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Late 1970's Rolf Benirschke Game Worn San Diego Chargers Sideline Jacket. ...
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Description
Late 1970's Rolf Benirschke Game Worn San Diego Chargers Sideline Jacket. An all-time Charger great, Rolf Benirschke spent all ten of his pro seasons with the San Diego franchise. During the 1979 campaign, a life threatening illness he was battling caused him to be hospitalized. When he was finally released seven weeks later, his weight had dropped from 184 pounds to 124 pounds. On November 18, 1979, a week after he was released from the hospital, Rolf went to see his team play the Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Stadium even though he was barely able to walk. His teammates were shocked when they saw how much weight he had lost and, perhaps fearing that his days might be numbered, decided to make him captain for a day so that he could go out onto the field for the game-opening coin toss.Rolf and teammate Louie Kelcher (who was also injured and not playing) both put on their jerseys and the 350-pound Kelcher escorted his sick friend onto the field. The crowd went crazy. When they reached mid-field, Steeler captain Mean Joe Green said to Rolf, "They must really love you." When they headed back off the field Rolf told Kelcher "I don't know if I can make it" so Kelcher held Rolf's hand and the two walked off together. It was perhaps the most human moment ever witnessed on a football field, never matched before or since. Miraculously, Rolf made it back the next year and was an All-Pro selection. In the 1981 playoffs versus the Dolphins, he kicked the winning field goal. Dubbed the Epic in Miami, the contest is regarded as one of the seminal games in league history. When he finally retired, he was the team's all-time leading scorer and the third most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history.
This stunning jacket was worn by the kicker when he roamed the sidelines for the Chargers in the late 1970's. "Benirschke" is applied to a nameplate on the reverse in single-color mustard tackle twill just above a team reference in single-color tackle twill. We give the Chargers a tip of the cap with the "H" resembling a goal post. Three tags are in the collar: "size 52," "Spanjan" and washing instructions. LOA from Heritage Auctions.
Auction Info
2025 October 24 - 26 Fall Sports Catalog Auction #50080 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
October, 2025
24th-26th
Friday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 5
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 266
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
22% of the successful bid per lot.
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