Retired Packers great Antonio Freeman says he can’t imagine a moment bigger than watching his 21-year-old son Alex Freeman, a U.S. defender on Team USA, compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup—more special than his own Super Bowl XXXI win.
Antonio Freeman still remembers the kind of highlight that becomes part of sports history. In Super Bowl 31, he hauled in an 81-yard touchdown from Brett Favre—one of those plays that turns a good season into a lifelong memory.
But when the conversation shifts to his son, the retired Green Bay star draws a line he says he can’t cross.
The question is simple: how would his Super Bowl win compare to watching his 21-year-old son, Alex Freeman, win a World Cup?
Freeman doesn’t hesitate. “It’s no comparison. I mean. and to be honest. to reach the platform that he’s reached. my Super Bowl was very special. but there’s still no comparison to where he is right now as a 21-year-old. you know. picked and selected as one of the 26 best in the United States of America to represent your team. something I never got a chance to do. So he’s among another echelon of elite and him by far.”.
Alex Freeman is a defender on the Team USA soccer team, and the squad is just days away from playing in the world’s biggest and most-watched sporting event.
Freeman’s pride isn’t theoretical. He remembers what the NFL spotlight felt like—especially in the moment that still gets replayed. His Super Bowl win came in the Packers’ 1997 triumph over the Patriots. when he was a pivotal part of the offense. He finished with three catches for 105 receiving yards, including that 81-yard touchdown reception.
Still, the father says the emotions now are different, sharper, and closer to the surface.
“Now I understand what my parents went through,” Freeman said.
The retired NFL star described what it’s like to watch Alex get ready and step onto the pitch—how the buildup lives in his body before the match even starts. “You know, my hair stands up on my arm. You know, my stomach is uneasy. You know. it’s just an array of emotions that really takes over every time I see him walk out and get on that pitch and get to do something that he loves to do and he’s worked so hard for.”.
He keeps going, focusing on the quieter payoff behind the drama of competition. “And, man, as a parent, it’s nothing like that. You know, just seeing your kids be successful and be successful and love what they do.”
As Team USA prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Freeman’s takeaway is clear: the Super Bowl will always belong to him—but the World Cup, if it ever comes, would belong to them together.
Antonio Freeman Alex Freeman World Cup 2026 FIFA World Cup Team USA Super Bowl 31 Brett Favre Green Bay Packers NFL soccer