Nick Allegretti was pacing back and forth at the two-minute warning in the first half of Super Bowl LVIII. A couple of his Kansas City Chiefs teammates asked if he was OK, and his answer was a definitive "no."
Allegretti, who had been called up to the starting lineup when Joe Thuney was ruled out for the AFC Championship, had just torn his UCL. He had never been injured like that before, but based on his limited knowledge of anatomy and how a human elbow was supposed to bend, he knew it was bad.
Allegretti had a choice as the Chiefs went into halftime down 10-3 to the San Francisco 49ers: take himself out of the game and force the Chiefs to play a third-string offensive lineman against the 49ers' talented pass rush or tough it out and play.
Allegretti chose the latter, and not did it play a part in the Chiefs winning the game, but it also taught Allegretti something about himself.
"Just that I could persevere through more than maybe I thought I could," Allegretti said.
The injury itself occurred late in the second quarter. Nick Bosa made a tackle through Allegretti's arm, causing it to bend awkwardly. Allegretti heard, and felt, a pop in his elbow, causing pain to shoot through his arm.
The decision of whether to play the rest of the game or sit out for the sake of his health was a difficult one for Allegretti. He had been to, and won, Super Bowls with the Chiefs in the past, but he had never started in one. While the Chiefs have made a habit of at least competing for championships, Allegretti knew there was no guarantee he would make it back to one in his career, never mind playing a critical role.
"There was a lot of anger when it happened," Allegretti said. "Because it was like, 'Man, am I gonna have to pull myself out of the Super Bowl?'"
Take a look at Nick Allegretti's time in Kansas City before coming to Washington. (Photos via The Associated Press)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Nick Allegretti (73) and offensive guard Cameron Erving (75) in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Bengals, 38-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) takes a moment to pray on the sideline prior to an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates with guard Trey Smith (65) as confetti falls following an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates with guard Trey Smith (65) following an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates following an NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 in overtime. (David Gray/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Blaine Gabbert (9) and Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrate after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers in overtime, 25-22. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) receives the ball during the NFL championship playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Bills 38-24. (Alika Jenner via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) runs across the field during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) lines up during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti (73) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 44-23. (Greg Trott via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) defends against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Rams, 26-10. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) stands on the sideline during an NFL game against the Houston Texans, Thursday, Sep. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs beat the Texans 34-20. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks against the Los Angeles Rams during a NFL football game Sunday, Nov 27. 15, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Rams, 26-10. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti celebrates with teammates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Monday, Oct. 10, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Nick Allegretti (73) moves in to block Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Steve McLendon (96) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) downs a punt near the end zone ahead of Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Keanu Neal (42) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti (73) waits to snap the ball during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the 49ers 44-23. (Greg Trott via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Nick Allegretti (73) celebrates catching his first NFL Touchdown during the wildcard playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, January 16, 2022 in Kansas City. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Mike Remers, Andrew Wylie, Austin Reiter, Nick Allegretti and Eric Fisher walk to the line as they break the huddle against the Denver Broncos during a NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Broncos 22-16. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) motions prior to the play during the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) blocks during the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. The Chiefs won 17-10. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrate during an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Kansas City. The Chiefs beat the Browns 22-17. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) in action during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) and offensive tackle Donovan Smith (79) step up to block during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Kansas City Chiefs won 17-10. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) in action during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024 (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti (73) lines up during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 17-10. (Joe Robbins via AP)
Fortunately, as bad as the pain was, it didn't limit his ability to play. The injury was also in his left arm, which meant he could still use his dominant hand.
He also came to a realization in the locker room once he found out that his UCL was completely torn: it wasn't going to tear any more than it already had.
"As long as I can handle the pain and compete and not hurt the team, there was no reason for me to come out," Allegretti said.
Allegretti got himself a brace, which helped mitigate some of the pain in his elbow, and returned to the starting lineup in the second half. He was expecting just a couple more hours of pain, but as it became apparent the game was heading to overtime, he knew he would need to endure for a little longer.
"I was able to persevere a lot more than I thought I could, and that was something I'm really proud of," Allegretti said. "I take a lot of pride in the job that we have as football players and completing the job to the best of our ability. If there's any way for me to stay on that field, I'm gonna do it."
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And Allegretti did enough to finish the job on the NFL's biggest stage. According to Nex Gen Stats, he allowed just four pressures on 56 pass-blocking snaps. He gave up a sack in the fourth quarter but played cleanly in overtime when it mattered most.
Aside from being an all-time example of Allegretti's grittiness, it also falls in line with how he views his situation. He knows there's only a short window in his life where he can play in the NFL, and it could close at any point.
So, he doesn't intend to waste any opportunity, least of all a chance to win a Super Bowl.
"Most people don't even get to this period," Allegretti said. "So, if you make it to this period, take advantage of it. Try to be in this league as long as you possibly can. Don't let a distraction be the reason you have to end your career."
