USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH, At Sea -- Football players from the National Football League's (NFL) Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans visited the aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), to tour the ship and watch the Super Bowl, Feb. 3.
The ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and Navy Entertainment worked together to set up the event. Navy Entertainment has arranged visits like this for many years, but for some of the NFL players this was the first time landing aboard a Navy vessel.
Active Packer players, Ryan Taylor, Jarrett Bush and Greg Van Roten, retired Packers Ahman Green and William Henderson, along with the Texan's Taylor "T.J." Yates, were flown on to the ship in a C-2 Greyhound from the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.
"When I was invited to come out here I was very excited," said Yates. "Coming to the ship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially landing on the flight deck, it was wild how fast the plane stopped."
During their time on board, the football players toured the ship, observed flight operations, conducted a meet-and-greet with the crew and watch Super Bowl XLVII in the hangar bay with Sailors.
"On a day that they could have been home with their family and friends enjoying the Super Bowl they came out to enjoy it with Sailors," said Ship's Serviceman 2nd Class Farrah K. Glover. "They were sociable and excited about being out here, and it's nice to be appreciated. I think they were awesome."
During their time on the ship, the athletes expressed gratitude for all servicemembers' sacrifices and noted that without them, they would not be able to play their sport.
"You see movies, you see documentaries; but when you come out here you get to see how cool and interesting it is and how it's normal for everyone here like football is for us," said Green. "For these Sailors, it is just another day."
George H.W. Bush is conducting training and carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.
