Paul Putz

Jesse Jackson and the Christian Athlete Movement Remembering Rev. Jackson's place at the intersection of sports and Christianity

I wrote about Jesse Jackson's influence at the intersection of sports and Christianity

open.substack.com/pub/paulputz...

Jesse Jackson and the Christian Athlete Movement Remembering Rev. Jackson's place at the intersection of sports and Christianity

I wrote about Jesse Jackson's influence at the intersection of sports and Christianity

open.substack.com/pub/paulputz...

Me: I study the history of sports and Christianity. I’ve seen it all. Nothing would surprise.

Mississippi Baptist Pastor: Hold my grape juice.

(Full story here: mississippitoday.org/2026/02/13/t...)

Me: I study the history of sports and Christianity. I’ve seen it all. Nothing would surprise.

Mississippi Baptist Pastor: Hold my grape juice.

(Full story here: mississippitoday.org/2026/02/13/t...)

The Witness of the Black Church Rings Through NBA History - Christianity Today Over 75 years of the professional league—and for decades before—Black Christians brought a social conscience to basketball.

We know that James Naismith created basketball out of his desire to "win men for the master through the gym."

But did you also know that Black churches and Christian leaders shaped the early history of the game in key ways?

My @christianitytoday.com piece:
www.christianitytoday.com/2022/02/nba-...

How Football Shaped Christian Colleges - Christianity Today Three history books to read this month.

Love seeing my friend Hunter Hampton's new book on football get some attention!

Check out @johnfea1.bsky.social's review. And check out the book if you're into the study of religion and sports.

www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/book...

"Historiographically sophisticated, eminently readable, and narratively sound, The Spirit of the Game breaks new ground in the study of religion and sports in America."

Grateful to @readingreligion.bsky.social for this generous review of my book!

Read here: readingreligion.org/978019009106...

In a Tense Minnesota, Christians Help Immigrant Neighbors - Christianity Today As the Twin Cities reel from ICE arrests and the killing of Alex Pretti, churchgoers drive immigrants to work and doctor’s appointments.

my report today on what Twin Cities churches are trying to do in this moment: www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/ice-...

Coming this year, two new books that dive into the rise of sports gambling.

I’ll be reading these for sure. To fight back and resist the domination of sports gambling in our current moment, we need to understand how we got here.

Thanks so much for your generous words about my book! Was truly an honor.

Something I never would have expected: a conference panel devoted to my book.

Grateful for the careful engagement and thoughtful comments from these great scholars!

Thanks David!

Something I never would have expected: a conference panel devoted to my book.

Grateful for the careful engagement and thoughtful comments from these great scholars!

Ha! He should! Only a brief mention, but you will understand the history that made figures like him pop up all over the sports world in recent decades.

2025 was my first full year with a book out in the world.

My main takeaway: it is an incredibly rewarding thing to have careful readers who engage thoughtfully with your work.

Here’s a roundup of some of the reviews. Grateful for them all!

For sure. I get into the history and context of that broader story in my book!

a.co/d/iL1Gqeh

Happy release day to my friend Hunter Hampton!

After hearing him talk through the ideas behind this project for years, it’s so cool to see it out in the world. Lots of great material, with chapters on Notre Dame, BYU, Wheaton, Baylor, Wiley, and Liberty.

Weekend reading!

Religion, hoops, and history, there’s a very good chance I’m going to enjoy this.

Three of my favorite things combined in one interview: sports, Christianity, and the process of historical research.

Check it out here: fromthevault.wheaton.edu/2025/12/12/i...

Three of my favorite things combined in one interview: sports, Christianity, and the process of historical research.

Check it out here: fromthevault.wheaton.edu/2025/12/12/i...

I've got a book coming out in February on Dr. J, Moses Malone and the 1983 76ers. Preorder through the publisher and we'll send you free custom-made basketball cards of Dr. J and Moses. www.hachettebookgroup.com/grand-centra...

Who else is going to Boston this weekend for AAR/SBL?

Hit me up if you'll be around and want to connect. And if you're free Saturday, check out our "new books in sports and religion" panel.

Special moment for me this week. Got to celebrate receiving the Guittard Book Award at Baylor:

history.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/news/story/2...

When I started the book project, our two youngest weren’t even born yet.

Grateful for the incredible support my family has given me along the way!

A great mail day.

New book from two of my favorite sports historians. And Justin Giboney’s latest.

Can’t wait to dive in!

A great mail day.

New book from two of my favorite sports historians. And Justin Giboney’s latest.

Can’t wait to dive in!

Congrats!!! Well deserved—a great book.

Josh Levin has made some of my favorite narrative history podcasts (Slow Burn, One Year).

He has a new project that explores “history, sports, and the surprising threads that connect past and present.”

Give it a listen so @joshuablevin.bsky.social can make more!

open.substack.com/pub/replaybo...

If you are interested in the intersections of religion, college sports, and capitalism, then pre-order this book coming out December 1. It’s phenomenal.

Later this month I'll be at Wheaton College for a talk on my work as a historian of sports and Christianity in America.

If you're in the area, please join us! Or if you're not but you know someone who is, please spread the word.

More here: calendar.library.wheaton.edu/event/15257468

Weekend reading 📚