ANCHORAGE (AP) - Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth returned home to Alaska last week to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Service High School alumnus made a halftime appearance last Friday night during his alma mater’s game at West High School.
“I just want to encourage everybody to do your part, to talk to your doctor and if it’s the right decision for you, please get vaccinated, please take care of one another,” Schlereth said Aug. 20.
He has been advocating on social media for COVID-19 vaccines, and he said the NFL Players Association reached out to him about spreading the word in his home state.
“So here I am,” Schlereth said.
He played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for 12 years from 1989-2000, winning Super Bowls in 1991 with Washington and 1997 and 1998 with Denver.
Schlereth, 55, was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder in 1993 while playing for Washington. He said one of the reasons he got the COVID-19 vaccine was to visit with his mother who has cancer.
“I wanted to spend as much time safely with her as possible ... so it was just a no-brainer for us,” Schlereth said.
Schlereth said one of his high school coaches whom he considered a mentor died last week from COVID-19.
“I just lost a dear, dear friend who refused to
get vaccinated, so that
hit home for me,” he
said.
On Saturday, Schlereth was at the state Department of Health and Social Services’ vaccine booth at the state fair in Palmer.
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