Pilot receives ball, honor from NFL football player

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Elizabeth Kreft
  • 45th Space Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Though they wear different uniforms and fight different battles, for a brief moment, an NFL football player and an Air Force pilot met eye to eye.

Capt. Ryan Silver, a pilot with the 89th Flying Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, stood on the sidelines in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 21 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took on the visiting San Francisco 49ers. He was at the game as part of the ground control team guiding in a four-ship formation flyover during the opening ceremony to the surprise of the Buccaneers and crowd. But Captain Silver walked away from the game with the biggest surprise of the day.

Near the end of the second quarter, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius caught a 42-yard pass from quarterback Brian Griese at the 2-yard line and sliced through two defenders for a touchdown. He then looked to the sidelines where the captain and a group of Airmen were gathered.

“When I saw him coming toward me, my first thought was to get out of the way,” Captain Silver said. “I know that players will often run to the stands and give a game ball to a kid in the stands, so I thought that was what he was doing.”

Instead, Mr. Jurevicius planted the ball into Captain Silver’s chest, then rendered a crisp salute to the puzzled pilot.

“I was just shocked and honored when I saw him do that,” Captain Silver said. “I realized that he was not only saluting me, he was giving a salute to the entire military.”

The six-year veteran of the National Football League made it clear to the press following the game that his respect for the military runs deep.

“I absolutely love the military and that was my whole purpose (in giving him the ball),” he said. “I don’t play football, we don’t play football, and you don’t do reports on football if it wasn’t for those guys.

"When I see the flyovers, the hair on my neck stands up every time. I figured that the least that I could do is give the man a football and say thank you to our military,” he said.

If Mr. Jurevicius had known the whole story, he might have handed out two footballs. Captain Silver’s twin brother, Capt. Bryce Silver of the 333rd Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., was the lead pilot for the pre-game flyover.

“It was an honor to be a part of it,” Captain Bryce said. “I had never flown over a stadium before, so this was a great experience.”

The flyover team made it back to the stadium in time to see Mr. Jurevicius autograph the football for the excited Airman.

“It is such a great feeling to know a class act like Mr. Jurevicius would want to honor our military like that,” Captain Bryce said. “I know my brother felt lucky to be the one to accept the ball on behalf of our military brothers and sisters.”

While Mr. Jurevicius may remember that play as the first touchdown he scored since returning from an injury, the twin pilots said they will remember it for the honor the football role-model bestowed on them.

“It means so much for him to give that ball up, especially for what it means for his career, and being able to come back from an injury and be a significant part of his team again,” Captain Ryan said. “It is definitely an opportunity and experience I’ll never forget.”

Mr. Jurevicius said he was thankful for the men and women of the military service.

“My hat is off to you guys -- I really appreciate everything you do,” he said.