College Football Star Signs ‘Jesus Loves You’ after TD, Sparking Google Searches
A college football star’s high-profile celebration this week – signing “Jesus loves you” in American Sign Language – ignited a surge in Google searches from curious fans and once again showed the impact athletes can have on the wider culture.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. of the Miami Hurricanes gave the ASL sign for “Jesus loves you” to ESPN cameras moments after scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run in Monday’s college football national championship game, cutting Indiana’s lead to 17-14. Fletcher’s team lost 27-21 – but he nevertheless left a lasting impression on countless viewers.
In fact, he made the sign not once but twice after the touchdown.
Mark Fletcher Jr. doubling down for the Canes 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8Uy6ULv7eq
— ESPN (@espn) January 20, 2026
Google Trends data revealed a sudden surge in searches for “Jesus loves you sign language” in the hours after Fletcher’s celebration – a spike that continued over the next several days, presumably due to social media sharing of the video.
Faith has played a greater role in Fletcher’s life since his father, Mark Fletcher Sr., passed away unexpectedly in October 2024, sending him into a period of deep grief. He considered his father his biggest fan, his best friend, and his role model. They texted every morning. That day, his father didn’t text back.
He learned the news of his father’s death while inside the team’s facility before running outside and collapsing on a field in tears. Head coach Mario Cristobal chased after him, joined by running backs coach Matt Merritt and other members of the staff. They wanted him to know he would not walk through the pain alone.
“If they wouldn’t have chased after me, I don’t know what I would have done in that moment, honestly,” Fletcher told Hurricanes Magazine. “So, thank God for them. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do. They just had to really hold me and thank God for them.”
Fletcher led Miami in 2025 in rushing (1,192 yards) and rushing touchdowns (12). Asked what he’s learned in the past two years about his faith, he replied, “God never leaves you.”
“You might be going through the storm, might be going through some adversity, but he'll never leave you,” he told Sports Illustrated. “You just always got to have that faith. And you've got to appreciate the bad times just as much as the good times because the good times will come around again. But you've got to go through the bad a little bit so you can really appreciate those good times. But, no, God will never leave you. Just always have that faith.”
Fletcher – who previously announced he will return for his senior season in 2026 – is but one of several athletes who have used their platforms to sign “Jesus loves you” in ASL in recent years. Running back TreVeyon Henderson did the same when he was at Ohio State during a nationally televised playoff game against Tennessee, signing the phrase toward television cameras after scoring a touchdown.
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Photo Credit: ©X / ESPN
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published January 21, 2026.
