The Only Man from Newton with a Super Bowl Ring
- by Eric Arnold
- newtoncardinalsfootball.com
Eric Simpson is a 1987 graduate of Newton High School. He didn't play football. Yet he is the only man known from Newton to have earned a Super Bowl Ring. Eric is a Pastor at Eagle Church near Indianapolis, and is a Chaplain for the Colts.
"I Started working with the Colts in ’95-‘96 season. Some players started coming to Eagle, we hosted some Christmas activities that involved some of the players. Through that Ken Johnson (Chaplain with the Colts for 20 years) and I got to know each other and I offered to help him if he ever needed extra hands to do some things. Ken’s full-time work has him travel nationally quite a bit, so he asked if I could start assisting him with bible studies, chapels, counseling needs, etc. Year by year its progressed to where Ken and I are referred to as the “Chaplains” of the team. During the season its about 15-20 hours per week plus travel to the away games, which Ken and I split up to help spread the load. Eagle has been very supportive of my involvement through the years."
Typical week’s activities for Eric with the Colts is...
- Tuesday Morning: Coaches bible study (approx. 10 coaches are a part of this)
- Friday noon: Front-office bible study (all the non-football staff of the organization, admin, marketing, systems, mailroom staff...etc, approx. 6 people are a part of this)
- Friday afternoon: Players bible study (takes place at the complex right after Friday’s practice. 10-15 players participate.
- Chapel: The night before the game at the team hotel is a 30 minute message focused on various aspects of developing a growing spiritual life.
- Mentoring/Counseling: Pre-marital counseling, marriage counseling, individual spiritual coaching...etc.
- Hospital visits: Praying with guys who are injured before and after surgery.
Obviously Eric (or "Rev" as I call him) was a member of the Colts Super Bowl XLI win. The team owner, Jim Irsay, made sure everyone that was part of the organization received a ring. From the custodian in the front office, to secretaries, players, coaches, and yes the Chaplain's. Eric is 6'-2" and weighs about 170, so he's a slender guy. When asked how it feels to have a Super Bowl Ring Eric said, “that ring...and this physique...only God.”
- The Ring
The Rev and his brother Brad kissing the Lombardi Trophy.... eat your heart out Dan Marino!
Brad was a Defensive Lineman on the 1988 Newton Cardinals Runner-Up Team.
The Rev and Coach Tony Dungy Brad, Eric, and their Dad, Randy Simpson
Brad & Randy with Bob Sanders That's me trying on the Ring!
