NFL Selects Three Community Heroes To Serve As Honorary Captains During Super Bowl LV Coin Toss

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL POET AMANDA GORMAN COMMISSIONED TO COMPOSE AN ORIGINAL PIECE ABOUT THE RESILIENCY OF THE HONORARY GAME CAPTAINS. 

Three heroes who served as leaders in their respective communities during the global pandemic will be honored at Super Bowl LV on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium, NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL announced today.

The three honorary captains – Educator TRIMAINE DAVIS, Nurse Manager SUZIE DORNER and Veteran JAMES MARTIN will participate in the official on-field Coin Toss ceremony. All three were selected because of their dedication and selfless commitment to helping others. These heroes are symbolic of the thousands of health-care professionals, educators, and veterans throughout our country who continue to care for, heal and support those in need during this pandemic. Together they embody our season-long message of ‘It Takes All of Us’.

*More information on each honorary captain below

Before the honorary captains are recognized on-field, Presidential Inaugural Poet AMANDA GORMAN, will recite an original poem about these three individuals to recognize them for their tremendous impact during an unprecedented year. The recitation of the poem will air nationally on CBS and be featured in-stadium.

“We are honored to recognize these three individuals who represent the best in all of us,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “During this incredibly challenging time in our lives, Trimaine, Suzie, and James have exemplified the essence of leadership, each in their own way. We are grateful for their commitment and proud to share their stories and recognize them during this special moment on Super Bowl Sunday.”

Below are more details about the three Super Bowl LV Honorary Captains participating in this year's coin toss efforts in their communities during the past year:

TRIMAINE DAVIS: (Educator- Los Angeles, CA) Amidst the pandemic, Trimaine made it a priority to ensure both his students and members of their households had devices and internet access to help bridge the digital divide. Not only did Trimaine secure hotspots, laptops, and tablets for his students, but he hosted tech workshops for families to learn how to make use of the devices. Throughout his career, Trimaine has prioritized the academic success of Black students through his work with the CSU Northridge Black Male Initiative, San Diego State's Student African American Brotherhood, Afrikan Student Union, and more.

Trimaine was surprised with the news of being selected as an Honorary Captain by ANGELA LACHICA and NFL Legend DOUG BALDWIN of the Players Coalition – which can be seen here.

SUZIE DORNER: (Nurse Manager – Tampa, FL) Suzie is currently the COVID ICU Nurse Manager at Tampa General Hospital and has been serving the local Tampa community for more than eight years. In the face of tragedy, Suzie worked selflessly, as all nurses do, to prioritize others before her needs and work endless hours to assist many in their battles with COVID-19. Suzie lost two grandparents to the pandemic and represents the thousands of healthcare workers across the country and across the world that have risked their own lives for the sake of our own.

Suzie was surprised with the news of being selected as an Honorary Captain by Tampa Bay Buccaneers Legend and Co-Chairman of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee DERRICK BROOKS – which can be seen here. 

JAMES MARTIN: (Marine Corps Veteran – Pittsburgh, PA) During the COVID-19 global pandemic, James’ contributions to his community are limitless. He has worked supporting veterans, high school athletes and local youth. James connected more than 1,800 fellow veterans and their families to one another virtually this past year through Wounded Warrior Project® and its livestreaming and video game events. This season he also volunteered to livestream every home football game for Aliquippa High School so family and fans could cheer on their favorite players from home. Lastly, James opened his home to needy kids in his neighborhood, offering them a comfortable home, while still attending to his own children, one of whom has special needs.

James was surprised with the news of being selected as an Honorary Captain by Pittsburgh Steelers Legend JEROME BETTIS – which can be seen here.

AMANDA GORMAN is the youngest Presidential Inaugural Poet in history. She is a committed activist who works on the local, national, and international levels to support girls' education and empowerment. Amanda's activism and poetry have been featured on the Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in the New York Times, Vogue, Essence, and O magazine. In 2017 UrbanWord named her the first ever National Youth Poet Laureate in the United States. After graduating from Harvard University, she now lives in Los Angeles. The special edition of her inaugural poem, The Hill We Climb, will be published in April 2021. Her debut picture book, Change Sings, and first poetry collection, The Hill We Climb and Other Poems, will be published in the fall of 2021. Please visit theamandagorman.com.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 1006-bed non-profit academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region’s only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020-21 Best Hospitals, and one of the top 4 hospitals in Florida, with five specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. It is one of the nation’s busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital’s footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health and 19 outpatient Radiology Centers. Tampa Bay residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track. As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information go to www.tgh.org.