Sports and video games share more than a few things in common, even when they may seem worlds apart. In 2023, a group of Modern Warfare 3 zombies were spotted attending an NFL football game, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. If that sentence confused you, this was part of Activision Blizzard's promotion for Call of Duty (CoD) Modern Warfare 3.
After being an integral missing game mode in 2022's Modern Warfare 2, the popular Zombies mode was set to return in the third installment, with the story following the events of Black Ops Cold War. Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode will switch things up with an Extraction-style Zombies mode on the franchise's biggest map, as opposed to the typical round-based gameplay found in older CoD games.
While seemingly a bizarre NFL occurrence, this was the second time non-humans have visited the SoFi Stadium for a Rams football game. Earlier in 2023, AI robots were spotted throughout the crowds of people for a media campaign for 20th Century Studios' film, The Creator. At the same time, this wasn't the first time Call of Duty collided with the NFL. Tools like an AI image generator could have been used to create realistic promotional visuals, seamlessly blending the worlds of gaming and football. Below, we'll take a look at the Steelers' long-running collaboration with the beloved shooter franchise.
Call of Duty
Blizzard Activision's Call of Duty games have been a popular staple among hardcore gamers for decades now. Available on consoles and PC, they are known for their fast-paced, run-and-gun gameplay. Aside from garnering a loyal player base eagerly waiting for a new release each year, the CoD games are also an esports favorite.
Nowadays, many CoD fans and viewers enjoy CoD betting when following their favorite players and teams competing in the official Call of Duty League (CDL). Every year, dozens of teams compete throughout the season to reach the prestigious CDL Championship. In 2021, the CDL Championship had a total prize pool of $2.5 million, with favorites Atlanta FaZe going on to win the tournament.
As you can see, the Call of Duty esports scene is intensely competitive and high-stakes, aligning nicely with the spirit of professional football. As such, it's no surprise that the two occasionally intersect. In a previous post, we highlighted how Steelers defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi's NFL career started due to his Xbox being taken away. This was due to his habit of playing Call of Duty and developing an unhealthy lifestyle. After taking his console away, Ogunjobi's dad set him up with a strength coach, leading to his foray into football.
NFL pros who play Call of Duty
Of course, Ogunjobi isn't the only NFL player who's had his fair share of CoD gaming. Ex-Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster previously spoke about putting in a lot of Call of Duty hours with former Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Smith-Schuster explained that this was one of the ways that the team built chemistry, which helped improve communication with each other.
Were the Call of Duty sessions helpful? Despite working with an almost entirely different wide receiver group, the Chiefs had very similar results. The team led the NFL in points scored and yards, and Mahomes was the front-runner for NFL MVP after leading the league with 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes (the title eventually went to Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson).
Ex-Steelers' Le'Veon Bell and his Call of Duty cameo
Another ex-Steelers CoD anecdote here — running back Le'Veon Bell had a cameo in 2017's Call of Duty: WWII. In line with the theme and setting of the game, of course, Bell appeared as a soldier in the game's cutscene alongside fellow NFL and ex-Steeler player Alejandro Villanueva. The two, however, weren't the first NFL players or celebrities featured in a Call of Duty game. NFL standout Marshawn Lynch was featured in 2015's Call of Duty: Black Ops III and the game has featured lots of Hollywood celebrities and actors throughout the decades.
Bell's Call of Duty appearance is also one of many of the footballer's side hustles as an avid gamer. Shortly after his retirement, the footballer joined various Smash Bros tournaments in 2020. Alongside Hungrybox and renowned esports organization Team Liquid, Bell helped host the event that brought Smash Bros back amidst pandemic restrictions. Later on, Bell stated he was interested in hosting even bigger Smash Bros tournaments.
When Call of Duty leaked NFL news
Finally, here is yet another Steelers x Call of Duty anecdote, albeit in a way you may not expect. In 2021, Rashaad Coward made various sports headlines for a leaked roster move bizarrely tied to a Call of Duty game. The news came after a Reddit post speculating a "possible trade between the Bears and Steelers" after the Reddit poster teamed up with Coward's significant other in a Call of Duty Warzone lobby.
Due to an open mic setting in-game, the Reddit user could hear conversations from Coward's wife's side of the room. This included, of course, discussions of a potential deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coward went on to sign a one-year contract with the team shortly after.
