A 26-year Navy vet from the area was surprised by a Super Bowl invite from Jaxson Dart as part of a USAAA and veteran program.
The guy ironically is a Jets fan and hasn’t been to a game since the 1970s.
In the days leading up to a Super Bowl — before any memorable plays are made that shape players’ lives and careers — a lot of cool things can happen.
One of them occurred last week when Gary Schacher, a 65-year-old Rockland County native who served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves for 26 years (1980–2006), achieving the rank of E7 Chief Petty Officer, was given two tickets to Super Bowl 2026 by Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart, who has family members who’ve served in the military, teamed up with USAA, Official Salute to Service Partner and the American Legion to gift Super Bowl tickets to seven military veterans like Schacher.
“I’m still in shock, and it’s been over a week,’’ Schacher told The Post over the phone Friday. “It was extremely surprising.’’
He said he got a call from American Legion national headquarters asking him if he was available the following morning to go on a Zoom call to work on some logistics for next year’s Army-Navy game, which will be played at MetLife Stadium.
“So I get on the call and they talk a little bit about the Army-Navy game and they say, ‘You know, the Army-Navy game is like the Super Bowl of college football,’ ’’ Schacher recalled.
“Then they said, ‘Well, you’re going to the Super Bowl.’”
Schacher said the last line went right over his head.
“I didn’t catch it at first,’’ he said. “And finally they said, ‘No, you’re really going to the Super Bowl. You’ve been selected because of your accomplishments, what you’ve done in the military, the Legion and your community. You’re more than deserving of this.’”
Schacher served in the U.S. Navy (Fleet and Seabees), with various roles as a Gunner’s Mate and Small Arms Instructor.
Among the highlights of his military career include commissioning the USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16) in 1981 and assignments to multiple bases across the U.S., and overseas deployments to Fallujah, Iraq, and Rota, Spain.
He was awarded four Navy Commendation Medals and three Navy Achievement Medals, the Navy Expert Pistol Medal, the Navy Expert Rifle Medal and several campaign, service and unit awards.
And he was a recipient of the New York Conspicuous Service Star and the New York Medal for Merit.
In 2017, he was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.
“As I reflect on my first season, I’m most appreciative of the connections I’ve made with the fans and the local community who show up for us every single day,’’ Dart said. “Coming from a military family myself, it’s important for me to honor those who served because we wouldn’t have the chance to do what we love on Sundays without the sacrifices made by heroes like Gary.”
Schacher called it “humbling to have been selected’’ for this honor, adding, “And then to have a New York Giant announce that I’m going to the Super Bowl… ’’
The fun rub here is Schacher is a lifelong Jets fan.
“I go back to the Joe Namath days, [John] Riggins, Freeman McNeil,’’ he said. “But I do root for the Giants. I’m a New York sports fan.’’
Schacher said the last football game he attended in person was a Giants game in 1973. The last Jets game he saw in person was before that.
When I mentioned how funny it is that the face of the Giants is sending him to his first Super Bowl, Schacher said, “I guess I have to be more of a Giants fan now.’’
He’s never met Dart, but will next week before the game.
“I’m a big football fan, a big sports fan, and to be part of something like this is just amazing,’’ Schacher said. “I’ve watched many, many Super Bowl games on television and thought how great it would be to be in the seats and watch the game. But I never thought it would happen.’’
Schacher said his wife, Laurie, will accompany him to The Big Game. They have two daughters, Kimberly and Cara. Cara lives in Seattle and is a Seahawks fan.
Asked what he plans to say to Dart other than, “Thank you,’’ Schacher said, “I’m still working on that. I mean, just looking at his stats, to me that’s the Rookie of the Year. Hopefully, he stays with the Giants a long time.’’
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