Trust The Grind Athletes in the Super Bowl

The single-biggest sporting event in America. A pair of uprights, 100 yards of play, and one goal in mind: Outscore the opposition by game’s end to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. There’s nothing quite like the Super Bowl.

A shimmering, sharp-textured, unique coin is used to commemorate the moment. Distinctive patches are stitched into both teams’ threads, and illuminated lights flash throughout the clash. The crowd clamors as the clock ticks, and when there’s a break in the action, millions of fanatics at home consume creatively scripted commercials while enjoying their beverages of choice.

At halftime, the world’s most notable artists grace the stage to perform in front of countless onlookers. Over the years, we’ve seen icons like Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and more shine on the biggest platform.

The two teams who scratched and clawed their way to the spectacle are both eager to do whatever it takes to come out victorious. Whether that’s pushing through pain, motivating the men in the trenches with them with passionate declarations, or coming up big in the clutch, these warriors on the gridiron give it their all for immortal glory.

With Super Bowl LX on the horizon, I wanted to express my appreciation for the extravaganza by detailing my personal connection to it. As a pigskin enthusiast who has never missed a Super Bowl since becoming conscious, I’ve been fortunate to witness some sweet happenings in the championship game: Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning kick in Super Bowl XXXVI that sparked the Patriots dynasty, David Tyree’s Helmet Catch in Super Bowl XLII that helped the Giants destroy New England’s perfect season, Santonio Holmes’ toe-tap touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII to give Big Ben his 2nd ring, Tracy Porter’s pick-six in Super Bowl XLIV to seal the deal for the Saints, and Malcolm Butler’s improbable interception at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX, among many other notable plays.

Along with what I’ve seen as a fan, I’ve also had the privilege of creating content with a pair of Hall of Fame players who flashed their skills to the fullest when they were given the opportunity to play in the esteemed match. Both Terrell Owens and Devin Hester were featured in my debut book, Trust The Grind, and in their sections of the story, being a Super Bowl-obsessed fanatic, I made sure to dive into their epic performances.

T.O. entered Super Bowl XXXIX on one leg, but played in the game as if he was a superhero immune to physical pain. Toward the tail end of the regular season in 2004, Owens was taken down on a horse-collar tackle against the Dallas Cowboys, and as a result, sprained his ankle and fractured his fibula. Yet, that somehow wasn’t enough to keep him on the sidelines for the grand finale on the gridiron.

Due to the potential of a catastrophic career-ending injury occurring if he were to get hit the wrong way, Owens, ahead of the big game, was forced to sign a medical waiver to release the Eagles of any liability. T.O., who had missed the last two regular season games and all of the playoffs, put his trust in his higher power, signed the waiver with confidence, and balled out. Though Philly fell short in the game, Owens did his part. The iconic receiver, on one leg, caught nine passes for 122 yards, carrying out one of the most inspiring Super Bowl performances to date.

“Anything is possible if you keep faith…” – Terrell Owens in Trust The Grind, when reflecting on his decision to play through a vicious injury in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Ahead of Super Bowl XLI, Devin Hester told me that his vision was to “go into that game and set the tempo. Make a big play early,” and that’s just what he did. On Feb. 4, 2007, with millions of spectators glued to the event, Hester took the opening kick to the house, becoming the first player in Super Bowl history to return the inaugural kickoff for a touchdown. To this day, no one has duplicated the iconic opener.

Both Owens and Hester embodied relentless drive and a desire to dominate on the biggest stage, which motivated me to collaborate with the greats in an effort to spread awareness on the power of the mind as it dwells in a high-powered physical being.

Good luck to both the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. May the team who wants it more stand the tallest as the clock ticks to zero.