New Orleans – Sometimes the best stories quickly walk and wave. literally.
For example, I know that the power of traditional college football from Ohio State, USC, LSU, Tennessee, Nebraska, Miami and others doesn’t guarantee that Super Bowl champions will be crowned from the ranks this Sunday. mosquito?
But one focused on Juggernaut (from the 1940s anyway), the US Military Academy – West Point – Will.
Let’s rewind to the opening paragraph.
When covering the Super Bowl, it’s easy and to show to some extent to be shaken up by the stories surrounding quarterbacks, coaches, other superstars, dynasties, controversy Dujours and more. Back Saquon Barkley and Kansas City Chief Stickerce are among other topics this week.
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But by focusing on people and subplots that absorb so much oxygen, you can lose sight of the more unique nuggets in a particular game.
So, I was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday morning when Eagles offensive lineman Brett Toss (2018 USMA class) took a walk, waved and began asking questions in a rare Super Bowl role reversal. . Toss spyed on my West Point Cap (My Father is an Alumni), and at least not a bit disappointed to find out I took the ROTC route into the Army when I served. We talked for a few minutes, exchanged stories about our military experience, and he went out to a team meeting prior to Super Bowl 59.
I’m a little annoyed with myself because it wasn’t on my assignment list, but meeting him also made my wheels spin. Former US Naval Academy star and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner, Roger Staubach, is a two-time Super Bowl champion (in addition to being a Hall of Fame and a legend of the Dallas Cowboys). Air Force Academy alumnus Chad Hennings won three rings in the Cowboys dynasty in the 1990s.
So I thought of how that toss would ultimately relate to West Point in the Lombardi Trophy.
Just one problem: it’s already happening.
Linebacker Cole Christiansen (USMA class 2020) has been a member of the Chiefs since 2022. He made his Super Bowl debut a year ago, playing 23 snaps for a special team on an overtime team with the San Francisco 49ers in Kansas City.
Having a pair of alumni linked to the upcoming Super Sunday is a point of pride that comes back to West Point.
“I’m incredibly proud of both of those people. It’s hard to play in that league – they’re the best players in the face of the Earth – and they compete with those people. , you can play with those guys. M is just really proud of what they made,” said Army head coach Jeff Monken, who brought both Toth and Christiansen to West Point. told USA Today Sports.
“It is a great source of pride that our program has guys in the NFL, and it is great to be able to boast about them.
“It makes football beyond college a reality for everyone who is involved in our program and everyone who is considering joining our program, which is great. And , they play the biggest game – the most viewed soccer game in the world, and it’s great. They’re amazing. “Both great kids.”
After meeting Toth, I tracked down Christiansen on Thursday to inform him of his profile of his chances to become his first Black Knight in the Super Bowl ring.
Christiansen is a former Army team captain who remarkably resembles actor Channing Tatum, giving me a wry smile to let me know what I already know.
“I might have beaten him to a punch there,” laughed Christiansen, a teammate at West Point’s toss.
“Incredibly, I was very fortunate,” said Christian, who broke into the NFL with a Los Angeles charger in 2020 after the Department of Defense allowed him to postpone his service until the end of his NFL career. Sen continued. DOD’s policy to enable service academy players to join the league has been in flux in recent years, but he believes he will eventually serve as a field artillery for five years.
“We’ve all been in this a little longer than everyone expected from us, and I’m very grateful for this,” he said, playing nine games this season, but unless he’s promoted from practice. Not suitable for Sundays. squad.
Toth didn’t play at all during the 2024 regular season, but it wasn’t too surprising given the talent and depth of Philadelphia’s ban line. However, he appeared in all of the Eagles’ playoff victories, primarily on special teams, making an offensive snap to the defeat of the dominant NFC Championship Game of Washington’s commander’s team.
But don’t assume that his role is minor.
“Brett is probably one of my favorites on this team. If you want to talk about people who are underrated on this team, he’s one of them,” the Eagles say he left Jordan Meertata’s tackle. Ta.
“He’s very smart. I mean, a guy can talk about football all day. I keep telling him he should be a coach. I said, “Man, screw-style – when you’re done , you’re going to be a great coach.” When it comes to reading defenses, do you know the scheme and what its defense trends are? He is a real asset to this team. ”
Mailata stated that Toth “debugs” issues with his game plan, and that Pro Bowl Right Tackle Lane Johnson praises him as a source of invaluable feedback for players and coaches Ta.
“Brett is an incredible teammate, he has a very high football IQ and he really understands the game,” said Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson. “He’s a guy who’s always trying to do what he can to help others.”
Naturally, Toth can play all five O-line spots, ending Sunday for field goals and extra point attempts.
He is already excited about any role in his military duties – from an military standpoint, given that Toss is an engineer and requires both occupations to drill holes in the enemy lines. He was roughly equivalent to an offensive lineman – whilst overcoming his obstacles.
“Individual. He spoke about his journey. This includes three stints with the Eagles, plus time with the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
Toth had to spend his time on the practice squad and overcome a torn ACL. All of that served as the mid li, after Philadelphia tried to balance his football ambitions with Army requirements when he first signed him in 2019.
“I didn’t know if I was planning on getting the opportunity to play football again,” he said as he looked back on his circuit soccer path, where he was extremely grateful. He met his wife. He served as an engineering officer while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
Monken was hired before the 2014 season and looks back on a program that had fallen during extremely difficult times, and competes at the FBS level as its strict academic standards and cadets arise when commissioned as military officers at graduation. I tried to do it.
Toss was one of the first players Monken hired, and the coach estimates he was about 220 pounds when he arrived on the banks of the Hudson River.
“He had to fly around the shower to get wet,” recalls Monken.
But like the Philadelphia player, Monken was soon struck by the sharp intelligence of toss.
“He was asking 400-level questions as a freshman. He was better than anyone on our soccer team, and what we did, and what we did, what we did. He said he understood a language better than that. He’s very clever.”
By coincidence or not, Monken’s team took off when he became a starter in 2016, and the Black Knights have only lost one season since. (They went 12-2 in 2024, winning the Independent Bowl.)
Toth brings a big game experience to Super Bowl 59. After all, he was 2-0 against the Navy as a cadet starter. (Christiansen was 3-1.) Toth said he would talk to his former teammates after the game, but his focus is now on the chief.
“I’m grateful for the journey,” he said. “There was a lot of adversity and it wasn’t the smoothest ride, but I still made it.”
Christiansen was so from his own humble roots.
“Cole grew up on a farm,” Monken said. …Fast, physical, extremely talented, and truly had a great career for us.
“It’s fun to see him doing so well. Did you get to see that Super Bowl when he tackles a special team? It’s so proud of us. .”
Christiansen, of course, hopes he will be playing this Sunday, but he maintains a healthy perspective on his situation.
“I probably shouldn’t be in the NFL based on my situation. I didn’t think I would be. Honestly, that wasn’t even my goal. I’m coming out of high school. The only goal was to get a free university. And obviously, when I arrived at West Point, my only goal was to be a soldier and I was totally in hell about it. I was falling in,” he said.
“This wasn’t even in my vision. And when it happened, I thought, ‘Well, I have to try and see how much I can make money on this. This is a pretty rare opportunity. That’s why. “And I’m very grateful. I’m very fortunate even to have the opportunity to do it.
“amazing.”
Recruit Pitch Monken now has the ability to use Super Bowl 59 as background.
“Having people on the roster, and certainly on each (Super Bowl) team, goes on miles in terms of reliability that we tell recruit.
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