PITTSBURGH, Pa. — As a high school senior, Chris Hoke was determined to fill a mission for the Church despite warnings from his coach that leaving football for two years would ruin his playing career.
Chris also passed on a Fulbright scholarship to UCLA, instead accepting a scholarship at BYU, knowing the school would work around his mission plans.
After redshirting as a freshman at BYU, he served in the Belgium Brussels Mission. "My testimony grew, as did my knowledge of the gospel," he said, adding that serving a mission also put him in a position to win the love of his wife, Jaimee.
After playing for four years at BYU, he found himself in 2001 without a professional contract. As an undrafted free agent, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. For three seasons Hoke played in only one game, spending most of his time on the practice squad. He said he knew that during the next season he had to make something happen if he wanted to remain a Steeler.
That's when his lucky break came. Steelers Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton was injured and missed the last 10 games of the 2004 season. Hoke got his chance. He started the rest of the season as the team's run-defense steadily improved. Last June, he signed a three-year contract extension.
The 29-year-old father of three and member of the Pittsburgh 4th Ward, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania North Stake, couldn't be more excited about his team's recent Super Bowl win. Brother Hoke, who had a solo tackle in the game, said, "It's an amazing feeling. This is something I've dreamed about my whole life; it's an unbelievable sense of accomplishment."
While it took a lot of hard work and persistence to make the circuitous route to the peak of pro football, Brother Hoke has always taken a direct course where his commitment to the Church and his beliefs are concerned.
Speaking of his Steeler ward member, Bishop Ray Carter said, "Chris is an energetic, compassionate and friendly individual who wants to help everyone."
Brother Hoke is a priests quorum advisor. Bishop Carter said that when Brother Hoke teaches, "he knows how to use stories from his personal and professional life to drive home gospel principles to the young men. No one sleeps through Chris' class."
Sister Hoke is the ward's Young Women president.
Brother Hoke doesn't hesitate to use his football persona to draw Pittsburghers to stake events and has become quite involved in public affairs in the Pittsburgh area. Last spring, he autographed more than 200 Steelers jerseys, footballs, and photographs during the open house of the new Pittsburgh Pennsylvania North Stake Center. He, along with baseball great Vernon Law who starred with the Pittsburgh Pirates, spoke at an open house fireside attended by more than 400 members and their guests.
Brother Hoke said, "I feel blessed to be put in this position, and am fortunate to be able to work in whatever capacity I can to further the work of the Church."
