3:34 PM PST 2/5/2017
by
Farnoush Amiri
Just a few weeks after being hospitalized, George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, oversaw the traditional coin toss at Sunday’s Super Bowl 51 alongside his wife Barbara.
The former commander-in-chief was on hand in his adopted hometown of Houston, where he currently resides, to participate in the pregame festivities of the big game.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the news Thursday, four days before the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots were set to take the field at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
The former president also took to his Twitter account to personally share the news with his almost 250,000 followers.
Both Bush and his wife were hospitalized recently. The former was discharged Monday following a two-week hospital stay after being treated for pneumonia, while the latter was treated for bronchitis.
«Obviously you all know both of them had a little bit of a setback health-wise recently,» said Goodell, as quoted by Fox News. «I heard from both of them and they’re excited and anxious to be here. We’re honored to have them, and I think it’ll be a great way to start the game. »
Sunday’s coin toss marked the second time that Bush — or any president — has facilitated in the process after his first time at Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, which was won by the Patriots.
