Forty years ago, a team of brothers in arms did more than just win a football game—they forged a bond that would last a lifetime. When the New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI on January 24, 1987, in Pasadena, California, they didn't just bring home the franchise's first championship. They created a legacy of camaraderie that transcends the gridiron.

Now, that brotherhood is getting the documentary treatment it deserves. "Once A Giant," co-directed by Clemson University film professor Sam Sokolow and his brother Alec Sokolow—the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter behind classics like Toy Story and Cheaper by the Dozen—takes viewers beyond the highlight reels. Based on NFL reporter Gary Myers' book of the same name, the film explores not only the Giants' Super Bowl triumph but also the personal struggles and triumphs that defined these men off the field.

For the Sokolow brothers, the project hit close to home. Shooting at locations like Hotel Hartness in Greenville, South Carolina, they saw their own sibling bond reflected in the Giants' enduring connection. There were moments so moving that even Alec had to fight back tears.

"[They] are bound together by a value system that has carried them through life," Sam Sokolow said. "And they're still friends. They're still brothers. To a fault, each of them, in their own way, are still champions. They're football champions, but they're champions as human beings. And that's really what this film is about."

Two of those champions have deep roots in South Carolina. George Martin and Terry Kinard, both South Carolina-born Super Bowl champions, share their personal stories in the documentary. From the intensity of the big game to the quieter moments of life after football, they open up about what it truly means to be part of a team—and a family.

Whether you're a Giants fan, a believer in the power of teamwork, or just love a good story about champions on and off the field, "Once A Giant" is a reminder that the bonds formed in the locker room can last a lifetime.