Rolf Benirschke

Biography

Rolf Benirschke was the placekicker for the San Diego Chargers from 1977 until 1987, and set 16 team records. He also received numerous honors: NFL Man of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Hero of the Year, etc. During his second season in the NFL, he was struck with an ulcerative colitis, an intestinal illness that required major surgery the following season, and nearly cost him his life. Benirschke feels fortunate to have survived, and especially lucky to have been able to come back and play professional football. Today he is the national spokesman for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, and is involved in many other philanthropic organizations. Rolf is a model of how to overcome adversity and stay positive in your life. He motivates and inspires audiences nationwide with his triumphant life story.

Publications

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