ELVIS Grbac is a Super Bowl champion – but a case of mistaken identity saw him bestowed with arguably an even bigger accolade.

The former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was accidentally named Sexiest Athlete Alive by People magazine.

Quarterback Elvis Grbac throws during his final NFL season with the Baltimore Ravens


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Quarterback Elvis Grbac throws during his final NFL season with the Baltimore RavensCredit: AFP

The former Chief star was accidentally crowned Sexiest Athlete Alive
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The former Chief star was accidentally crowned Sexiest Athlete AliveCredit: Getty
Grbac played for the San Francisco 49ers, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Chiefs during his nine-year NFL career.

He spent three years as a starter at Arrowhead Stadium with the Chiefs, before sharing the role with Rich Gannon in 1997.

A firm fan favorite, he helped lead Kansas City to two playoff berths and a national title.

Bob Moore, the Chiefs’ longtime PR director, revealed the team received a call from People magazine in 1998.

“We got a phone call referencing that Elvis Grbac was in line for Sexiest Athlete Alive,” he said, via the NY Times.

“To which a number of us were surprised.”

“But I would suppose the most surprised person was Elvis,” he added.

“There’s guys in that locker room that are 10 times better-looking than I am,” a dumbfounded Grbac said.

A staffer at People revealed to the Times there had been a “miscommunication”, resulting in Grbac being wrongly photographed by the magazine.

It had been decided the “hot Kansas City Chiefs quarterback” had been selected for the Sexiest Athlete gong.

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But staffers had meant Gannon – not the ousted Grbac – as their pick.

Gannon played for much of the 1998 seasons while Grbac was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

“The photos came back and the interview came back,” former People employee Jennifer Wulff told the Times.

“One of the editors said, ‘This is the guy?’

Diamonds are forever

Kansas City’s newest Super Bowl rings feature 529 diamonds, 38 rubies and a nod to their game-winning play.

The Chiefs flashed their latest piece of jewelry at a special ceremony on Thursday, June 13.

The new bling features the years of Kansas City’s Super Bowl wins – 1969, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

It also has a handwritten drawing of Andy Reid’s ‘Tom and Jerry’ play which won Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kansas City beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in February.

And the rings feature 22 diamonds to represent the points Kansas City scored in the second half and overtime.

Nineteen diamonds also represent their 11 straight winning seasons and eight AFC West titles in a row.

While there is also commemorative patch for the late Norma Hunt, the matriarch of the family which owns the Chiefs who died last summer.

“Then we were looking it up and figured out that it was the other quarterback.”

Grbac was interviewed and photographed for the magazine, despite editors initially wanting his playing partner for the award.

“And then it was too late,” Wulff continued.

“They felt so bad. We couldn’t cancel it at that point. It would be so mean.”

Grbac played his final season in the NFL in 2001.

After hanging up his boots, he became the athletic director at his childhood school Villa Angela-St. Joseph High.

Gannon meanwhile would spend 18 seasons in the league.

He was named the NFL’s MVP in 2002 and was a four-time Pro Bowler.

Rich Gannon, Grbac's backup, in action during practice for the Oakland Raiders
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Rich Gannon, Grbac’s backup, in action during practice for the Oakland RaidersCredit: AP:Associated Press

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