In 1981, the Philadelphia Eagles competed in Super Bowl XV, which was hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana, and news of an ongoing conflict with Iran was dominating American airwaves. Fast forward to 2025, and the Philadelphia Eagles have just competed in the Super Bowl, which was hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana. And now the uncanny connection: News of a conflict with Iran is dominating the news cycle.
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Yes, you read that right, time is indeed a flat circle. Thankfully, there’s no hostage crisis this time. For better or worse, the game of American gridiron football has often overlapped with U.S. politics and the conflicts the nation has been part of.
For instance, during the Vietnam War, some NFL players opted for active duty, while others joined the reserve force, and others, both active and past athletes, became “goodwill ambassadors” through league-sponsored programs. In the case of the infamous Iran Hostage Crisis, discussing the ongoings of the NFL proved to be a productive way to build morale, camaraderie, and, more importantly, hope among the hostages.
In the aptly titled NFL Films documentary, 444 Days: What Freedom & Football Mean to the Survivors of the Iran Hostage Crisis, which featured several interviews with the survivors of the crisis, one survivor explained that “We asked not to discuss political matters, so we discussed football.”
While the hostages were unsure of many things, such as their safety and future, first and foremost, they were also unaware of how their love for the game of football would result in one journalist taking the ultimate risk. Even though all American journalists had been ordered to leave Iran, one by the name of Alex Paen was doing everything he could to stay behind.
Conveniently enough, the 1980 Super Bowl was coming up. The game was set to be broadcast by Alex Paen’s station, KMPC Radio. “I went to the militants and I said, ‘Hey. You like football. We’ve talked about it. How would you like to listen to the Super Bowl?’” Paen recalled his conversation.
“And they said, ‘Oh yeah, that’s great. How do you get it?’ I said, ‘My station carries the Super Bowl’. If you can get it, we will like it [the militants replied]. I asked, ‘Will you play it for the hostages? That’s my condition’,” he added.
The militant’s answer proved to be one of the most ringing endorsements that the NFL has ever received. “If you get the Super Bowl, yes, we’ll play it, because we want to hear it too.”
After the Ministry of National Guidance was obligated to allow him to go through with the agreement, Paen officially became the only American journalist who was operating behind enemy lines.
As Paen sat in his underwear in his hotel room, he connected a phone line to a cassette player, and the result proved to be a message to the hostages straight from the heart of America. A room that had nothing to be joyful about till then was suddenly filled with nostalgic tears and patriotic pride as Al Wisk’s voice rang out across the line.
“By special arrangement, this broadcast will be heard by the hostages held in the American embassy in Iran and we hope that listening to this broadcast will give you some small, temporary link with home. You’re in our thoughts and prayers constantly,” Wisk had opened his commentary.
Paen’s risk helped to ensure that a group of people, over 50 in number, who found themselves in an otherwise bleak situation, were able to experience some sense of normalcy, albeit briefly. Not only does his story add to the ever-growing sense of mystique and grandeur surrounding America’s greatest game, but it also adds an endearing tidbit to the history books.
For as divisive as sidelines may be, this is a rare instance in which they managed to bring us together, and at the end of the day, that’s what football is all about.
