California Pastor Joins College Football Team at Age 47

Justin Buzzard, the 47-year-old lead pastor of Garden City Church in Los Gatos, California, has successfully earned a spot as a defensive end on the San Jose City College football team. Buzzard, who played football in high school and briefly in college before injuries ended his career, decided to pursue the opportunity after being inspired by a viral video of an older athlete joining a college team. He turns 48 in September.

Buzzard stated that his decision to return to the sport is rooted in his belief that God takes an interest in all aspects of life, including athletics. While he noted that his wife supports his participation in practice, she has expressed reservations about him playing in actual games. Despite the age gap between himself and his teammates, Buzzard reported that he has been welcomed by the squad and that he is treated with the same intensity as the younger players during training sessions.