$53 Billion Giant and $143 Billion NFL Planned a Crossover, Thanks to Legend Stan Lee and Cowboys Hall of Famer

The passage of time has a way of turning ordinary moments into unforgettable memories. And for football fans of a particular era, Cowboys icon Chuck Howley’s greatness has become the stuff of legend. His legacy is a testament to the power of perseverance and the enduring spirit of the game, and it also reflects in the classic crossover by a $53 billion Walt Disney Company and NFL.

Howley is a symbol of everything that makes this sport great; after all, he is the only player in Super Bowl history to be MVP from a losing team. And now, as the original member of the Doomsday Defense enters the prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame in his 45th year of eligibility, the tribute by the $53 billion franchise and $143 billion NFL comes as a cherry on top. So what’s this creative crossover all about?

Chuck Howley truly embodies the iconic Captain America!

The prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame paid tribute to Chuck Howley this August. And to commemorate this iconic moment, Marvel delved into its archives, reflecting on its shared history with the Pro Football League. Four decades back, the iconic Marvel legend Stan Lee created an NFL-themed magazine spread featuring the then-top-game programs nationwide. 

In a Marvel featured article, the team has elaborated on their efforts with Stan Lee and a talented team of artists behind this 43-year-old edition feature. This magazine spread emphasizes how they shortlisted the players of that era, drawing parallels between their characters and the legendary athletes. In this edition, the Cowboys #54 has been identified as “Captain Marvel incarnated on the field.” The Father of Marvel believes that ‘this comeback hero’ embodies the iconic Captain America!

When asked, Stan, the mastermind behind Marvel Comics,  shared his thoughts, saying, “Howley and Cap prove that man improves with age. They’re the marvels of 1970, both living it up after over a decade of cataclysmic combat. Howley came back from a knee injury to cop red, white, and blue honors as a leader of the Cowboys’ famed ‘Doomsday Defense.'”

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Howley’s professional career kicked off in 1958 with the Chicago Bears, as they selected him as the seventh overall pick in the NFL draft. Unfortunately, a knee injury forced him to retire in 1959, but in 1961, a spark reignited within him as he made an extraordinary comeback. The winner of Super Bowl VI joined the then-newly formed Dallas Cowboys to make history by playing 165 games over thirteen seasons, in two NFL championship games and two Super Bowls alongside the budding franchise. And as historic as his comeback is, so is the way the news of his Hall-of-fame got delivered.

Howley’s legendary Cowboys squad conveyed the ‘big news’

After a 45-year wait, former Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley finally became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And to mark this momentous occasion, a group of legendary Dallas players, including $600 Million Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Lee Roy Jordan, Mel Renfro, Cliff Harris, and Charlie Waters, gathered to deliver the ‘big news.’ 

Since the 87-year-old suffers from late-stage dementia, his former teammates ensured he received the message of his well-deserved recognition. They visited him and repeatedly conveyed the joyous news, hoping that the presence of so many familiar faces and gold jackets would help the message sink in. With the formalities of the Hall of Fame induction process, such as gold jacket fittings and bust-sculpting sessions, Howley will be receiving it in this month’s ceremony. Despite the challenges posed by his dementia, the Cowboy fans hope that fleeting moments about his illustrious football career might surface as he is indicted into the Hall of Fame.

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