Watch George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush take part in the Super Bowl coin toss

Former President George H.W. Bush assists with the coin toss at the beginning of Super Bowl LI.

(Image credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

last updated 6 February 2017

Former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush didn't let their recent health issues stop them from getting Super Bowl LI started.

On Sunday, the couple — who have been married for 72 years — came down to the field to toss the coin at the beginning of the game between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots in Houston. Last month, the 92-year-old former president was hospitalized after coming down with pneumonia, and his wife, 91, was also admitted to the hospital and treated for bronchitis. The Bushes received cheers and loud applause from the stands and the players, while the Falcons won the toss and deferred their selection to the second half of the game.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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