Fanatics.
Fanatic, Webster’s Dictionary defines that word as a person who is extremely enthusiastic about and devoted to some interest or activity. Over time we have shortened that seven letter word down to “fan.” Although that word is short, there is so much that is packed into it. Stress, money, time, elation, sadness, hope, defeat, and so much more. We even have a website named after it!
As we have entered the “off-season” of the NFL calendar, a fan will often think and dream of week one of the NFL regular season. The smell of tail-gating, pre-game wam ups, setting the fantasy roster, watching the game, and hopefully waking up to a victory Monday. All of these things that are listed are the things that come with being a fan; but what about the foundation? Where did it all start? A game? A player? A family member? What caused you to become that fanatic of your favorite NFL team? For some, it’s a journey. For others, it took a single moment. No matter what it was it’s hard to break away at this point.
For me, I grew up as a Washington Redskins fan because of my dad. His fandom began when he watched Sonny Jurgensen throw a sixty yard bomb on a late Sunday afternoon game. He often told me of that play; and to this day he doesn’t know who caught the pass. He just knew at that moment he was hooked. As the years went on and Washington enjoyed some very successful seasons and even Super Bowls, his love and passion grew. When I was born, it was just assumed that I was a fan as well. However, as I grew up, Washington really began a strong decline. Whatever the reason was, the team just became perennial under-achievers.That reason alone really caused me to be a “casual.” But being a boy and loving the sport (even playing it), I knew I couldn’t cheer for another team; because, well let’s face it, you don’t want to disappoint dad. The seasons seemed to drag on and on for years, and eventually the time came for me to head off to college. The Redskins hit rock bottom during that time, but as you know in the NFL that means hope. Washington ended the 2011 season as the second worst team in the league which meant they would pick second in the 2012 draft. The excitement of that caused me to really “engage” in my fandom, but in typical Washington disappointment even the second pick came with a “meh” feeling because Andrew Luck was the generational talent that year and was expected to go first overall to Indianapolis. When the draft ended on night one, RG3 was a Redskin and hope once again sprang eternal. He was electric. He was talented. He was going to make Luck look a like a “miss.” But then in true Washington fashion— almost as if we as fans expected it to happen—disappointment. Injuries, front office woes, poor coaching, over-spending in free agency, and scandal all led to another “rebuild” in Washington.
The frustration began to build, so much so that I began to not even enjoy Sundays anymore. I constantly had an eye toward the next draft; until one early summer day I heard the news that perhaps would once again bring life to Sundays. It was the 2015 off-season and I had been married for about two months. Washington had just drafted Brandon Scherff in the first round. Not a flashy pick, but perhaps one that was needed. My parents were visiting for the week and we had just finished lunch, when my Dad looked at me and said “Greg, I want to tell you something.” Feeling a bit nervous, I simply said “Ok, what’s up?” What he said next would change the course of my fandom for the rest of my life. He looked at me and with a serious counseling look and said, “You can move on.” A bit confused as to what he was referencing I asked him “From what?” He obliged as a loving father and told me, “You can pick a new team. You’re out of my house now and I don’t want you to have go through this rebuild.” Sitting in my living room shocked and confused, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.
The rest of their time with us, we never spoke of the NFL again. I thought for several days after on the offer that my dad gave me. Could I do that? Is that ok? Is it right? Was it a test? Is he going to look at me differently? Do I pick a new team that my wife and I can get behind? As I battled the decision for about a month I knew I needed to make a choice because training camp was about to start for the NFL.
Through counsel and talking to my friends, the decision was made. I was going to become a fan of a new team starting in the 2015 season. I felt like a free agent on a bad roster. Who would it be? What an exciting time. It needed to be a team that I could “grow" with. I gave myself a few perimeters. It couldn’t be a team in the NFC East, I just couldn’t do that to my dad. It needed to be a team that no one else I personally knew cheered for. It couldn’t be either of the two Super Bowl teams in the previous season, or any Super Bowl within the previous five seasons. Lastly, it needed to be a team that my wife was willing to support (hey maybe it could lead to game or two early on in our marriage.) Once the parameters were set and weeks of research were completed, I had narrowed it down to one from each conference, representing the NFC was the Arizona Cardinals, representing the AFC was the Indianapolis Colts.
The choice literally kept me up for several nights until finally my decision was made. The evening before the Minnesota Vikings played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 Hall of Fame Game, I announced to my Dad, family, and friends that I would be an Indianapolis Colts fan.
Being from a small town just three hours from Lucas Oil Stadium, it just felt right. They aren’t a massive market, nor did they have the garbage that was following Washington. There was just a “freshness” about them that I couldn’t get away from. The decision was made and my wife and I immediately went out and bought some Colts gear. It was the start of a new chapter.
Since that decision was made, it has been far from a smooth ride with the Colts. The Andrew Luck retirement, the constant carousel of quarterbacks, the rotation of head coaches, the playoff droughts, the injuries, it seemed to all hit rock bottom after the 2022 season; a 4-12 season and holes up and down the roster. But then the draft came. Anthony Richardson was selected fourth overall almost a year ago. Injuries shortened his rookie season. But when he played, the talent was evident. And with Shane Steichen leading the team, there just seems to be a different culture; and for fans, that hope is all we need.
So whatever team you’re a fan of, don’t ever stop. Whatever your story is, whatever your background is, we are all fans and whether they won the Super Bowl this year or are just beginning a rebuild, cheer them on because after all it’s the off-season and every team is equal, which is hope for every fan.
