Stationed up high in a booth on Feb. 12, Cheshire native and Kansas City Chiefs video assistant Erich Corcoran watched keenly as Super Bowl LVII came down to the wire at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs had taken a 38-35 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Harrison Butker with eight seconds left, but the Eagles still had time for one more play from scrimmage.
Looking through his camera, Corcoran saw a dream play out before his eyes. Kansas City forced the Eagles into an incomplete pass to clinch the title and start a celebration on the field.
While members of the Arizona Cardinals broke down his camera, Corcoran knew that he had to join the festivities as soon as possible.
“I ran down the stairs as fast as I could. I ran on the field, grabbed my t-shirt, and hugged everyone,” recalled Corcoran, a 2015 Cheshire High School graduate. “I wanted to cry, but I didn’t get it (the tears) out.”
With his parents and girlfriend looking on from the stands, Corcoran got to share in an annual National Football League tradition. He stood in a line to take the stage and hold the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the air.
“It was surprising how heavy it is,” said Corcoran, who planted a kiss on the trophy. “You felt rushed because everybody wanted to take their photo with it.”
For Corcoran, the Super Bowl capped a special first season with the Chiefs. He had spent the previous three seasons as an intern with the Indianapolis Colts.
“I’ve always had the dream of going to the Super Bowl, as a player or anyone else,” reflected Corcoran. “It (this experience) was as good as you can ever dream it would be. I saved confetti in my pocket.”
His videographer journey started back at Indiana University. As a sophomore, Corcoran saw an email about the football program looking for people to film their practices.
Corcoran wasn’t given a lot of responsibilities during his first year.
“It (the job) was pretty easy to pick up, but there were curves and bumps along the way,” recalled Corcoran. “Working in a fast-paced and stressful situation was new to me.”
In showing that he could handle filming, Corcoran was given the opportunity to work practices and run the sideline camera during games for his last two years. He took pride in earning the trust of the IU football staff.
“I was working on film and software,” said Corcoran. “It was everything they (the coaches) needed from a review standpoint.”
He liked getting to experience the passion for football in the Big-10 Conference.
“Being up in our booth, we could pretty much see everything. We were up as high as you can be,” recalled Corcoran. “It was incredible for me being a 19- or 20-year-old kid and seeing this fanfare.”
Through his experience, he learned that the Colts were looking for people to join their video department. After graduating from IU in 2019, Corcoran went to work for them.
He started out shooting practices.
“I was filming the same things, but it is a faster pace in the NFL. It was a new environment where people didn’t trust me initially,” explained Corcoran. “There was an adjustment period with getting to know new people.”
With repetition, Corcoran felt that things got easier every day. He started working more with the team’s Catapult software.
Corcoran also attended the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, during which college prospects are evaluated by scouts, coaches, and more personnel.
“People would come to me instead of someone else because they knew that I was capable of helping them,” recalled Corcoran.
Since Indianapolis plays indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium, he became used to working in a loud environment.
“Everybody is on their feet at those games. In the dome, my ears were ringing,” stated Corcoran. “Everything about it (game day) was incredible and special.”
After working for three seasons as an intern, he was offered a full-time job with the Chiefs last year.
“It was a no-brainer. You want to move up in the industry,” said Corcoran. “When I talked to everyone in Indianapolis, they said that I would be dumb to not take this opportunity.”
He came into the Chiefs franchise with professional filming experience, but still felt there was an adjustment period. After getting into a routine in Indianapolis, Corcoran worked to pick up a new set-up.
“The coaches had to get used to me,” recalled Corcoran, who was given the chance to shoot down in the end zone. “It was a learning curve at finding where the coaches wanted their shots.”
He appreciated the Chiefs staff and players for helping him with the transition.
“Everybody in this building has been special since day one,” stated Corcoran.
From the start of the 2022-23 season, he was amazed by the fandom in Kansas City.
“In the pre-season, there are cars backed up for two miles before a game for tailgating,” said Corcoran. “Chiefs football is a culture in Kansas City.”
To reach the Super Bowl, Corcoran thought that it was tense watching the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20, in the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship Game on Jan. 29. Like in the Super Bowl, Butker kicked the winning field goal at the end of the game.
“Being able to go on the field and hug everybody was great,” said Corcoran.
At Arrowhead Stadium, he believes that the crowd noise was unlike anything he has ever heard.
“My ears were still ringing after the game,” recalled Corcoran.
While Kansas City fans got hyped up for the Super Bowl, Corcoran and his video teammates traveled out west a week early and started planning to shoot at State Farm Stadium. From up in the booth, Corcoran was asked to shoot into the Eagles end zone, and get sideline angles as well.
In the lead-up to the big game, he started work at 7 a.m. and went to bed at 8 p.m.
“We had to work everything like it was (business as) usual,” said Corcoran. “It was good to feel the buzz around the game.”
Corcoran described Super Bowl Sunday as a dream come true.
“Walking into the stadium and seeing a lot of the signage was incredible,” stated Corcoran. “Once the game kicked off and we got through two drives, it felt like a normal game.”
The Eagles jumped out to a 24-14 advantage at halftime, but Corcoran was confident that his team could stage a comeback.
“I was told that with our coaches and (quarterback and NFL MVP) Patrick Mahomes, no comeback is too much,” recalled Corcoran.
He was excited to see the Chiefs rally to take the lead. The Eagles tied the game at 35-35, but the Chiefs came back with the winning drive capped by Butker’s field goal.
“It was special. You saw everything we practice,” recalled Corcoran. “Harrison missed a field goal earlier in the game, but he is one of the best kickers in the game. It was awesome to drive down the field and drain the clock (for him).”
Getting to hoist the Lombardi Trophy was just the start of the celebration for Corcoran and the Chiefs.
“Everybody was jumping and smoking cigars in the locker room,” recalled Corcoran. “We packed up and went to our hotel for a party. (Electronic duo) The Chainsmokers, DJ Khaled, and Jason Derulo performed there. It was crazy.”
After flying home, the Chiefs invited their fans to attend a Super Bowl parade on Feb. 15. For the route, Corcoran stood on top of a bus.
“It was a really cool experience being part of the celebration,” explained Corcoran. “It was emotional seeing how much it (the championship) meant to the city again.”
While having shared in the festivities, Corcoran is already back to work preparing for next season. From Thursday through Sunday in Indianapolis, his video team will be filming at the NFL Combine.
Having previously worked for the Colts, Corcoran is very familiar with Lucas Oil Stadium. On Sept. 25 of last year, he saw a lot of friends when the Chiefs traveled to play his old team.
“It is always special to go back to Indianapolis and seeing the people who helped me start out,” Corcoran said.
Since Kansas City will also host the NFL Draft from April 27-29, Corcoran plans to stay busy in the off-season. He doesn’t see himself leaving the Chiefs anytime soon.
“I enjoy what I’m doing now,” stated Corcoran. “I love what I do and the people I work with. I’m happy to be on board for the ride.”
Corcoran is excited for the Chiefs to kick off the NFL regular season at home this fall.
“It is going to be crazy dropping a (Super Bowl) banner,” said Corcoran. “It will bring back the party again.”