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Super Bowl champ and Canadian Luke Willson on 6 things cycling has in common with football

Ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl, find out what the ball sport and the endurance sport share

February 8, 2024
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It seems like everyone is into cycling, doesn’t it? Basketball legend Reggie Miller loves riding, there’s Harrison Ford, and so too does Canadian former NFL tight end Luke Willson. Super Bowl LVIII goes down this Sunday, with the AFC champs the Kansas City Chiefs squaring off against the NFC’s San Francisco 49ers. Cycling and football may not seem to have that much in common, but according to Willson, there’s more than you think.

After retiring from the sport, he began riding, and loves it, riding 18-20 hours a week. In January, Wilson raced at the track nationals in Milton, taking 14th in the elite kilo, in a very quick 1:07.

Originally from Lasalle, Ont., he played for the Seattle Seahawks, the Detroit Lions, the Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens. He won the Super Bowl in his rookie season, catching two passes for 17 yards in the Seahawks’ 43–8 win over the Denver Broncos.

1. Jerseys and Lycra

“When I started riding, everyone was telling me about the outfits, the jerseys and Lycra,” he jokes. “I was like dude, I’ve been wearing this stuff my whole life. Our football pants are really similar!”

2. Getting tackled and crashing

Of course, there’s far more tackles in a football game than crashes in a bike race (we hope) but the feeling of being tackled feels similar to biting it on the asphalt. “Getting smacked in football feels a lot like hitting the deck on a bike. The first time I fell, it was a wild experience…but strangely familiar,” Wilson says.

3. Sock etiquette

There are strong opinions about how to wear socks with leg warmers. Some people say it should go over the leg warmer, some say under. Turns out football players have their own ideas, too. “When I was riding with a group, I had my socks over the leg warmer and someone told me that was wrong,” he explains. “In football, people have their own way of wearing socks too. It’s a personal choice, some guys pull it over the pants, some under, some completely straight.”

4. Helmets and cleats

You gotta protect your noggin in both sports. And although they are a little different, you’re never going to want to forget your cleats at a race or game.

5. Fries and frites

A tailgate party with fries and beer has an astonishing similarity to the atmosphere at a kermesse or ‘cross race in Belgium: just swap the ketchup for mayo on your fries, and a Bud Light for a Stella Artois.

6. Yellow jersey and Super Bowl ring

The maillot jaune and the Super Bowl ring are reserved for only the best of the best.