Out of all the stories that revolved around Super Bowl LVI, there was none more surreal than Eric Weddle.
Weddle, who had previously retired after a season with the Los Angeles Rams, re-joined the team after injuries to Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller depleted them of their safety depth. Weddle played limited snaps in the Wild Card Round against the Arizona Cardinals but soon made himself an integral starter the rest of the way.
The veteran left it all out on the field in the Super Bowl, tearing his pec in the first half but refusing to come out. In an interview with Omar Ruiz of NFL Network, Weddle admitted he sometimes forgets about the injury:
“It’s hard to think back where I was five-and-a-half weeks ago and being able to do what I did. It feels like a dream, that I left my real life for five-and-a-half weeks and now I’m back in the real life, only to be reminded by my pec that isn’t there and getting fixed tomorrow.”
However, Weddle also expressed how grateful he was to come back and help the team reach its goal of winning it all:
“I’m probably just most proud of being in the moment and, whatever my role was, just trying to help the guys and be a kid again,” Weddle said. “To come out of retirement for two years and join a team and welcome me in and be excited that I was there and know that I could bring some energy, bring some passion, and bring whatever that it factor was to a team that was on the cusp of something great. All the stuff on the field, the mental side, all that stuff, I’ve done all that and I just think the whole story of coming back and making an impact in a lot of guys’ lives probably means the most to me.”
There was no better way for Weddle to cap off his career, and he will always be remembered fondly in Los Angeles.
Now, he is set to begin his next chapter as a high school coach with hs playing days officially behind him for good.
