San Francisco 49ers fan shows team spirit with prosthetic eye

(Image Credit: AdobeStock/Steve Cukrov)

A San Francisco 49ers fan has found a new way to demonstrate his allegiance to his favorite team – with a customized prosthetic eye.

A fan of the team since he was 5 years old, Rey Pena, 40, is known as Eye of the Niner because of the team logo he had printed onto the prosthetic eye he wears in honor of the team, according to CBS News.¹

When he was 30 years old, Pena was diagnosed with cancer, according to the report. In 2012, Pena had to make the choice to remove one eye to stop the cancer from spreading.²

"I had to remove my eye within six months, or it was going to spread to both my eyes," Pena told CBS News. "I asked him, I asked the doctor, can I have a 49ers eye, that's how diehard of a fan I am."

The San Francisco 49ers will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII Sunday in Las Vegas.

According to the report, Pena was selected as the NFL's 49ers Fan of the Year for 2022 has collected a mountain of memorabilia over the years. He is gearing up to go to head to Super Bowl LVIII to watch his beloved team.

A diehard fan, Pena is seeing gold and red and is hoping to see his team top the Chiefs and claim the Lombardi Trophy in Las Vegas.

Reference:

1. Sowards H. Eye of the Niner: Manteca man’s 49ers prosthetic eye ready to watch Super Bowl win - CBS Sacramento. www.cbsnews.com. Published January 30, 2024. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/eye-of-the-niner-manteca-mans-49ers-prosthetic-eye-ready-to-watch-super-bowl-win/

2. Gentile D. Bay Area 49ers superfan has a prosthetic eye with the team logo. SFGATE. https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-superfan-brock-purdy-rap-17731740.php. Accessed February 9, 2024.