Jake Locker was the definition of hometown hero: the quarterback of the 2005 Washington State high school champions at Ferndale High, who then chose to stay local and play at the University of Washington.

His reputation as a good-natured, humble leader followed him everywhere. But, as the pressure of meeting the high standards he set for himself and keeping up his persona amidst a losing season at UW, Jake began to seek unhealthy avenues to escape.

Through the personal investment of his teammate, Matt Hasselbeck, the example of unconditional love set by his father throughout his childhood, and the patience of his wife, Jake discovered that through his faith in God, he could finally live authentically.

And ultimately, his faith convictions pulled him to make a difficult decision with total peace: leave the game of football to invest in his family.

Jake Locker was the definition of hometown hero: the quarterback of the 2005 Washington State high school champions at Ferndale High, who then chose to stay local and play at the University of Washington.
His reputation as a good-natured, humble leader followed him everywhere. But, as the pressure of meeting the high standards he set for himself and keeping up his persona amidst a losing season at UW, Jake began to seek unhealthy avenues to escape.
Through the personal investment of his teammate, Matt Hasselbeck, the example of unconditional love set by his father throughout his childhood, and the patience of his wife, Jake discovered that&nbsp;through his faith in God, he could finally live authentically.
And ultimately, his faith convictions pulled him to make a difficult decision with total peace: leave the game of football to invest in his family.

Too often an athlete’s faith is limited to a sound bite. On Above & Beyond, former Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Seattle Sports host Brock Huard talks one-on-one about trials and triumphs, struggles and perseverance. Listen to intimate stories about how champions dealt with their greatest professional adversities. It’s stories of faith beyond just a sound bite. Every two weeks. Season 2 out now!

Too often an athlete’s faith is limited to a sound bite. On Above &amp; Beyond, former Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Seattle Sports host Brock Huard talks one-on-one about trials and triumphs, struggles and perseverance. Listen to intimate stories about how champions dealt with their greatest professional adversities. It’s stories of faith beyond just a sound bite. Every two weeks. Season 2 out now!

Brock Huard's Above & Beyond: The Intersection of Faith and Sports

Too often an athlete&rsquo;s faith is limited to a sound bite. On Above &amp; Beyond, former Seattle Seahawks quarterback and Seattle Sports host Brock Huard talks one-on-one about trials and triumphs, struggles and perseverance. Listen to intimate stories about how champions dealt with their greatest professional adversities. It&rsquo;s stories of faith beyond just a sound bite. Every two weeks. Season 2 out now!

Jake Locker was the definition of hometown hero: the quarterback of the 2005 Washington State high school champions at Ferndale High, who then chose to stay local and play at the University of Washington. His reputation as a good-natured, humble...

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