AFA, USAA Send Wounded Airman to Super Bowl LX with CeeDee Lamb

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) and USAA coordinated a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send retired Air Force veteran and Purple Heart recipient Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ferrell and his wife, Lauren, to Super Bowl LX in San Francisco. The experience—USAA’s Official NFL Salute to Service Partners—was made possible through a special partnership with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who personally invited the Ferrells to the game and met them backstage.

Christopher Ferrell spent nearly 14 years in the Air Force and was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq multiple times, where he disarmed roadside bombs as an explosive ordnance disposal technician. Ferrell received the Purple Heart after he was wounded by an explosion that also killed his teammate. He medically retired from the Air Force in 2017, and now continues to serve his nation as a civilian at Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

Ferrell also was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama, the DOD Civilian of the Year, and many other decorations for his service both in uniform and as a civilian.

On the day of the game, Ferrell—a lifelong Cowboys fan—gifted his Purple Heart to Lamb to show his gratitude to players and organizations who go out of their way to sponsor servicemembers.

@usaa This moment had us 🥹. We brought Air Force veteran Chris F. out for #SBLX and to meet @Dallas Cowboys WR @Cee ♬ original sound – USAA

“It means a lot to me to have the opportunity to send Technical Sgt. Chris Ferrell and his wife Lauren to their first Super Bowl with the help of USAA and the Air & Space Forces Association,” Lamb said. “I’m honored to be able to give back to a deserving veteran and life-long Cowboys fans like Chris and Lauren who have given so much to others.”

AFA nominated Ferrell for the opportunity through its Wounded Airmen & Guardians Program, which has provided more than $1 million in life-changing assistance to seriously wounded, ill, and injured Airmen, Guardians, their caregivers, and their families since 2011. AFA is proud of and grateful for its longtime partnership with USAA—the Official Military Appreciation Sponsor of the NFL—which has helped bring wounded heroes to our nation’s forefront to honor their service and sacrifice.