The NFL paid tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant and others with a moment of silence before the Super Bowl on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
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Listen to the emotional tribute of LeBron James to Kobe Bryant 0:38
(CNN) - The NFL paid tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant and others with a moment of silence before the Super Bowl on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Bryant, 41, died in a helicopter crash on January 26 along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others: John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester and the pilot Ara Zobayan
The league also paid tribute to Professional Football Hall of Fame member Chris Doleman, who died of cancer on Tuesday at age 58.
(Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images)
All players lined up on the 24-yard lines before the game in honor of the number Bryant used during the second half of his career.
The players also paid tributes in their own way to the superstar.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced earlier this week that he would recognize Bryant before the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
"Kobe was a special person," Goodell told reporters. “I had the opportunity to meet him. Obviously he brought a lot to our world and I think that all of us not only regret the tragic events for his family, but also for all the other passengers in the helicopter. It is difficult to understand and difficult to process. ”
- PHOTOS | The best images of before, during and after the Super Bowl 2020
1 of 38 | Derrick Nnadi of Kansas City makes a confetti angel after the game. Elsa / Getty Images
2 of 38 | Mahomes chats with San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo after the game. Matt York / AP
3 of 38 | San Francisco's wide receiver, Deebo Samuel, leaves the field at the end of the game. Ronald Martínez / Getty Images
4 of 38 | Mahomes celebrates a touchdown. Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports
5 of 38 | Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reacts after being wet at the end of the game. This is Reid's first Super Bowl title as head coach. David J. Phillip / AP
6 of 38 | Kansas City runner Damien Williams celebrates his long touchdown career that put the finishing touch on the Chiefs' victory. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
7 of 38 | Garoppolo reacts after being tackled at the end of the game. Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports
8 of 38 | Williams crosses the scoring line to give the Chiefs a 23-20 lead in the fourth quarter. Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports
9 of 38 | Williams celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce after he catches a touchdown pass to cut San Francisco's lead in the fourth quarter. Lynne Sladky / AP
10 of 38 | The 49ers celebrate after Fred Warner intercepted a pass from Mahomes in the second half. Mark J. Terrill / AP
11 of 38 | Tyreek Hill is tackled by Warner after his interception. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
12 of 38 | Mahomes looks for the ball after it was snatched from the hands in the second half. Morry Gash / AP
13 of 38 | Kansas City fans cheer during the second half. Wilfredo Lee / AP
14 of 38 | The 49ers' wide receiver, Kendrick Bourne, is tackled by Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward in the third quarter. Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports
15 38 | San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan instructs his players during the game. Maddie Meyer / Getty Images
16 of 38 | Mahomes looks down at the floor during the game. Morry Gash / AP
17 of 38 | Garoppolo throws a pass in the third quarter. Elsa / Getty Images
18 of 38 | The 49ers kicker Robbie Gould gives San Francisco a 13-10 lead in the third quarter. Morry Gash / AP
19 of 38 | Kyle Juszczyk of San Francisco jumps to the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter. The game was tied 10-10 at halftime. Jamie Squire / Getty Images
20 of 38 | Juszczyk celebrates its touchdown reception. Al Bello / Getty Images
21 of 38 | Mahomes runs for the first touchdown of the game. Jamie Squire / Getty Images
22 of 38 | Mahomes and the Chiefs celebrate their first touchdown. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
23 of 38 | Williams loses his helmet in the first quarter. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images
24 of 38 | San Francisco's tight end, George Kittle, is tackled by Daniel Sorensen in the first quarter. Wilfredo Lee / AP
25 of 38 | The Kansas City deep, Tyrann Mathieu, tries to tackle Samuel. David J. Phillip / AP
26 of 38 | Chiefs fans cheer on Mahomes in the first half. Mark Humphrey / AP
27 of 38 | Mecole Hardman of Kansas City returns the initial kick. Sam Greenwood / Getty Images
28 of 38 | Singer Demi Lovato plays the national anthem of the United States before the game.Tom Pennington / Getty Images
29 of 38 | The game was played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Angela Weiss / AFP / Getty Images
30 of 38 | The Chiefs jump to the field during pregame presentations. Mourry Gash / AP
31 of 38 | The 100 best players in the NFL of all time were honored before the game. Rob Carr / Getty Images
32 of 38 | San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Katie Sowers talks to the players before the game begins. She is the first woman and openly gay person to train in a Super Bowl. Mark Humphrey / AP
33 of 38 | Rapper Jay-Z watches his daughter, Blue Ivy, jump over the field before the game. David J. Phillip / AP
34 of 38 | Former baseball star Alex Rodriguez throws a soccer ball before the game. His girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, performed during the halftime show. Chris O'Meara / AP
35 of 38 | Fans outside Hard Rock Stadium. Eva Marie Uzcategui / AFP / Getty Images
36 of 38 | Both teams stand in the 24-yard lines before the game to observe a moment of silence in memory of NBA legend Kobe Bryant; his daughter, Gianna, and other people who died in a helicopter crash last week. Ronald Martínez / Getty Images
37 of 38 | In the stadium you see a picture of Bryant and his daughter. Rob Carr / Getty Images
38 of 38 | The 49ers' wide receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, wore slippers in homage to Kobe Bryant. Matt York / AP Bryant is known as one of the best players in the history of the NBA, currently ranks fourth at all times in points scored. He was an All-Star 18 times and helped take Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles in his 20 years in the league, all with one team.
While he earned his fame on the basketball court, his impact was felt throughout the world of sport and especially in American football, which was evident during the Pro Bowl after his death.
"Everyone in our locker room was in pain," said Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on January 26, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. “Some of these guys don't know Kobe at all, but he is in our hearts. He did something for the game. ”
The league found a way to honor Bryant and all the victims of the helicopter crash, as well as Doleman, before the most important event of the football season.
Kobe Bryant Super Bowl
