Mike Steuernagel's hopes were high as he and Tim Absten presented their tickets at the gates of Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, Calif.

“We joked, ‘We hope these tickets get us in there,’” Steuernagel said. “As soon as the tickets scanned, it was a massive relief.” 

Steuernagel and his wife, Kim Steuernagel, had gotten tickets to the 2015 Super Bowl and were heartbroken to learn their ticket broker later sold their seats for a higher price. They traveled to Arizona in the hopes of finding tickets but did not.

With the news that Absten had purchased tickets to the game, Mike Steuernagel received a second chance to watch the Seahawks take on the Patriots 11 years later. 

Seeing NFL legends in person like Joe Montana, Payton Manning and other all-time NFL greats heightened an already emotional experience for the Priest River man who used to live in Post Falls.

“I’m very blessed,” Steuernagel said. “I couldn’t get it wrapped around my head that we were here. It was just overwhelming.” 

Steuernagel and Absten took advantage of parties Friday and Saturday, getting into the spirit of game day and even crossing paths with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

However, his favorite sight was the sheer number of fellow Seahawks fans at Levi's Stadium.  

“It was almost like a Seahawks home game,” Steuernagel said. 

Steuernagel warned Patriots fans at the bar that they had a lot to contend with when it came to the Seahawks defense. He watched the Seahawks defense dismantle the Patriots with great pride. 

“You guys have got a good offense, but you have not played against a defense like ours. All year the defense is No. 1, that’s what got us there,” Steuernagel said.  

Absten and Steuernagel considered putting a bet on a shutout before the game, but wound up grateful they hadn’t put money into the mix.  

It was enough to be present in the stadium and see the game unfold.

"It's definitely something I can scratch off the bucket list and it was way at the top,” Steuernagel said. “I would do it again if things aligned.” 

He urged lifelong football fans to take the plunge for future games and make their lifelong dreams come true. 

"It was a great experience. If you can go witness them in person and actually be at that venue while that team is playing, it’s indescribable, it’s out of this world,” Steuernagel said.