PHOENIX — The NFL Playoffs kick off on Saturday with a three-day extravaganza known as "Super Wild Card Weekend." The Playoffs will wrap up on February 11 with Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and some lucky people from Arizona will be in attendance!
Former University of Arizona and NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski is honoring one veteran from right here in Arizona by gifting him tickets to the Super Bowl.
"LAS VEGAS HERE WE GO! Honored to send Marine Corps veteran Lance Corporal Graham Dorsey to Super Bowl LVIII with USAA and (the Wounded Warrior Project)," Gronkowski posted on social media.
Dorsey served in the Marines as a rifleman with the 5th Marines Regiment from 2002-06. He was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.
Dorsey lives in Phoenix and is a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, while his wife, Rebecca, is a fan of the Arizona Cardinals. Rebecca will go with Graham to the Super Bowl in February where they will have a chance to meet and spend time with Gronkowski.
"Football on Sundays would not be possible without heroes like Marine Corps veteran Lance Corporal Graham Dorsey," Gronkowski said in a press release. "In working with USAA and Wounded Warrior Project, I wanted to honor someone from Arizona, where I went to college, and Graham’s service to our country is worth celebrating. I look forward to meeting Graham and his wife Rebecca at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas."
As for the Cardinals, they surprised Hamilton High School girls flag football head coach Matt Stone with some tickets to the Super Bowl earlier this week.
The presentation happened at Hamilton High School in Chandler on Wednesday.
Stone's Huskies went 10-2 and reached the 6A semifinals in the first-ever official season of flag football in Arizona. Hamilton sophomore wide receiver Samaya Taylor-Jenkins was named the Offensive Player of the Year by the Cardinals.
"Thank you kindly for the recognition," Stone said in a post on the Hamilton Girls Flag account on X (formerly known as Twitter). "It is always appreciated. I hope, however, the many great individuals who have contributed, shaped, and continue to drive this process receive the same recognition because the truth is, WE are here because all of US worked together."
The Cardinals worked to help grow girls flag football this year by highlighting a weekly Game of the Week and Players of the Week. They also held the Nike Kickoff Classic during the first week of the girls flag football season to bring special attention to inaugural season.
"The Arizona Cardinals are committed to growing the game and supporting the expansion of girls flag football across the Valley," a statement on the team's website reads. "Girls flag football demonstrates that football is for all and provide opportunities for girls to be involved in the game of football both on and off the field."
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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