Youth football team surprised with tickets to Super Bowl

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - With the Super Bowl set to take place in Minneapolis this February, many locals are getting the opportunity to attend the game of a lifetime.

Among them will be a youth football team from south Minneapolis, whose dreams of seeing the big game in person are being realized thanks to a gift from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Under the bright lights at Phelps Field Park Monday, The Falcons' spirits were soaring.

A couple of weeks ago, Sports Illustrated posted an article about the seventh and eighth grade football team as part of a web series about Football In America. The story detailed how half brothers Isaiah and Zaevion Henderson found refuge in the sport when they were adopted by their aunt after Zaevion's mother was murdered and Isaiah was abused by his mother's boyfriend.

"They've both suffered some things in life," their aunt Telyse Henderson said. "For them, everything is clear. They just let go. They don't have to think about anything. Don't have to think about what happened or why they are here with me or anything else."

Someone at the NFL read the article and during Sunday's Packers vs. Vikings game Commissioner Roger Goodell surprised the boys with Super Bowl tickets not just for them, but for the entire team.

"I think they were speechless," Telyse Henderson said. "For once Isaiah didn't have a thing to say at that moment. He was speechless."

Even though Isaiah and Zaevion missed a Falcons' game to attend, they are pretty sure taking their teammates to the Super Bowl will more than make up for it.

"It's a once in a lifetime experience, Isaiah said. "Not that many people get to go."