Rolf Benirschke and Great Comebacks – Thirty Years of Patient Support

Ostomy surgery can leave you feeling isolated, fearful or uncertain about the future. But it shouldn’t be that way. At Great Comebacks®, we’re here to tell everyone that life after surgery can be full – not of limitations, but of possibilities. We know that the words that often matter most come from those who have been there: Hear the words of Great Comebacks® Program founder Rolf Benirschke, who first shed light on living with an ostomy with his return to professional football after surgery, together with Great Comebacks® Recipients Michael Nash, Raysa Abreau, Charlie Grotevant, and Jude Ebbinghaus.

Rolf’s Second Chance

Rolf returns to the field just days after his near-death illness. This emotional moment gave Rolf the courage to reach for his second chance and start the long road back to recovery. Rolf eventually went on to play another seven seasons for the San Diego Chargers, before retiring as the third-most accurate placekicker in the NFL.

He received numerous awards during his football career, including NFL Man of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, NFL Player Association Hero of the Year, and the NFL’s most prestigious award, the Byron “Whizzer” White award. In 1997, Rolf was the 20th player inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.