Before talking about football or his team’s season-opening game Monday against Houston, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees spoke to the media Thursday about his Christian faith. He felt the need to do so after being attacked and criticized in the media and on social media over a video he recorded to promote “Bring Your Bible To School Day.”

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

In the 22-second video posted by a “Bring Your Bible” YouTube channel run by the Christian organization Focus On The Family, Brees opened by sharing his favorite verse, 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we live by faith, not by sight.” He then said, “I want to encourage you to live out your faith on Bring Your Bible To School Day, and share God’s love with friends. You’re not alone.”

Brees was subsequently criticized by some media outlets, one of which, according to ESPN, used a headline that read, “Drew Brees does video for anti-gay hate group.”

Before speaking with the media Thursday, Brees posted his own video to set the record straight:

Hopefully this sets the record straight with who I am and what I stand for. Love, Respect, and Accept ALL. I encourage you not to believe the negativity you read that says differently. It’s simply not true. Have a great day. pic.twitter.com/4RdTahE7EZ

— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) September 5, 2019

“I live by two very simple Christian fundamentals, and that is love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself,” Brees said in his posted video. “The first one is very self-explanatory. The second one, love your neighbor as yourself, what does that mean to me? It means love all, respect all and accept all. So that is actually how I live my life. That is what I try to do with my family, with my teammates, with people in my community, with my friends, all people. No matter your race, your color, your religious preference, your sexual orientation, your political beliefs, it doesn’t matter. So the fact that these rumors have been spread about me are completely untrue.”

In his media session, Brees expanded: “In the video, is there any mention of any group outside of just talking about national ‘Bring Your Bible to School Day’? … No, there wasn’t. It’s not written anywhere on it. I don’t say anything about it. The only thing I was promoting was encouraging kids to bring their Bibles to school on national ‘Bring Your Bible to School Day,’ to live out your faith with confidence, and I gave my favorite Bible verse.”

Focus on the Family’s stated mission is: “To cooperate with the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible by nurturing and defending the God-ordained institution of the family and promoting biblical truths worldwide.”

For more on Brees and his walk with the Lord, hear him share his testimony:

RELATED STORIES: — Saints’ Drew Brees keeping it light with QB challenges during training camp — Drew Brees becomes NFL’s all-time passing yards leader: ‘I’m just so grateful’ — Saints QB Drew Brees gives new prosthesis to high school quarterback — Saints’ Drew Brees accepted Christ in high school on his 17th birthday — Saints’ Demario Davis fighting for immigration rights: ‘We can’t afford to just play football’