An event where sports, faith and inspiration converge to impact lives. 

Arise with the Guys brings together professional athletes and sports figures sharing inspirational life stories.

It's not just about sports. It's about life, intentionality, and positively influencing others.

2024 Lineup

Get ready for a special Arise With The  Guys featuring NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy and three special teams players, including this year's Uncommon Award recipient: 

2024 Uncommon Award Winner

Matthew Slater is a 3x Super Bowl winner, newly retired longtime Patriots special teams leader, 10 Pro Bowl selections 5 All-Pro team selections, and future Hall of Famer.

Special Teams Lineup

  • Matthew Slater, a.k.a. the “GOAT” of NFL special teams
  • CJ Ham, Minnesota Vikings running back and team captain
  • David Tyree, All-pro Super Bowl-winning wide receiver and special teams ace for the New York Giants

Previous uncommon award winners

Kevin Warren (2023)

Ben Roethlisberger (2022)

Dabo Swinney (2021)

Ben Utecht (2019)

Case Keenum (2018)

Peyton Manning (2017)

Thomas Davis (2016)

Marcus Mariota (2015)

James Brown (2014)

Ken Sparks (2013)

what does it mean to be uncommon?

The mandate to be Uncommon actually came to me from three different sources. The first was my dad. When I was growing up, he always talked to us about not following the crowd and not doing something just because everyone else was doing it. He encouraged us to chase our own dreams, even if it meant being ridiculed for being different.

When I arrived at the University of Minnesota as a freshman football player, my coach, Cal Stoll, built upon my dad’s theme. In our first meeting, he said, “Success is uncommon, therefore not to be enjoyed by the common man.” He told us he was looking for men who had the attitude and desire to do what everyone else could do, but most people wouldn’t.

The third, and most important source of the Uncommon idea was the Bible. One of my mom’s favorite scriptures was Matthew 7:13-14 where Jesus talks about entering through the narrow gate and traveling the narrow path rather than the broad highway. He was talking about salvation and the way to heaven, but I think it applies to life as well.

We should never be afraid to take the tough road, to follow a higher calling, or set a higher standard. In short, we should never be satisfied with being average, but should strive to be Uncommon.

- Tony Dungy