FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014

MARYLAND YOUTH FOOTBALL COACH TRA SEAN LYONS – “TOGETHER WE MAKE FOOTBALL” CONTEST FINALIST – FEATURED THIS FRIDAY, DEC. 26 ON NBC’S TODAY

Fans May Vote For Their Favorite Individual and Group Story on TogetherWeMakeFootball.com through January 4, 2015

Steelers Host Bengals for AFC North Title on NBC’s Sunday Night Football

STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 23, 2014 – This Friday’s “Together We Make Football” segment, narrated by NBC Sports Group’s Josh Elliott, features the story of White Plans (Md.) youth football coach Tra Sean Lyons. Lyons is one of six finalists in a contest to win a trip to Super Bowl XLIX. The segment will air between 8 and 9 a.m. ET on TODAY.

Tra Sean Lyons grew up loving football. After suffering a nearly tragic brain injury when he was 14, Lyons was told he would never again be able to walk, let alone participate in football. Years later, Lyons is walking, and is proud to coach the Westlake Bulldogs youth team. Lyons’ 11-year-old stepson plays for the Bulldogs, and was recently chosen for a Maryland all-star team.

Pittsburgh hosts Cincinnati for the AFC North title this Sunday, Dec. 28, on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Sunday night’s coverage begins with Football Night In America at 7 p.m. ET.

ABOUT “TOGETHER WE MAKE FOOTBALL”

NBC Sports and the NFL teamed with TODAY to present weekly “Together We Make Football” segments, telling the most compelling stories of football fans, players, teams and families across the country. As a part of the campaign, fans submitted their stories to TogetherWeMakeFootball.com, and six finalists were selected to win a trip to Super Bowl XLIX.

TODAY will feature the story of one of these six finalists each week, narrated by NBC Sports Group’s Josh Elliott. In addition, TODAY will exclusively unveil the special moment when each of the six finalists was selected.

The campaign’s contest includes three finalists in the individual category and three finalists in the group category. Fans will be able to vote on the six stories at TogetherWeMakeFootball.com, and the finalist in each category that receives the most votes will win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona in February 2015. The campaign will culminate with an NFL Films special airing on NBC on Super Bowl Sunday.

The National Football League’s Together We Make Football campaign invites anyone who has been touched by the game of football – whether as a player at any level, a fan, a group, a team or a community – to share a story of why they love the game. Select “Together We Make Football” stories will be featured on NBC’s during Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–