Who would have ever thought that Super Bowl-winning linebacker Ray Lewis, of all people, would have helped inspire one of the greatest athletes of his generation to come back for another historic appearance at the Olympic Games?
Not many, no doubt, but according to Olympic champion Michael Phelps, that's exactly what happened.
Phelps was in attendance for the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday when his hometown Baltimore Ravens beat the Patriots 28-13 to advance to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 3.
As it turns out, Phelps has more in common with Lewis, the NFL's all-time leader in sacks, than just being two sports heroes from the same city.
In fact, if it wasn't for Lewis, Phelps told the Washington Post, he would never have come back to win five gold medals and a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
"What he did for me is the best thing in the world," Phelps said. "He helped me come back."
Phelps, then 23, became the most famous swimmer in the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a record eight gold medals during the two-week Olympic Games.
However, he lost focus afterwards and the celebrated Olympian found it hard to train afterwards, admitting that he struggled personally afterwards. During his struggles, Phelps found a friend in Lewis, who is 10 years older, and was able to relate to what he was going through as a fellow athlete.
"He's probably the only person who could really help me do that," Phelps said. "He's been through everything - the ups and downs - and he's helped me literally overcome a lot of things that I've had in my life that have been tough, and he's been there for me."
Lewis, who is retiring after Super Bowl XLVII concludes, has been on an emotional journey throughout the playoffs as his underdog Ravens pulled out win after improbable win.
The game was also admittedly an emotional one for his friend Phelps, who sat with his family in a private suite at the title game on Sunday cheering on their hometown team to victory.
"Mom started to cry," Phelps said. "Before the game even ended, the [Kraft] suite had cleared."