In February, Clark Harris was able to enjoy something a relative few professional football players ever get to experience: playing in the Super Bowl. Still, while he had a job to do and, of course, the Cincinnati Bengals tried to win the Vince Lombardi trophy, his perspective about playing football at the highest level always has been a simple one.

“Whatever happens, it’s still a game. I’m still blessed to play the game at my age,” he said, 10 days before Super Bowl Sunday.