Every NFL player dreams of leading their team to a Super Bowl victory.
The thrill of 70,000 fans cheering in the stadium and the pride felt among teammates after a win must be an unforgettable experience.
On Sunday, February 9, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce will strive to achieve Kansas City Chiefs’ third win in a row as they compete against the Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome.
As one of the most significant sporting events globally, Forbes reports that nearly 120 million spectators are anticipated to watch the game, with Taylor Swift and President Donald Trump among those present.
The inaugural Super Bowl was held 58 years ago.
During that event in 1967, the Green Bay Packers, led by Ray Nitschke, secured a 35-10 victory over the Chiefs at the LA Memorial Coliseum in California.
The Packers maintained their champion status for the second consecutive year by defeating the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in the 1968 Super Bowl at Miami, Florida’s Orange Bowl.
However, the Packers’ history might have been very different if linebacker Nitschke hadn’t survived a strange accident years earlier.
In 1960, while training at the team’s practice field under coach Vince Lombardi, Nitschke narrowly escaped death.
During a morning practice session, he donned his helmet to protect himself from the sudden rain.
This decision ultimately saved his life.
Soon after, a powerful gust of wind toppled a 25-foot steel coaching tower, pinning Nitschke to the ground.
A protruding steel bolt pierced his helmet just above his left temple, as reported by The Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Without his helmet, Nitschke would likely have suffered a fatal head injury.
His teammates helped lift the 2,000-pound (900 kg) structure off him.
When Coach Lombardi was informed of the incident, he reportedly remarked, “He’ll be fine. Get back to work!”
Nitschke emerged largely unharmed, with only a twisted ankle and a hole in his helmet.
Despite this, he continued with the day’s practice.
The helmet, complete with its hole, is now displayed in the Packer Hall of Fame in Green Bay.
A year after the incident, Nitschke married Jackie Forchette, and they later adopted three children together.
In 1978, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, remaining loyal to the Packers throughout his 15-year career.
Nitschke played a key role in leading the Packers to five NFL championships, including two historic Super Bowl wins.
He passed away from a heart attack at age 61 in Venice, Florida, in 1998.