Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills NFL team, is sending U.S. Army veteran Cory Geisler to the Super Bowl next weekend, he announced this week.
Allen partnered with USAA and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to send Geisler, a retired Army staff sergeant and the Wisconsin VFW State Commander, to the game as part of the game.
“Proud to work with @USAA and @VFWHQ to honor @USArmy veteran SSGT Cory Geisler with a trip for two to #SuperBowlLVI – thank you for your service! #SaluteToService#USAApartner,” Allen tweeted Wednesday.
According to USAA, Geisler graduated University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and held a successful six-year career in sales. Geisler ultimately left his sales job to join the U.S. Army, where he served from 2005 to 2012, reaching the rank of staff sergeant.
Geisler completed his basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, and continued on to advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He qualified for the Military Police Corps and was initially stationed in South Korea at Camp Walker.
Geisler also deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from May 2007 to August 2008. During that deployment, he performed convoy escort duties, route reconnaissance, walking patrols, and trained Iraqi police officers.
Geisler left active duty in November 2008 and continued to serve in the Army Reserve with the US Army’s 102nd Military Police Company, based in Sheboygan, WI. From there, Geisler continued to train and mentor other soldiers before he left the military in 2012.
Geisler now lives in Hartland, Wisconsin with Beth, his wife of 17 years, and his 12-year-old daughter, Laura. Geisler plans to bring his wife to the game.
“Giving up a successful career to serve our country and enlist in the U.S. Army is incredibly admirable,” Allen said of Geisler and his service. “I’m excited to team up with USAA and the VFW to send Staff Sergeant Cory Geisler to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles where I can’t wait to shake his hand and thank him for his service.”
Allen is scheduled to meet with Geisler and other military members at USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge in during the Super Bowl weekend (Friday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 12) in Los Angeles.
USAA’s Salute to Service Lounge will invite current service members, veterans, and their families to meet with NFL players, coaches and personalities.
The VFW nominated Geisler to go to the Salute to Service Lounge and the Super Bowl and Allen paired with VFW for the opportunity.
Other veterans organizations, including USO, Wounded Warrior Project, Together We Served, American Veterans (AMVETS) and other organizations are partnering with USAA to send service members, veterans and their family members to the game.
The Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Feb. 13.
