Ex-Viking Anthony Bass stays busy with seven kids, five degrees and one church

The former safety’s brief NFL career, which involved defending Randy Moss and Cris Carter at practice, proved to be merely a step on a ladder ascending to a greater purpose.

Anthony Bass paced the room slowly with his eyes fixed on the floor. He had the look of someone deep in thought. A band rehearsed next to him, but Bass kept pacing, kept reflecting.

As a younger man, he spent his workdays trying to prevent Randy Moss and Cris Carter from catching passes. Every practice presented a test of his athletic acumen and competitiveness. The career path that Bass navigates now — the reason he was pacing last Sunday morning organizing his thoughts — involves more than a singular focus.

“At this stage of my life,” he said, “I would say preaching is more challenging, because the stakes are eternal.”

He is known as Pastor Bass to members of Endurance Church in Brooklyn Park. Yes, they also know him as the former Vikings defensive back. But his brief NFL career from 1998-99 proved to be merely a step on a ladder ascending to a greater purpose. That is, a new life in an adopted state that has been made richer because Bass decided to put down roots.

“The thing about Minnesota is that it has a heart to help,” he said. “It opened doors for me.”

Once doors opened, Bass burst inside eager for new challenges.

The West Virginia native returned to the Twin Cities after his playing career to start a church and serve as its pastor. His other job is vice president of the American Cancer Society for Minnesota and the Dakotas. Bass raises money for research and patient support.

Somewhere in there he found time to earn four advanced degrees — three masters and a doctorate. The most recent came in May when he received a doctorate in urban education and leadership from Hamline at age 51.

Bass also has seven children ages 6 to 22, including a son who will be a freshman on the Bethel football team in the fall.

Oh, and he’s written three books that he’s considering self-publishing.

“I wish I had his capacity,” said local executive Rachelle Holm, who once hired Bass as a corporate fundraiser for Greater Twin Cities United Way. “I wish I could bottle it and sell it, because I would be a billionaire.”

Some people compare a hectic schedule to spinning plates. Bass prefers a different analogy.

“I think I’m on a tightrope,” he said, “and I’m always trying to center myself.”

NFL career brings clarity

Several seminal moments in Bass’ life steered him onto that tightrope.

One happened in college at Bethune-Cookman in Florida. The football team gathered for a postgame celebration at a club. A fight broke out. Football players jumped in, including Bass. A teammate named Eric Sanford got stabbed and died. He was standing in the spot Bass had just left.

Bass remembers returning to his room that night and committing his life to faith. That moment changed “everything,” he says.

He made it to the NFL as an undrafted free agent. He had played against Moss in high school in West Virginia and joined him with the Vikings in the same year, 1998.

Bass was fast and showed good range as a safety, but he admits he was never fully himself after suffering a serious groin injury in college. He made three starts in 17 games over two seasons, with most of his playing time coming in 1999.

His time with the Vikings brought another moment of clarity. Former coach Dennis Green encouraged players to volunteer in the community on their Tuesday off day during the season. Bass joined Green at an appearance one week. It was his first time doing philanthropic work. Green was impressed by how naturally Bass interacted with people.

“I remember him saying, ‘You’re really good at this,’” Bass said.

He then paused for effect before delivering the punchline.

“He also said, ‘you’re a football player,’ and the next year I got cut,” Bass said with a laugh. “But nevertheless, I said, ‘There’s more here.’ I felt my life moving that direction.”

He returned to the East Coast to finish his undergraduate degree, then earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Divinity. He learned the Greek and Hebrew languages.

Life became complicated. He had a hard time finding employment. He got divorced. Through connections he made in the Twin Cities as an NFL player, Bass returned in 2010 to start a church. He also began working for different nonprofit organizations whose missions are to help those in need.

He remarried and had four sons that joined a daughter and two sons from his first marriage in a blended family. He made more business connections, pursued more education, kept walking that tightrope. He earned a Master of Public Affairs from the U.

Retired corporate IT executive Jeff Mader helped Bass get hired by the American Cancer Society. Mader admits being skeptical initially. Since Bass also served as a pastor, Mader wondered if the ACS would “get his full attention.” Those concerns disappeared quickly.

Those two have become so close that Mader, who suffers from stage 4 kidney cancer, asked Bass to lead his celebration of life when the time comes.

“He’s very inspirational, very genuine,” Mader said.

Preaching at Endurance Church

Hamline University officials invited Bass to deliver the graduate student speech at their commencement ceremonies in May after he completed his doctorate. His wife, Dawniqua, had a different request.

“She was like, ‘Oh, now you’re going to get your JD [Juris Doctor]?’ ” he said. “I’m like, ‘No, babe, no. If I was 10 years younger, then maybe.’ ”

He believes a person should seek “constant growth,” but his life is busy enough without adding more schooling to it.

Bass preaches at nondenominational Endurance Church most Sundays. The congregation typically averages around 50 members, with more watching virtually. His delivery at the altar is charismatic and relatable. His sermon includes moments of humor but also a sincerity that is powerful.

He paces the room before members arrive “thinking through how to communicate the message as clearly and faithfully as possible.”

His four youngest boys are home-schooled, which requires strong teamwork with his wife given Bass’ desire to be bivocational. He always wanted to hold two jobs, with his ministry being one of them.

Bass had his children in mind when he chose his doctoral dissertation topic: Does a person’s cultural persuasion impact one’s success?

“So if they seek an executive career,” he said, “what is a blueprint to be effective?”

They also could look at his life for that answer.

Bass’ time with the Vikings was brief, hardly long enough to feel settled. He found a home later because his old coach was right. He is good at what came after football.

STRIB