As Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker drilled home a 27-yard field goal to win the Super Bowl, the ball sailed over the net behind the posts and into the grateful hands of a fan.
That fan just happened to be an Australian by the name of Eamonn Dixon, who managed to hold onto the ball with his phone in one hand.
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Dixon, originally from Melbourne but now lives in San Francisco and works for advertising agency Goodby Silverstein and Partners, already had somewhat of a link to the Super Bowl having worked on Doritos’ commercial for the big game.
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With seats just behind the goal posts, Dixon initially expected the protective net that is raised for a field goal would stop the ball from going through.
Instead, Butker’s kick went over the net and somehow found its way into the Aussie’s arms.
And, as expected, “there was a bit of mayhem” when Dixon turned around and saw everyone going wild.
But a helpful bit of advice from a nearby security guard saved him from things getting chaotic.
“It was a pretty exciting game and everyone was asking for photos with me and giving me high-fives,” Dixon said.
“Then the security guard tapped me on the shoulder and he said, ‘I think you should get out of here pretty quickly with that thing before some other people try and grab it.’
“So I did that and now I’m just sitting here in the hotel room and holding it.”
Dixon revealed that after catching the ball, it “was all a bit of a blur.”
“Everyone was trying to get it off me but I shoved it in one of my friends’ bag and we got ushered towards the exit,” Dixon said.
Whether Butker makes a public request for the game-winning ball back remains to be seen, but for now, Dixon will have one special addition for the mantelpiece when he gets back to San Francisco.
