Football coach Joe Kennedy said he hopes to inspire others as his journey to the Supreme Court to defend his First Amendment rights hits the big screen this weekend.
Average Joe debuts across theaters nationwide this Friday, detailing his life story that includes a rough childhood in foster care, serving in the Marine Corps, becoming a football coach, receiving disciplinary action for kneeling in prayer at the 50-yard line after a high school game, and eight years of legal battles that almost ended his marriage but resulted in a favorable Supreme Court decision acknowledging his First Amendment right of religious expression.
“I’ve been trying to come up with better words, but it’s really weird. It’s exciting at the same time,” Kennedy told the Washington Examiner, commenting on his anticipation of the film telling his story. “It’s really scary to have our whole lives on screen. My wife has been really shielded this entire time from the press. Now everybody’s going to know all of our business. We don’t hide anything. We show the nitty-gritty of life and the struggles that people go through.”
“It’s cool that God can use somebody as simple as us to share a story and begin to inspire others,” he added. “I’m just trying to keep my head down and let God do his work and hopefully inspire others to be able to share their faith and their love for their country.”
Kennedy said 2 Timothy 4:7 was a grounding reminder for him on the long legal road that eventually led to the Supreme Court.
“It says fight the good fight, finish your race, and remain faithful. And that’s all I could do because nowhere in there does it say that you will win the fight. That’s God’s victory. He’s already got that all worked out. We just need to be able to fight the fight and remain faithful throughout it,” Kennedy said. “And when things look at their darkest, that’s when you get to have your light shine and be able to push through because you will be able to make it through. Just stay grounded and never ever give up the things that are important.”
Kennedy was the assistant varsity football coach for Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. He was fired for praying on the field after games in 2015. After a legal battle, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Kennedy’s case in January 2022. Around six months later, on June 27, the Supreme Court announced its decision in the coach’s favor.
“It was really just the weight of the world being lifted off of my shoulders. The way that the lower courts ruled is that any display of religion in the public square could get you terminated, and that was going to be the standing case law, which was terrible,” Kennedy said. “I wish I could say it was a big celebration, but it wasn’t. It was finally, after eight years of fighting, knowing that what we were doing was right and that the legal system and the Constitution are alive and well and that the First Amendment means exactly what it says it is.”
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022, Kennedy was reinstated as an assistant football coach. He returned to the field to coach one game on Sept. 1, 2023.
Kennedy then resigned and now travels the country sharing his story in hopes of inspiring others and promoting the freedom of speech.
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Average Joe, distributed by GND Media Group, stars Eric Close of Nashville and American Sniper as Kennedy alongside Amy Acker of Catch Me If You Can as Kennedy’s wife, Denise.
Kennedy’s book, also titled Average Joe, was released in October 2023.