VIDEO: Sarasota Memorial Hospital Workers Get Surprise Invite to the Super Bowl

Raymond James Stadium will have fans in seats after all when it hosts Super Bowl 55 February 7.

It’s been talked about for weeks and today, the NFL made it official. Vaccinated health care workers from around the country will get an invite to watch the Super Bowl, according to a tweet from the NFL this morning: “The NFL is inviting 7,500 vaccinated health care workers to attend Super Bowl LV to thank and honor them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic.”

Some Sarasota Memorial Hospital workers have already been invited after getting a Zoom call from Roger Goodell. He broke into a normal work Zoom meeting to surprise the workers. Goodell said he’s the son of a nurse. There were tears. Each team in the NFL will be given 4 invites for health care workers in their area. 22,000 fans in total will be allowed to attend the game.

Now will Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get an invite to Super Bowl 55? They’d be the first team to ever host and play in the Super Bowl if they win Sunday!

Tampa’s Super Bowl Memories

• Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants v Buffalo Bills

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  Whitney Houston sings the National Anthem before a game with the New York Giants taking on the Buffalo Bills prior to Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won 20-19.

• Tom Flores

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  22 Jan 1984: Head coach Tom Flores of the Los Angeles Raiders gives his victory speech in the locker room after Super Bowl XVIII against the Washington Redskins at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Raiders won the game, 38-9.

• Halftime Show Press Conference

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  N'SYNC look across the stage in amusement during a press conference for performers in the 2001 Super Bowl XXXV halftime show at the Tampa Convention Center January 25, 2001 in Tampa, FL. Members of N'sYNC are J. C. Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass, Justin Timberlake and Joey Fatone.
• Media Day Super Bowl X Strahan

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  Michael Strahan #92 of the New York Giants talks with the media on Media Day at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida the sight of Super Bowl XXXV. The New York Giants play the Baltimore Ravens on January 28, 2001.

• Bridgestone Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show

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  Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform at the Bridgestone halftime show during Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.

• 1991

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  The scoreboard at Super Bowl XXV between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19.
• Super Bowl XLIII

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  Fans arrive prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.

• Super Bowl XLIII

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  Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy after the Steelers won 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.

• Super Bowl XXV: Buffalo Bills v New York Giants

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  Injured quarterback Phil Simms of the New York Giants talks to ABC TV announcer Dan Dierdorff before the game against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida. The Giants defeated the Bills 20-19.
• Super Bowl XXV

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  12 Jan 1991: Kicker Scott Norwood #11 of the Buffalo Bills misses a 47-yard field goal wide right at the end of regulation during Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19.

• Backstreet Boys

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  The Backstreet Boys peform the National Anthem before the Super Bowl XXXV Game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens at the Raymond James Stadium. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.

• MTV Super Bowl Halftime

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  Justin Timberlake, Steven Tyler, Britney Spears, and Nelly on stage during MTV's Superbowl halftime show at Raymond James Stadium.
• Super Bowl XLIII

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  A fan holds up tickets outside the stadium prior to Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

• Super Bowl XLIII Pre-Game Show

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  Faith Hill performs "America the Beautiful" during the pre-game show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.

• Super Bowl XXV

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  Security staffmembers check a car prior to the start of Super Bowl XXV between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills at Tampa Stadium in 1991. The Giants won the game, 20-19.
• MTV TRL: Jennifer Lopez

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  Jennifer Lopez backstage during MTV's TRL on Superbowl Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

• Super Bowl XLIII

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  Jeff Reed #3 of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicks a field goal in the first quarter during Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.

• Super Bowl XLIII

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  Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy as he is interviewed by Dan Patrick from NBC after they won 27-23 the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa.
• Super Bowl X

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  Quarterback Trent Dilfer of the Baltimore Ravens is presented the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the New York Giants during Super Bowl XXXV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.

• Super Bowl XXV

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  General view of Super Bowl XXV between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19.

• Super Bowl XLIII

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  Security personnel survey the grounds outside the stadium prior to Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium.
• Stadium Aerial View in 2001

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  An aerial view from the Monster.com blimp shows Raymond James Stadium, the site of Super Bowl XXXV, in Tampa, Florida.

• Musical Performers at Super Bowl XXXV

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  Sting performs during the pre-game show January 28, 2001 at Super Bowl XXXV between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants at Raymond James Stadium

• Aerosmith, NSync and Britney Spears

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  Britney Spears performs with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith during the halftime show January 28, 2001 for Super Bowl XXXV at Raymond James Stadium.
• Musical Performers at Super Bowl XXXV

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  Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs during the halftime show January 28, 2001 for Super Bowl XXXV at Raymond James Stadium.

• Super Bowl X Dilfer

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  From 2001: Trent Dilfer #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws against the New York Giants during Super Bowl XXXV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

• Super Bowl XXV

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  The New York Giants take to the field during Super Bowl XXV in 1991 against the Buffalo Bills at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Giants won the game, 20-19.