyone’s counting you out.
When the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback went down with a torn ACL in week 14 of the 2017 NFL season, many fans―and commentators―assumed the Eagles’ season was over.
Instead, Nick Foles came off the bench and, against all odds, led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in history.
How did Nick get it done―winning MVP honors, silencing the critics, and shocking the world? How did the man who was on the verge of retiring just two seasons earlier stay optimistic and rally the team to an astounding win? How did he stay ready despite numerous trades and discouraging injuries, able to step up in the moment and perform at the top of his game?
Believe It offers a behind-the-scenes look at Nick’s unlikely path to the Super Bowl, the obstacles that threatened to hold him back, his rediscovery of his love for the game, and the faith that grounded him through it all. Learn from the way Nick handled the trials and tribulations that made him into the man he is today―and discover a path to your own success.
Get ready to defy the odds when everyone’s counting you out.
When the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback went down with a torn ACL in week 14 of the 2017 NFL season, many fans―and commentators―assumed the Eagles’ season was over.
Instead, Nick Foles came off the bench and, against all odds, led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in history.
How did Nick get it done―winning MVP honors, silencing the critics, and shocking the world? How did the man who was on the verge of retiring just two seasons earlier stay optimistic and rally the team to an astounding win? How did he stay ready despite numerous trades and discouraging injuries, able to step up in the moment and perform at the top of his game?
Believe It offers a behind-the-scenes look at Nick’s unlikely path to the Super Bowl, the obstacles that threatened to hold him back, his rediscovery of his love for the game, and the faith that grounded him through it all. Learn from the way Nick handled the trials and tribulations that made him into the man he is today―and discover a path to your own success.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2018
165 people are currently reading
1427 people want to read
About the author
Nick Foles
4 books29 followersNick Foles is the 2018 Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, Nick was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 2012 draft. In 2013, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to post a perfect passer rating (158.3), and to throw seven touchdowns in a single game, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl, and Offensive MVP honors. Foles played one season in St. Louis (2015) and one in Kansas City (2016), before returning to the Eagles in 2017. On February 4, 2018, Foles led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history. He and his wife, Tori, have a daughter named Lily and a Golden Doodle named Henry.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, Nick was drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 2012 draft. In 2013, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to post a perfect passer rating (158.3), and to throw seven touchdowns in a single game, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl, and Offensive MVP honors. Foles played one season in St. Louis (2015) and one in Kansas City (2016), before returning to the Eagles in 2017. On February 4, 2018, Foles led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history. He and his wife, Tori, have a daughter named Lily and a Golden Doodle named Henry.
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January 27, 2024
"How do you know if a [football] season will be magical? How do you know whether you'll finish it in utter disbelief, standing on the podium while gazing at your reflection in coveted sterling silver? . . . How do you know how it will end six months later? You don't. You can hope for the best. You can do everything in your power to reach the promised land. But you just don't know." -- on page 117
One of those somewhat unlikely (and possibly 'only in America!') sports stories, Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles found himself pressed into full service fairly late in the franchise's successful 2017 season when starting QB Carson Wentz was sidelined by a knee injury. 'The Birds' then made it to Super Bowl LII - only their third ever appearance at the big game, with two prior losses - where they were considered underdogs and were again facing that unstoppable steamroller known as the New England Patriots. Foles helped lead the team to victory, and his performance clinched him Most Valuable Player honors as well. He recounts his NFL career in the sincere sport autobiography Believe It, where Foles also credits his wife and toddler daughter (she memorably appeared with him during the LII postgame interview on the field, wearing those stylish pink noise-cancelling headphones and charming TV viewers) and especially his ardent Christian faith with providing him unfaltering strength and support. I'm biased - the Eagles are my team - but Foles seems like proof that genuine nice guys do occasionally both achieve AND deserve their success.
One of those somewhat unlikely (and possibly 'only in America!') sports stories, Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles found himself pressed into full service fairly late in the franchise's successful 2017 season when starting QB Carson Wentz was sidelined by a knee injury. 'The Birds' then made it to Super Bowl LII - only their third ever appearance at the big game, with two prior losses - where they were considered underdogs and were again facing that unstoppable steamroller known as the New England Patriots. Foles helped lead the team to victory, and his performance clinched him Most Valuable Player honors as well. He recounts his NFL career in the sincere sport autobiography Believe It, where Foles also credits his wife and toddler daughter (she memorably appeared with him during the LII postgame interview on the field, wearing those stylish pink noise-cancelling headphones and charming TV viewers) and especially his ardent Christian faith with providing him unfaltering strength and support. I'm biased - the Eagles are my team - but Foles seems like proof that genuine nice guys do occasionally both achieve AND deserve their success.
August 23, 2018
I love football, I love the Eagles, and I love this book. Nick Foles is such an inspiring person, and I truly enjoyed reading his story. The Eagles were beyond lucky to have him to lead them to this victory. As a born-and-raised Eagles fan from a multigenerational family of Eagles fan, I can honestly say that what the Eagles accomplished in 2017 was one of the best things I’ve ever watched play out.
I was at the fateful game against the Rams, and when Wentz went down my heart shattered. But we had Foles, and I had hope. He was on my fantasy team when he threw 7 touchdown passes against Oakland (oh hey, 52 fantasy points) so I know in my heart that we were still going to have a heck of an end to the season!
I’m so impressed with this book, and I can’t say enough how much I love it.
I was at the fateful game against the Rams, and when Wentz went down my heart shattered. But we had Foles, and I had hope. He was on my fantasy team when he threw 7 touchdown passes against Oakland (oh hey, 52 fantasy points) so I know in my heart that we were still going to have a heck of an end to the season!
I’m so impressed with this book, and I can’t say enough how much I love it.
July 4, 2018
This is the inspiring story of Nick Foles, the backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles who stepped in and led the team to the 2018 Super Bowl championship after the starter went down. I’ve read a lot of books written by sports figures after a remarkable season. But this is so much more than your typical sports book. In Believe It, Foles demonstrates how he integrates his faith with his work as an NFL quarterback, aiming to glorify God in his work. He also writes that he gets his identity from who he is in God, rather than through his performance on the football field. Throughout the book, he also shares lessons he’s learned from his failures, struggles, and weaknesses that have made him who he is today.
Foles shares his story about growing up in Austin, Texas, and playing football one season at Michigan State University. It was at Michigan State that he made a deeper commitment to Christ. He then transferred to the University of Arizona. It was there that he would meet his future wife, Tori Moore.
He would be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. In his rookie year, the Eagles finished last and their head coach, Andy Reid, who Foles thinks very highly of, was fired.
Foles would have a Pro Bowl season in 2013. After stepping in for injured Michael Vick, he ended up finishing the regular season with twenty-seven touchdowns and two interceptions—the best ratio in NFL history—and a league-leading 119.2 passer rating. Even better, the team won six of our final seven games, clinching the NFC East division title.
He writes of his growing relationship with Tori, who would be diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system. Years later, they would live together before they were married. Foles is honest in writing that both he and Tori knew what they were doing wasn’t in line with what they believed and what the Bible teaches. After being challenged about this, they decided to get married earlier than expected.
Foles 2014 season was a disappointment, eventually ending with a broken collarbone midway through his first full season as a starter. He writes that he was trying so hard to live up to his prior accomplishments that was putting way too much pressure on himself, his play suffered as a result. He was shocked to hear from the coach that he was being traded to the St. Louis Rams. There was a losing culture in St. Louis, having been more than ten years since the Rams had finished over .500, and the franchise was going to be moving to Los Angeles he following season.
He played poorly in that environment and writes of Coach Jeff Fisher benching him without warning and publicly in front of his peers, certainly not a good example of servant leadership. After that season he did a lot of searching through journaling. This kept him close to God and he realized that there was a purpose for everything he was going through, even if he still couldn’t see it.
It was during this time that he decided to retire from football. But Tori and others close to him weren’t sure that it was the time to retire and they asked him to reconsider his decision. He writes of praying with Tori for God’s plan for him and to help him make a decision that will glorify him. He writes of making the decision to try football one more time, and calling his old coach Andy Reid, who was now coaching in Kansas City. He returned to the NFL as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith in Kansas City. He writes that his job that year was simple: to work hard, support Alex as best he could, encourage his teammates, be a positive influence in the locker room, and be ready to step in and play if needed. On a deeper level, his goal was to glorify God in everything he did, and to do it with a joyful spirit.
Foles enjoyed the 2016 season with the Chiefs, even if most of it was from the sidelines. The season also included the birth of the couple’s first child, daughter Lily James. By the end of the 2016 season, Foles had also signed up for two seminary classes through Liberty’s online program, as he plans to be a Youth Pastor after his football career is over.
Although Nick and Tori really enjoyed their time in Kansas City, and wanted to stay, football is a business and that didn’t work out. But an opportunity came up for Foles to return to Philadelphia to play the 2017 season with the Eagles. Foles signed a two-year contract. All he wanted to do was be part of an organization that he loved and glorify God in his role, which would be as a backup to Carson Wentz.
Injuries are a part of sports, and Foles got his opportunity when Wentz was injured. The rest of the book takes the reader through the final weeks of the season and then the playoffs, where the Eagles were the top seed in the NFC at 13–3, with home-field advantage throughout. In the Super Bowl, the Eagles would face the New England Patriots and their star quarterback Tom Brady, who already had five Super Bowl titles.
In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Foles found peace and perspective rereading the Psalms. I enjoyed hearing how he spent the hours leading up to the Super Bowl game itself, including listening to a message from Tim Keller. Nobody expected the Eagles, with a backup quarterback to win the game. But they did, and Foles was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.
A final note: all proceeds from the book will be to various churches and organizations.
Here are 10 great quotes from Believe It:
1. When my identity was tied to football, I constantly felt the pressure to be perfect. I lost sight of the fact that I don’t have to be perfect—in fact, I can’t be perfect. No one can. Only Jesus is perfect.”
2. The true measure of success is to make sure everything I do—the way I act, the way I treat others, the way I deal with disappointment and setbacks—reflects and glorifies God.
3. As a Christian, I find my identity, value, and purpose in life in one source—God.
4. I’m not just a football player. I’m a child of God who happens to be called to play football, using the gifts and abilities he has blessed me with. Once I finally understood this, I realized that it didn’t really matter which path I chose.
5. When we share our faults and weaknesses, not only are we being honest, we also become more relatable—and more human—to the people around us.
6. Our frailty and inabilities highlight God’s perfect strength. Jesus himself is the ultimate example of finding strength in weakness. He was fully God and fully human, yet he came down to serve others and sacrifice himself for us. What appeared to be a moment of weakness for him was actually the strongest moment in history.
7. We are strongest when we are weak because that’s when we turn to God and put our trust in him.
8. Football is my calling now, and if God wants us in Philly for the time being, then that’s where we’ll be. I’ll strive to glorify him, remain humble, and focus on having a positive impact on others—just like I would anywhere else.
9. I am a walking example of the “strength in weakness” principle. My whole career arc bears it out. “Backup quarterback who considered retirement leads team to first Super Bowl”—that’s not just a nice underdog story. That’s 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 in action!
10. The truth is, we all have different gifts, interests, and abilities that God delights in using. Our job is simply to use those gifts in ways that will glorify him and point others toward him.
Foles shares his story about growing up in Austin, Texas, and playing football one season at Michigan State University. It was at Michigan State that he made a deeper commitment to Christ. He then transferred to the University of Arizona. It was there that he would meet his future wife, Tori Moore.
He would be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. In his rookie year, the Eagles finished last and their head coach, Andy Reid, who Foles thinks very highly of, was fired.
Foles would have a Pro Bowl season in 2013. After stepping in for injured Michael Vick, he ended up finishing the regular season with twenty-seven touchdowns and two interceptions—the best ratio in NFL history—and a league-leading 119.2 passer rating. Even better, the team won six of our final seven games, clinching the NFC East division title.
He writes of his growing relationship with Tori, who would be diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system. Years later, they would live together before they were married. Foles is honest in writing that both he and Tori knew what they were doing wasn’t in line with what they believed and what the Bible teaches. After being challenged about this, they decided to get married earlier than expected.
Foles 2014 season was a disappointment, eventually ending with a broken collarbone midway through his first full season as a starter. He writes that he was trying so hard to live up to his prior accomplishments that was putting way too much pressure on himself, his play suffered as a result. He was shocked to hear from the coach that he was being traded to the St. Louis Rams. There was a losing culture in St. Louis, having been more than ten years since the Rams had finished over .500, and the franchise was going to be moving to Los Angeles he following season.
He played poorly in that environment and writes of Coach Jeff Fisher benching him without warning and publicly in front of his peers, certainly not a good example of servant leadership. After that season he did a lot of searching through journaling. This kept him close to God and he realized that there was a purpose for everything he was going through, even if he still couldn’t see it.
It was during this time that he decided to retire from football. But Tori and others close to him weren’t sure that it was the time to retire and they asked him to reconsider his decision. He writes of praying with Tori for God’s plan for him and to help him make a decision that will glorify him. He writes of making the decision to try football one more time, and calling his old coach Andy Reid, who was now coaching in Kansas City. He returned to the NFL as a backup quarterback to Alex Smith in Kansas City. He writes that his job that year was simple: to work hard, support Alex as best he could, encourage his teammates, be a positive influence in the locker room, and be ready to step in and play if needed. On a deeper level, his goal was to glorify God in everything he did, and to do it with a joyful spirit.
Foles enjoyed the 2016 season with the Chiefs, even if most of it was from the sidelines. The season also included the birth of the couple’s first child, daughter Lily James. By the end of the 2016 season, Foles had also signed up for two seminary classes through Liberty’s online program, as he plans to be a Youth Pastor after his football career is over.
Although Nick and Tori really enjoyed their time in Kansas City, and wanted to stay, football is a business and that didn’t work out. But an opportunity came up for Foles to return to Philadelphia to play the 2017 season with the Eagles. Foles signed a two-year contract. All he wanted to do was be part of an organization that he loved and glorify God in his role, which would be as a backup to Carson Wentz.
Injuries are a part of sports, and Foles got his opportunity when Wentz was injured. The rest of the book takes the reader through the final weeks of the season and then the playoffs, where the Eagles were the top seed in the NFC at 13–3, with home-field advantage throughout. In the Super Bowl, the Eagles would face the New England Patriots and their star quarterback Tom Brady, who already had five Super Bowl titles.
In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Foles found peace and perspective rereading the Psalms. I enjoyed hearing how he spent the hours leading up to the Super Bowl game itself, including listening to a message from Tim Keller. Nobody expected the Eagles, with a backup quarterback to win the game. But they did, and Foles was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.
A final note: all proceeds from the book will be to various churches and organizations.
Here are 10 great quotes from Believe It:
1. When my identity was tied to football, I constantly felt the pressure to be perfect. I lost sight of the fact that I don’t have to be perfect—in fact, I can’t be perfect. No one can. Only Jesus is perfect.”
2. The true measure of success is to make sure everything I do—the way I act, the way I treat others, the way I deal with disappointment and setbacks—reflects and glorifies God.
3. As a Christian, I find my identity, value, and purpose in life in one source—God.
4. I’m not just a football player. I’m a child of God who happens to be called to play football, using the gifts and abilities he has blessed me with. Once I finally understood this, I realized that it didn’t really matter which path I chose.
5. When we share our faults and weaknesses, not only are we being honest, we also become more relatable—and more human—to the people around us.
6. Our frailty and inabilities highlight God’s perfect strength. Jesus himself is the ultimate example of finding strength in weakness. He was fully God and fully human, yet he came down to serve others and sacrifice himself for us. What appeared to be a moment of weakness for him was actually the strongest moment in history.
7. We are strongest when we are weak because that’s when we turn to God and put our trust in him.
8. Football is my calling now, and if God wants us in Philly for the time being, then that’s where we’ll be. I’ll strive to glorify him, remain humble, and focus on having a positive impact on others—just like I would anywhere else.
9. I am a walking example of the “strength in weakness” principle. My whole career arc bears it out. “Backup quarterback who considered retirement leads team to first Super Bowl”—that’s not just a nice underdog story. That’s 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 in action!
10. The truth is, we all have different gifts, interests, and abilities that God delights in using. Our job is simply to use those gifts in ways that will glorify him and point others toward him.
October 22, 2018
Great read. Even though I'm not an Eagles fan I still love sports stories and especially inspiring ones like this book. His frank and honest trials and tribulations, only to rise again and be a winner is amazing!
June 27, 2018
Very good and quick read and I learned stuff that I didn’t know before like his wife’s serious illness that she was going through when he had the best season of his life (2013)....I am not really religious and him being devout Christian it wasn’t too religious and it was actually interesting to see how religious he was and how it affected the way he views everything...I will always hold Nick Foles into the most highest regard for bringing a Super Bowl victory to Philadelphia and I hope that sometime in the next 10-20 years that when another team is trying to win the Super Bowl with a backup QB that teams radio stations calls the retired Nick Foles and he gets to tell his story again and give that city hope that it can be done (unless it’s the cowboys,redskins or giants...sorry lol)
July 8, 2018
I watched the NFC Championship game between Philadelphia and Minnesota this fall while in a Motel 6 in Libertyville, Ill., with huge interest. I grew up in Minnesota and have been a Vikings fan for 50 years. As a child, I met a lot of the Vikes players in the mid 1960s when they practiced at Bemidji State University and that made a big impression on me. How can you not root for the Purple People Eaters after hanging out with Joe Kapp, Mick Tinglehoff, Roy Winston and Alan Page? I suffered with them as they lost their four Super Bowl bids and have been a devoted fan for more than 50 years.
Minnesota took a 7-0 lead against the Eagles and I was ecstatic. The team was Super Bowl bound, I knew it.
Then Nick Foles stepped onto the field and, well, you know the rest.
I was still smarting over the Vikings' loss so Foles' story was lost on me when the Super Bowl arrived. I even rooted for the Patriots only in a revengeful way since the Eagles beat my beloved Vikings. I merely though Foles was some west coast jock from Arizona who, like the rest of the ilk of one-and-done quarterbacks, was a flash in the pan type when it came to Super popularity. (Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Robert Griffin III, Ty Detmer, etc)
Boy, was I wrong. After reading Believe It, I have gained great respect for him. He's extremely humble and realizes what a Walter Mitty life he had in 2017. He is a Christian, but he's written his book in a way that's both for Christians and non-Christians. He is sincere about his faith, but he doesn't force it on everyone. If you are a Christian, like I, you get the finer points of what he is saying. If you're not, at least you get insight into what makes Nick tick.
He's very open, writing about the medical issues with his girlfriend and future wife, his fears and anxiety as an expectant father, his poor performances on the field at times and his excellent games (although, again, he's humble and not gloating, giving credit to his offensive line, receivers, coaches, concession stand operators, et al.
Foles also really gives the reader the inside view of the business of the NFL. He's cut by the Rams in a one-minute telephone call. He considers retirement because, despite being a great quarterback, he's deemed a backup. He picks up with Kansas City, but is a backup to Alex Smith. And he returns to Philly where - he's a backup again. Even now, as the 2018 season is ahead, Foles may either remain a backup to Wentz at Philadelphia, or he may move on elsewhere. Only in the NFL do you get a Super Bowl MVP one year and a backup without a team the next.
The book is a quick, easy read. He doesn't criticize anyone and he's quick to compliment his fellow teammates. This is the amazing, inspirational story of a guy who does well and who happens to be a quarterback. Obviously, he did a lot of hard work and practice to get there, but he gives credit to coaches and to God for his success. It is an inspiration to read.
And this season, I will remain a strong Vikings fan. But I have a new found interest in Foles and will root for whichever team he is on. As long as it's not against the Vikes.
Minnesota took a 7-0 lead against the Eagles and I was ecstatic. The team was Super Bowl bound, I knew it.
Then Nick Foles stepped onto the field and, well, you know the rest.
I was still smarting over the Vikings' loss so Foles' story was lost on me when the Super Bowl arrived. I even rooted for the Patriots only in a revengeful way since the Eagles beat my beloved Vikings. I merely though Foles was some west coast jock from Arizona who, like the rest of the ilk of one-and-done quarterbacks, was a flash in the pan type when it came to Super popularity. (Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco, Robert Griffin III, Ty Detmer, etc)
Boy, was I wrong. After reading Believe It, I have gained great respect for him. He's extremely humble and realizes what a Walter Mitty life he had in 2017. He is a Christian, but he's written his book in a way that's both for Christians and non-Christians. He is sincere about his faith, but he doesn't force it on everyone. If you are a Christian, like I, you get the finer points of what he is saying. If you're not, at least you get insight into what makes Nick tick.
He's very open, writing about the medical issues with his girlfriend and future wife, his fears and anxiety as an expectant father, his poor performances on the field at times and his excellent games (although, again, he's humble and not gloating, giving credit to his offensive line, receivers, coaches, concession stand operators, et al.
Foles also really gives the reader the inside view of the business of the NFL. He's cut by the Rams in a one-minute telephone call. He considers retirement because, despite being a great quarterback, he's deemed a backup. He picks up with Kansas City, but is a backup to Alex Smith. And he returns to Philly where - he's a backup again. Even now, as the 2018 season is ahead, Foles may either remain a backup to Wentz at Philadelphia, or he may move on elsewhere. Only in the NFL do you get a Super Bowl MVP one year and a backup without a team the next.
The book is a quick, easy read. He doesn't criticize anyone and he's quick to compliment his fellow teammates. This is the amazing, inspirational story of a guy who does well and who happens to be a quarterback. Obviously, he did a lot of hard work and practice to get there, but he gives credit to coaches and to God for his success. It is an inspiration to read.
And this season, I will remain a strong Vikings fan. But I have a new found interest in Foles and will root for whichever team he is on. As long as it's not against the Vikes.
August 27, 2018
Might be a tad biased as I’m an Eagles fan I got this as a gift 😂. The book does a solid job of carrying out the theme of God having a plan for us even when it’s not always clear as to why. Nick Foles does a good job of being transparent and tells a very good story. Interested to see if he writes more considering he’s thinking of becoming a youth pastor. 9.5/10.
September 25, 2023
second time reading and gawd damn do i love nick foles. reading all the former eagles names had me in my feels but jeez i miss that team. i would read the part about the actual superbowl over and over again tbh it’s really so good. 10/5
August 4, 2022
Football stuff excellent. The God stuff every 4 pages ot so much
January 25, 2019
Nick Foles cries. A lot. But he can afford to. He’s the Super Bowl MVP of the E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles.
More to the point, I endorse his message of finding strength through weakness. Foles’ honesty is refreshing as he is not playing for fame, for wealth, or an accumulation of trophies. He’s playing to honor God. His autobiography, Believe It is the hurry-up offense of reads. Within the first hundred pages, Nick punts from college to the Eagles to the Rams to the Chiefs and back to the Birds. Fly Foles Fly indeed. His Super Bowl memories read like an NFL Films highlight reel. He is an avid supporter of Bulletproof coffee, so maybe that’s pure caffeine in the translation.
Believe It is more a testament of his faith than a locker room report from the Linc. Foles’ wears his faith fully on display right next his play list. He is a man of courage and of faith. But more than anything, he is a humble man who embraces failure and grows from that, which makes him the perfect Eagle. Or underdog.
Read this review and more at Read @ Joe's!
More to the point, I endorse his message of finding strength through weakness. Foles’ honesty is refreshing as he is not playing for fame, for wealth, or an accumulation of trophies. He’s playing to honor God. His autobiography, Believe It is the hurry-up offense of reads. Within the first hundred pages, Nick punts from college to the Eagles to the Rams to the Chiefs and back to the Birds. Fly Foles Fly indeed. His Super Bowl memories read like an NFL Films highlight reel. He is an avid supporter of Bulletproof coffee, so maybe that’s pure caffeine in the translation.
Believe It is more a testament of his faith than a locker room report from the Linc. Foles’ wears his faith fully on display right next his play list. He is a man of courage and of faith. But more than anything, he is a humble man who embraces failure and grows from that, which makes him the perfect Eagle. Or underdog.
Read this review and more at Read @ Joe's!
July 30, 2018
What I appreciate about Nick Foles’ Believe It is that Nick Foles is not about Nick Foles. He lives, he plays, and even in this book, writes for the glory of God.
As a pastor in S. Philly and a big Eagles fan the past year has been a whirlwind of a season. A few games before the super bowl I told a friend that what impressed me most about the team is this: it’s not their winning record but their team unity. There are a lot of godly men in on that team and it makes a difference. They could be the worst team in the league and still be impressive because of their team unity and their shared understanding that life is more than football.
But I certainly am not complaining that they won. What a game! Best Super Bowl I have ever watched. Sure I’m biased, but that was just a great all around football game. If I’m honest I still go back and watch some highlights at least once a month and here we are almost to August! It doesn’t get old.
Foles doesn’t shy away from struggles. His battle with pride and envy. His struggle with his wife’s health. Surprisingly but refreshingly he even talks about how his wife and he lived together before they were married and how they were called out on it by a friend (55). He admits that he was wrong and immediately did the right thing and got married. That’s a very counter culture message. It’s a message I appreciate.
He also talks about the challenges of the business side of football. He writes, “Once I began achieving a certain level of success, football started to become less of a game and more of a business. I was becoming less of an individual and more of a commodity, a cog in a machine” (73). This is when he began loosing his love for the game.
He stepped away “into the wilderness” after he was released from the Rams. This is when he gained clarity about life in relationship to football. “Being out in the big, beautiful world God made reminded me that there’s more to life than football” (82).
He talks about how he needed to learn to separate Nick Foles the person from Nick Foles the football player. “There’s so much more to a person than how far they can throw or how hard they can hit… It took the nightmare of the 2015 season to remind me that my identity is in Christ, not in what I do on a football field” (86). Ultimately, Foles was able to confess, “I’m not just a football player. I’m a child of God who happens to be called to play football, using the gifts and abilities he has blessed me with. And that’s a huge distinction” (87).
Grasping this identity in Christ allowed him to fall in love with football again. He realized that fulfillment doesn’t come from career status, or stats, but in being found in Christ. He humbly came back as a backup in Philly and well, the rest is history…
There’s numerous great stories within these easy to read pages. I watched it all unfold on the screen, but Foles gives us the background, fly on the wall information. Like the time right after Carson Wentz was injured and as he was out incognito at a S. Jersey restaurant he overhead people talking about how the season was done. And then a few weeks latter while in Philly the quietly were eating and as they left the entire restaurant stood up to cheer him on. There are a lot of great little moments like that. One of my favorites is his story from his first stint in Philly when he interacted with some workers when he truck was towed. It sums up Philly perfectly!
He also briefly talks about how he is the only quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, become the Super Bowl MVP and then go back to being a backup. He writes, “My unique path from backup to Super Bowl MVP to backup again is a powerful message to share with people, and God has given me an ideal platform to do that from. To cheerfully return to a backup role after reaching the pinnacle of the sport contradicts everything the world tells us about success, fame, money, and self-worth. To me, it’s a tangible reminder that we are called to humility and to a life of service” (216). He proceeds to quote Rom. 12:3, but his actions also remind me of John the Baptist who said of Jesus: “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30).
If I could level one complaint I would have liked a clearer presentation of God’s holiness and humanity’s sin. Then the gospel would make more sense. The book inadvertently left the subtle impression that God saves us from our failures. While that is true, salvation is so much more.
We are under the wrath of God because our sinfulness offends God’s holiness. Christ bore our sin and endured the wrath of God in our place. We deserved what Christ received. He bore our penalty. He satisfied God’s wrath and justice. He died in our place. Now we are freely justified. We are right in God’s eyes. All of this flows from the shed blood of Christ.
I wish that was clearer, but otherwise I was thankful that throughout the book Foles doesn’t shy away from presenting Christ. I also appreciate how he focused often on finding his identity in Christ. He ends the books with talking about his identity in Christ. That is what defines him. It’s not the media, it’s not being a Super Bowl MVP, it’s being in Christ. And that makes all the difference.
He writes, “So, who am I? I am a football player… but that only begins to describe me. I am a quarterback… but my true identity is found in Christ. I am able to win big games… but all glory goes to God. I am a Super Bowl MVP… but my worth doesn’t come from trophies or awards. I am weak and prone to failure… but my Savior covers me in his perfection. I am Nick Foles, a follower of Christ… who just happens to play football at the moment” (233-234).
Faith’s Playbook is also worth checking out as it interviews more of the team as they talk about their faith in Christ and how that impacts who they are as people.
I am hopeful for 2018 but at the same time as Foles reminds us: it’s not ultimately about football but living for the glory of God.
As a pastor in S. Philly and a big Eagles fan the past year has been a whirlwind of a season. A few games before the super bowl I told a friend that what impressed me most about the team is this: it’s not their winning record but their team unity. There are a lot of godly men in on that team and it makes a difference. They could be the worst team in the league and still be impressive because of their team unity and their shared understanding that life is more than football.
But I certainly am not complaining that they won. What a game! Best Super Bowl I have ever watched. Sure I’m biased, but that was just a great all around football game. If I’m honest I still go back and watch some highlights at least once a month and here we are almost to August! It doesn’t get old.
Foles doesn’t shy away from struggles. His battle with pride and envy. His struggle with his wife’s health. Surprisingly but refreshingly he even talks about how his wife and he lived together before they were married and how they were called out on it by a friend (55). He admits that he was wrong and immediately did the right thing and got married. That’s a very counter culture message. It’s a message I appreciate.
He also talks about the challenges of the business side of football. He writes, “Once I began achieving a certain level of success, football started to become less of a game and more of a business. I was becoming less of an individual and more of a commodity, a cog in a machine” (73). This is when he began loosing his love for the game.
He stepped away “into the wilderness” after he was released from the Rams. This is when he gained clarity about life in relationship to football. “Being out in the big, beautiful world God made reminded me that there’s more to life than football” (82).
He talks about how he needed to learn to separate Nick Foles the person from Nick Foles the football player. “There’s so much more to a person than how far they can throw or how hard they can hit… It took the nightmare of the 2015 season to remind me that my identity is in Christ, not in what I do on a football field” (86). Ultimately, Foles was able to confess, “I’m not just a football player. I’m a child of God who happens to be called to play football, using the gifts and abilities he has blessed me with. And that’s a huge distinction” (87).
Grasping this identity in Christ allowed him to fall in love with football again. He realized that fulfillment doesn’t come from career status, or stats, but in being found in Christ. He humbly came back as a backup in Philly and well, the rest is history…
There’s numerous great stories within these easy to read pages. I watched it all unfold on the screen, but Foles gives us the background, fly on the wall information. Like the time right after Carson Wentz was injured and as he was out incognito at a S. Jersey restaurant he overhead people talking about how the season was done. And then a few weeks latter while in Philly the quietly were eating and as they left the entire restaurant stood up to cheer him on. There are a lot of great little moments like that. One of my favorites is his story from his first stint in Philly when he interacted with some workers when he truck was towed. It sums up Philly perfectly!
He also briefly talks about how he is the only quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, become the Super Bowl MVP and then go back to being a backup. He writes, “My unique path from backup to Super Bowl MVP to backup again is a powerful message to share with people, and God has given me an ideal platform to do that from. To cheerfully return to a backup role after reaching the pinnacle of the sport contradicts everything the world tells us about success, fame, money, and self-worth. To me, it’s a tangible reminder that we are called to humility and to a life of service” (216). He proceeds to quote Rom. 12:3, but his actions also remind me of John the Baptist who said of Jesus: “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30).
If I could level one complaint I would have liked a clearer presentation of God’s holiness and humanity’s sin. Then the gospel would make more sense. The book inadvertently left the subtle impression that God saves us from our failures. While that is true, salvation is so much more.
We are under the wrath of God because our sinfulness offends God’s holiness. Christ bore our sin and endured the wrath of God in our place. We deserved what Christ received. He bore our penalty. He satisfied God’s wrath and justice. He died in our place. Now we are freely justified. We are right in God’s eyes. All of this flows from the shed blood of Christ.
I wish that was clearer, but otherwise I was thankful that throughout the book Foles doesn’t shy away from presenting Christ. I also appreciate how he focused often on finding his identity in Christ. He ends the books with talking about his identity in Christ. That is what defines him. It’s not the media, it’s not being a Super Bowl MVP, it’s being in Christ. And that makes all the difference.
He writes, “So, who am I? I am a football player… but that only begins to describe me. I am a quarterback… but my true identity is found in Christ. I am able to win big games… but all glory goes to God. I am a Super Bowl MVP… but my worth doesn’t come from trophies or awards. I am weak and prone to failure… but my Savior covers me in his perfection. I am Nick Foles, a follower of Christ… who just happens to play football at the moment” (233-234).
Faith’s Playbook is also worth checking out as it interviews more of the team as they talk about their faith in Christ and how that impacts who they are as people.
I am hopeful for 2018 but at the same time as Foles reminds us: it’s not ultimately about football but living for the glory of God.
January 21, 2019
Nick Foles is a man of great talent, humility, and faith. I could be considered biased as an Eagles fan, but I was drawn to this book because of Nick as a person—how he gracefully and humbly presents himself to the media and in his career.
The book reads YA. His voice is charmingly simple and accessible for readers of all ages.
You don’t have to be Christian to read this book, but you should respect how one’s spirituality greatly impacts their life and how they live it. Dispersed throughout are Nick’s favorite Bible verses and his constant reflections with God when he is unsure and afraid of what’s to come. As a Christian myself, I was moved by his dedication to glorifying the Lord through his work and service to others and his endless gratitude to God for everything in his life: his career, his family, his wife & child. He never boasts in his accomplishments, but instead thanks God for the opportunities to do what makes his life joyful and worth living.
But for those without a religious faith, Nick’s story still holds some very important messages that resonate universally, especially finding strength in human weakness to overcome adversity.
The book reads YA. His voice is charmingly simple and accessible for readers of all ages.
You don’t have to be Christian to read this book, but you should respect how one’s spirituality greatly impacts their life and how they live it. Dispersed throughout are Nick’s favorite Bible verses and his constant reflections with God when he is unsure and afraid of what’s to come. As a Christian myself, I was moved by his dedication to glorifying the Lord through his work and service to others and his endless gratitude to God for everything in his life: his career, his family, his wife & child. He never boasts in his accomplishments, but instead thanks God for the opportunities to do what makes his life joyful and worth living.
But for those without a religious faith, Nick’s story still holds some very important messages that resonate universally, especially finding strength in human weakness to overcome adversity.
May 13, 2020
I miss Philly sports!!! I loved re-living the 2017 season. But what I enjoyed even more were the themes he constantly brought to the forefront of his journey: there is strength in showing weakness, don’t focus on what other people think of you, and at the end of the day family is what is most important.
August 9, 2020
I’m normally not a fan of nonfiction and I’m certainly NOT a fan of the Eagles, but this book captured my attention. It’s beautifully written and encompasses a story of what it truly means to be resilient and humble. While I’m still not an Eagles fan, I’m officially a Nick Foles fan.
October 11, 2018
2019456
Don’t Stop Believin’
In Nick Foles’, “Believe It” the non-fiction novel narrated by Joshua Cooley and published in 2018, he talks about his life of success, failure, and EVERYTHING in between; overcoming the odds. This is all done in a chronological order of events, from the beginning of his NFL career to the present. The main idea of this novel mirrors the title; believe it. This is shown through the well threaded theme of, you just have to believe. Another one of the main ideas is also covered on the back cover of the novel and that is, “You’re never more dangerous than when everyone’s counting you out” (Foles/Cooley). Each section throughout this novel holds a defining moment within Nick Foles’ life. One of my favorite quotes form this novel is, “In a way, being in the zone is kind of the football equivalent of trusting God. Instead of overthinking everything or trying to take everything on yourself, you turn it over to God and let him carry the weight. You do your part, and then you trust God to do the rest. You get through the hard times by leaning on God to sustain you. That’s the amazing thing about faith: when you’re at your weakest, that’s when God shows his strength” (Foles/Cooley). I related to this quote a lot because I am a football athlete and a follower of God, but even if you are neither, there is always someone in your life to whom you can lean on. Joshua Cooley is writing in the 3rd person, but still telling it as if Nick Foles was telling it. That is what makes this novel so unique because it is almost as if you are sitting in a room one on one with Nick Foles and he is just voicing his entire life to you. This helps the audience continue to be engaged, but on the other hand, it would be even better if it was 1st person, straight from Nick Foles. The tone of this novel is 100% inspirational! Joshua Cooley, writing from the 3rd person about Nick Foles, is super descriptive and illustrates the stories very well within the mind. All throughout this novel there are times were the audience feels as if they are in these moments and in these situations. Which affects the audience in a positive way because it makes the audience feel the struggle, the content, and the triumph; reassuring to ALWAYS believe. If there was one novel from 2018 that I would recommend, it would be this 10/10 read. Many can connect with this novel, however being an athlete, in the football arena to be specific, it deepens your connection to the stories, moments, and situations. It gives the audience a sign of hope within ones self. It also motivates them to be driven in life in order to be successful. Being able to relate to this novel made it that much more enjoyable to read. Therefore, if you want an inspiring, motivational, engaging, quick read; then read Joshua Cooley’s interpretation of Nick Foles’ life in, “Believe It”. And always remember...Don’t Stop Believin’!
(Word Count : 615)
Don’t Stop Believin’
In Nick Foles’, “Believe It” the non-fiction novel narrated by Joshua Cooley and published in 2018, he talks about his life of success, failure, and EVERYTHING in between; overcoming the odds. This is all done in a chronological order of events, from the beginning of his NFL career to the present. The main idea of this novel mirrors the title; believe it. This is shown through the well threaded theme of, you just have to believe. Another one of the main ideas is also covered on the back cover of the novel and that is, “You’re never more dangerous than when everyone’s counting you out” (Foles/Cooley). Each section throughout this novel holds a defining moment within Nick Foles’ life. One of my favorite quotes form this novel is, “In a way, being in the zone is kind of the football equivalent of trusting God. Instead of overthinking everything or trying to take everything on yourself, you turn it over to God and let him carry the weight. You do your part, and then you trust God to do the rest. You get through the hard times by leaning on God to sustain you. That’s the amazing thing about faith: when you’re at your weakest, that’s when God shows his strength” (Foles/Cooley). I related to this quote a lot because I am a football athlete and a follower of God, but even if you are neither, there is always someone in your life to whom you can lean on. Joshua Cooley is writing in the 3rd person, but still telling it as if Nick Foles was telling it. That is what makes this novel so unique because it is almost as if you are sitting in a room one on one with Nick Foles and he is just voicing his entire life to you. This helps the audience continue to be engaged, but on the other hand, it would be even better if it was 1st person, straight from Nick Foles. The tone of this novel is 100% inspirational! Joshua Cooley, writing from the 3rd person about Nick Foles, is super descriptive and illustrates the stories very well within the mind. All throughout this novel there are times were the audience feels as if they are in these moments and in these situations. Which affects the audience in a positive way because it makes the audience feel the struggle, the content, and the triumph; reassuring to ALWAYS believe. If there was one novel from 2018 that I would recommend, it would be this 10/10 read. Many can connect with this novel, however being an athlete, in the football arena to be specific, it deepens your connection to the stories, moments, and situations. It gives the audience a sign of hope within ones self. It also motivates them to be driven in life in order to be successful. Being able to relate to this novel made it that much more enjoyable to read. Therefore, if you want an inspiring, motivational, engaging, quick read; then read Joshua Cooley’s interpretation of Nick Foles’ life in, “Believe It”. And always remember...Don’t Stop Believin’!
(Word Count : 615)
January 27, 2024
Wow, so so good. Who would have knew that a nerdy writer would get so into sports books?
Nick's faith, his grit, and his growth throughout the course of this football story inspired and convicted me. I even have found myself softening toward Philly, and let me tell you, as a Chiefs fan that's not easy to do. I especially loved Nick letting us see behind the scenes in the NFL; I learned so much more about how the orginization works and what a regular work day looks like for NFL players. It ain't as easy as we think, folks. For fellow Chiefs fans, Foles played one season as a backup quarterback in Kansas City, and it's super fun to hear him talk about life as a member of the Red Kingdom. You get to read behind the scenes conversations with Andy Reid and hear about the early achievements that were going on with the players we all know and love.
Highly recommended for football fans looking for a good, clean read, and highly HIGHLY recommended for young Christian sports players. Foles has an important message we all need to hear and remember.
Content warnings: none
Age recommendation: 13 and up
Nick's faith, his grit, and his growth throughout the course of this football story inspired and convicted me. I even have found myself softening toward Philly, and let me tell you, as a Chiefs fan that's not easy to do. I especially loved Nick letting us see behind the scenes in the NFL; I learned so much more about how the orginization works and what a regular work day looks like for NFL players. It ain't as easy as we think, folks. For fellow Chiefs fans, Foles played one season as a backup quarterback in Kansas City, and it's super fun to hear him talk about life as a member of the Red Kingdom. You get to read behind the scenes conversations with Andy Reid and hear about the early achievements that were going on with the players we all know and love.
Highly recommended for football fans looking for a good, clean read, and highly HIGHLY recommended for young Christian sports players. Foles has an important message we all need to hear and remember.
Content warnings: none
Age recommendation: 13 and up
November 2, 2018
This wil be a very biased review because I love both the Eagles and Nick Foles. I could always tell by his humility and quiet demeanor that Foles was a man of character. He is also a hero to all Eagles fans. This book tells Nick's story from his beginnings to his MVP Super Bowl win...his love of sports and family and religion. His life has not been as he planned..his year at Michigan State was not successful, but that led to a transfer and considerable professional (and personal) success. Nick Foles' football career has been mixed but he landed where he was supposed to be and he did the job he was meant to do. I loved the "behind the scenes" stories toward the Eagles Super Bowl and I loved re-living the Eagles magical year. This is a tremendous story of the value hard work and of believing in yourself.
September 19, 2018
3.5 Stars
The life and career of Super Bowl LVII MVP, Nick Foles, of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Disclosure – I like football and I live in Philly. That being said, it was an amazing story not only of an incredible athlete but of Nick’s faith. You see so many negative stories about players in various sports with so much talent yet they offset this with bad boy behavior. I hate when an athlete is referred to as a “hero”. At best, they are a role model and, in Nick’s case, an inspiration to the power of faith and devotion to his family.
2018(52)
The life and career of Super Bowl LVII MVP, Nick Foles, of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Disclosure – I like football and I live in Philly. That being said, it was an amazing story not only of an incredible athlete but of Nick’s faith. You see so many negative stories about players in various sports with so much talent yet they offset this with bad boy behavior. I hate when an athlete is referred to as a “hero”. At best, they are a role model and, in Nick’s case, an inspiration to the power of faith and devotion to his family.
2018(52)
July 4, 2018
Details the challenges in his career and personal life, and overcoming those challenges which he attributes to his faith. Some personal moments, some sharing of his Christian faith, and lots and lots of football.
A quick read and easy to follow.
A quick read and easy to follow.
August 23, 2018
4.5 stars . Related to the fact that his wife has pots as I do too . Very inspirational book but some of the football talk was beyond me
August 26, 2018
Quick read. Well-written, and a must for all Eagles fans. 8.24.28-8.26.18
September 8, 2022
I’m on the high end of 3.5 stars for this so I’m rounding up. A lot of good football discussions and good life takeaways, even if you aren’t as devout as Foles is.
July 17, 2019
Nick Foles (with the help of the publishing company) captures his story, tracing his path of ups and downs to his resounding success as Super Bowl MVP, in a thoughtful, entertaining and well-written narrative that puts the reader right next to him through his journey. A devout Christian, he interjects quotes that helped him at critical times in addition to well-timed humor. A great read for fans of the Eagles and Nick.
January 28, 2019
I grew up in Philadelphia, where football is everything. I enjoy football, root for the Eagles, I like Nick Foles, but this book made me LOVE Nick Foles. The way he writes and explains his entire journey gave me goosebumps. I will give a fair warning, his story has a lot of Christ involved. If you aren't a fan of religion, you may want to put this book aside.
January 23, 2019
Nick Foles’ transparency in his life journey up until the first part of 2018 is very well worth the read. I highly recommend this book regardless if you are a football fan or not. Young people especially would come away with a much different message from this book than what they’re bombarded with in today’s society.
January 26, 2019
Excellent story of Nick's walk with the Lord. Great insight into the Eagles Superbowl win. Highly recommend it.
February 20, 2019
Loved reading this book, super view of the 2017 Super Bowl run for the Philadelphia Eagles plus a wonderful inside perspective from the Eagles star QB, Nick Foles. Was s great book for learning about Nick and his personal journey to the Super Bowl and how his Christian faith plays a big role in his life. Highly recommend!
August 8, 2025
EAGLES- fly 🦅fly!
Loved the book! Met Nick when he signed my book.
Loved the book! Met Nick when he signed my book.
January 17, 2019
I’m a Philly native, former D1 athlete, bookworm with POTS....pretty sure this book was made for me! Nick is downright one of the best people in the league and his story is so great because it’s so different than what we see from most professional athletes. He highlights his failures, his doubts in himself and the game and his weakest points and even when he triumphs he doesn’t want the credit. Cooley did a great job with this book, too, and I’m definitely going to seek out more of his work.
Read
September 19, 2019I really enjoy this book because it really shows what struggles Nick Foles had and how he worked through them. I also liked this book because it gives a play by play of how the games go. Thirdly, it gives a perspective of how hard it is to find time for extra stuff when you play professional football.
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