Rolf Benirschke

Biography

As the place-kicker for the San Diego Chargers for 10 seasons, Rolf held 16 team records and was the third-most accurate kicker in league history when he retired. What makes Rolf`s football career so remarkable is that he played the majority of his career with ulcerative colitis and an ostomy.

After being diagnosed with IBD, Rolf played "sick" through two seasons. Four weeks into the 1979 season, Rolf collapsed on a team flight and needed emergency ostomy surgery. After a month in the intensive care unit and his weight a frail 123 pounds, he was finally released from the hospital. Rolf was devastated not only about the prospect of never playing football again, but also adjusting to life with an ileostomy.

Rolf amazingly returned to professional football the following year, healthier and stronger than ever. He would play seven more seasons and retired as the team`s leading scorer, but Rolf is most proud of the visibility he has brought to IBD and ostomy surgery through the Great Comebacks Program. His field goal in a 1982 playoff game in Miami lifted the Chargers to a 41-38 overtime victory against the Dolphins -- a game that many sportswriters still consider the most exciting NFL game ever played.

For Rolf, his illness turned out to be more than learning to cope with IBD and ostomy surgery. It became an inspirational blessing that would define a mission for the rest of his life -- a passion for patients that is exemplified in the spirit of the Great Comebacks Program.

In addition to being named 1979 "NFL Man of the Year," Benirschke received such honors as "Comeback Player of the Year," the Philadelphia Sportswriters Association`s "Most Courageous Athlete," the NFL Players Association`s "Hero of the Year" and the NFL "Justice Byron `Whizzer` White Award," and played in the Pro Bowl. In 1997, he became the 20th player inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.

Today, Rolf is a successful businessman in the San Diego community, an author, TV personality and frequent motivational speaker for companies across the country. Married with four children, Rolf volunteers his time for numerous organizations, including the Crohn`s & Colitis Foundation of America, San Diego Zoo, Scripps Hospital, United Way, San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Blood Bank.

Through his work as the founder of the Great Comebacks Program, Rolf has provided patients and family members who face the physical and emotional challenges of Inflammatory Bowel Disease with hope, inspiration and education for more than 20 years.

Publications

Alive & Kicking

Alive & Kicking is the autobiography of one of the best place kickers ever to play in the National Football League. But it is much more than a sports book. It is a story of faith, courage, family, friends, and the will to survive, but not just to survive, but to return to an active, normal life despite devastating circumstances. It was written to encourage others, particularly those living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn`s Disease) or those facing ostomy surgery. It will, however, touch anyone dealing with any of life`s difficult challenges.

Written in a warm and personal style Alive & Kicking will inspire you to persevere and overcome and is the kind of book you will just feel good about when you are finished. Rolf is vulnerable in the way he shares his struggles dealing with a little understood disease and a very sensitive surgery while immersed in the violent and unforgiving world of professional football.

An unlikely bet to make it in the NFL in the first place, Rolf was drafted second-to-last by the defending Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders in the 1977 draft. He was a 22-year old rookie from UC Davis, a Division II school not known for turning out professional football players. He was dealt to the San Diego Chargers as his rookie season began and there quickly made a name for himself as he set a team record kicking twelve consecutive field goals. With a bright future ahead on a young team that was just becoming competitive, he suddenly found himself dealing with the biggest challenge he had ever faced.

Assailed by severe abdominal cramps, a raging fever and uncontrollable diarrhea Rolf thought he had a bad case of the flu. It turned out, however, to be the early stages of ulcerative colitis, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease that is very poorly understood. He would play the entire 1978 season ill, often spending the week between games in the hospital while doctors fought to control the disease.

Despite his illness, Rolf didn`t miss a game and converted 34 of 38 field goals and his prowess as a kicker grew. He somehow managed to continue playing into his third season until he suddenly collapsed on the team plane as they returned from a game against the New England Patriots. Rushed to the hospital Rolf began an ordeal that would include two major abdominal surgeries, a long stay in the intensive care unit where his life hung in the balance, and finally release from the hospital weighing 124 pounds and wearing two ostomy pouches.

It was a very difficult time for the promising young kicker whose career appeared to be over. But three weeks after leaving the hospital and barely able to walk, he was invited by the team to come watch a game. Unbeknownst to Rolf, his teammates had elected him their honorary captain for the game. As he slowly made his way to midfield for the pre-game coin flip the home crowd responded to the plight of their young kicker and gave him a standing ovation of support.

Visibly moved by the unexpected response Rolf explained later how that moment provided him the inspiration and desire to try to come back. And come back he did. By training camp of the next season he had fought his way back into playing shape and successfully returned as the Charger`s place kicker. He would play seven more seasons and earn such honors as the Comeback Player of the Year, the Philadelphia Sportswriters` Most Courageous Athlete, NFL Man of the Year, NFL Player`s Association Most Inspirational Player, and even a spot in the Pro Bowl.

It was during his time in the NFL that he became aware of the plight 2,000,000 other Americans face each day as they deal with their Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He also learned that there are over 100,000 ostomy surgeries performed each year and committed to doing as much as he could to help these people. Besides speaking often and encouraging people over the phone and by letter, he decided to write his own personal story in Alive & Kicking and share what he went through.

Titles

Ordinary People Accomplish Extraordinary Things

Overcoming Adversity

Improving Teamwork within an Organization

Leadership