Overview:
Lewis Cine, a Haitian-born security, is headed to the Tremendous Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles after overcoming a career-threatening harm. The previous first-round draft choose fought his means again after being launched by the Vikings, proving his resilience within the NFL.
On Oct. 2, 2022, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, greater than 60,000 followers watched because the Minnesota Vikings confronted off in opposition to the New Orleans Saints of their fourth sport of the season. Late within the first quarter, with the Vikings main 7-0, the Saints punted the ball, transitioning to protection. Then—BOOM. A violent collision.
Lewis Cine, a promising rookie security, lay on the sector, clutching his left ankle. Teammates and trainers rushed over because the stadium fell silent. Moments later, he was carted off with a leg brace, an oxygen masks pressed to his face. The sport resumed, and the Vikings edged out a 28-25 win, however for Cine, the season—and presumably his profession—was over. His prognosis: a compound fracture that required rapid surgical procedure. His goals of bringing his mom from Haiti to the U.S. now appeared unsure.
“She struggled early on to lift me. These occasions weren’t simple for her. I hold that point she took care of me when it was exhausting again then, very near my coronary heart,” Cine told DawgNation in 2018 when Cine was a Highschool scholar and amongst the highest potential faculty defensive safeties within the nation.
Born on Oct. 5, 1999, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Cine lived together with his mom, Beatrice Seide, till he was 4. Then, he moved to Florida to reside together with his father earlier than relocating to Everett, Massachusetts the place he first began enjoying soccer in center faculty.
Cine’s uncooked expertise caught the eye of scouts early. After bouncing between colleges, he performed at Trinity Christian College in Cedar Hill, Texas. Cine amassed provides from 36 schools and dedicated to the College of Georgia.
At Georgia, Cine helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back nationwide championships in 2021 and 2022. His standout performances earned him a first-round choice within the 2022 NFL Draft—picked thirty second general by the Minnesota Vikings.
A promising begin minimize brief
Cine performed his first preseason sport in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, desirous to make an affect. However in his first common season, he had no sport begins and noticed restricted motion in three video games earlier than his devastating harm in London.
Along with his rookie season over earlier than it had actually begun, Cine targeted on rehabilitation. Months of grueling restoration adopted.
“I actually recognize the coaching workers, everybody within the coaching workers,” Cine stated in an April 2023 press convention at TCO Efficiency Heart in Minnesota. “And dietitians, power coaches, everybody within the facility for placing me again collectively to get me to the place I’m now.”
Regardless of months of rehab, Cine struggled to regain his type. He returned on Nov. 27, 2023, for “Monday Evening Soccer” in opposition to the Bears—his first sport for the reason that harm. By the season’s finish, he had performed seven video games, totally on particular groups, with only one deal with within the Vikings’ 33-10 loss to the Packers.
Unsure about his future, Minnesota tried to commerce him however finally launched him on Aug. 27, 2024. Cine thought-about the Jets however signed with the Buffalo Payments, switching to linebacker. Caught on the follow squad, he by no means noticed sport time.
Then, a last-minute alternative modified the whole lot.
4 days earlier than their playoff opener, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Cine to their energetic roster, reestablishing his path to the Tremendous Bowl.
Sure for the Tremendous Bowl
In Philadelphia, Cine reunited with former Georgia teammates Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, Nakobe Dean, and Kelee Ringo, in addition to former Payments linebacker Nicholas Morrow, who had re-signed with the Eagles on Jan. 14.
Now, Cine is about to compete for a nationwide title. On Feb. 9, 2025, on the Superdome in New Orleans, he’ll take the sector for Tremendous Bowl LIX because the Eagles battle the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs for the Lombardi Trophy.
For Cine, reaching the Tremendous Bowl is a significant milestone in a profession as soon as jeopardized by a devastating harm. From his beginnings in Haiti to his rise in American soccer, his journey has been outlined by obstacles that might have derailed his profession.
Regardless of the setbacks, Lewis Cine is again—able to make historical past.
Tremendous Bowl LIX kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at 6:30 pm EST on FOX.