Star Catcher: The Secret Weapon of the Los Angeles Rams

The gleaming canopy of SoFi Stadium cuts a jaunty jib in Inglewood’s skyline these days. Opened in September of 2020, it’s part stadium, part entertainment complex and part modern-day coliseum for the gridiron warriors of Los Angeles.

In just a few weeks SoFi will also play host to Super Bowl LVI. The stadium provides the perfect backdrop for this glamourous showcase, with its shiny curves, and wind-swept promenades and boxes filled with entertainment’s premiere glitterati.

Sadly, all of this lipstick does little to mask the problems that continue to plague the National Football League. For all of its eye-popping ratings and sky-high salaries, professional football has endured more than its fair share of black eyes. Concerns regarding the lingering effects of repeated head trauma, reports of players accused of domestic violence and incidents involving drug and alcohol abuse are all too prevalent. Some wonder how the stress of playing in the NFL affects the mental health of its fearless combatants. In a league known for its toughness, seeking out support seems counter-cultural at best, unfathomable at worst. So, who catches our local stars when the going gets tough?

Kevin Nickerson, that’s who.

Nickerson has served as the team chaplain for the Los Angeles Rams since 2016. He is a true insider, having played seven years of professional football between stints in the CFL and AFL. But the chance to bring his ministerial gifts to the sidelines is an even more unlikely tale, an opportunity Nickerson actually dreamed into existence.

After falling asleep on the couch one evening, he awoke in the middle of the night to a television announcer reporting the Rams were moving to Los Angeles. Before rolling over, Nickerson recalled thinking it would be great to serve as the team’s chaplain. A few months later, the vice president of the western region of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes phoned. Out of the blue, he asked Nickerson if he would be interested in assisting with the Rams’ chaplaincy program. He readily agreed to the supporting role, stunned at his good fortune.

But then his luck took another turn. When the team’s initial choice to lead the chaplaincy fell through, Nickerson offered to help interview a…