Joe Theismann still remembers the first football game he called as an announcer. It was 1981 and Theismann, who was still playing quarterback in the NFL, was part of the broadcast team for the Ohio State and Navy game at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. He didn’t want to say too much but he wanted to say enough as he filled his way through the broadcast.

More than 40 years later, the 74-year-old former NFL MVP’s connection to Memphis and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl continues to grow.

Theismann was honored on Sunday at the Hilton Memphis hotel as the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s 2024 Distinguished Citizen Award winner. FedEx founder Fred Smith, Peyton and Archie Manning, Elvis Presley, Danny Thomas and former Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy are among the past winners.

“It’s such a distinguished group of people that have received this, and I’m humbled to be in that group,” Theismann told The Commercial Appeal.

Theismann’s wife, Robin, is a Memphis native. The Theismann’s have spent more than 30 years together in Memphis.

Nearly a decade before Theismann settled in Memphis, he suffered one of the most notable injuries in NFL history when he suffered a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg. His focus then shifted to the broadcast booth, where he settled in and later became an adopted Memphian.

“I love living here in Memphis,” Theismann said. “It’s our home. The people are wonderful. … Down here in the South, it doesn’t get any better than this. Especially for a kid from Jersey who developed a Southern accent.”

Theismann joked that he’s in the shadows in Memphis, but his community work has been noticed enough for him to achieve an honor the AutoZone Liberty Bowl described as for "renowned Americans who have distinguished themselves and reached the pinnacle of their chosen field."

In Theismann’s own words, he said he felt like he needed to be served at one point in his life. However, he “found out the hard way” that his life path was more about serving others.

In Theismann’s journey of serving others, he developed a rapport with St. Jude that came in an intrinsic way through his previous connections. Richard Shadyac is the current ALSAC CEO, which is the organization for fundraising and awareness at St. Jude.

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Long before those ventures, Shadyac was Theismann’s attorney in Washington. That relationship has helped Theismann learn more about St. Jude and make several donations and contributions over the years.

“Having a chance to see literal miracles performed just made my heart feel so warm in such a special place."

Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Joe Theismann's Memphis connections result in Liberty Bowl honor