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By Matthew Hatfield

Contributing writer

Nansemond-Suffolk Academy grad Cole Christiansen, a linebacker who starred at Army after his playing days for the Saints, is a member of the practice squad for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, who outlasted the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 to win Super Bowl LVII.

Cole’s mother was able to make the trip to the Sunday Feb. 12 game and reflected on the once-in-a-lifetime experience that culminated at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals.

“It was pretty incredible,” Monica Christiansen said. “The Hunt family that owns the Chiefs is a class act organization. They coordinated to get families and treat every player equally in those terms. They may have different salaries, but all of them are equal when it comes to being on the team and treated that way. That’s really special.” 

She said they got to stay at the team hotel, had all kinds of functions for friends and families to make them feel special

“It was very seamless. Coming from Suffolk and going to something like the Super Bowl blind would’ve been overwhelming,” Christiansen said. “Parking would’ve been a nightmare. They coordinated with shuttle buses for everybody coming together, to an incredible pregame experience for just friends and families of the Chiefs, and helped navigate everyone to get into the stadium.”  

This Super Bowl also marked the first time each franchise featured service academy players, and in this particular case, two Army West point officers. Brett Toth, a lineman for the Eagles, is a 2018 grad from West Point who was once a teammate of Christiansen. 

“We’re really proud that Cole is the one that gets the ring,” Christiansen said.  “The atmosphere there was phenomenal, weather was great and everything was wonderful. The postgame celebration was fun also.”