The Carolina Panthers offensive linemen stood shoulder to shoulder in the tunnel of the Superdome before the kickoff of Sunday’s 33-14 victory at New Orleans.
They all had their helmets strapped on tight as they prepared to barrel out of the tunnel. All except veteran center Ryan Kalil.
Even in a dome, he felt the air ruffle his hair and gray-flecked beard one final time as he ran onto the field.
His eyes were wide open.
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“For me, today, the person I kept thinking about most was my dad,” he said.