My Complicated Relationship with Football 🏈

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I'm a fair-weather football fan.

Meaning: if one of my teams is in the playoffs, I am suddenly the loudest, most emotionally invested person in the room. Before that? Casual. Polite. Unbothered.

This isn't new. I grew up in Miami in the 70s when football was everything. The Dolphins. The undefeated '72 season. Csonka. Kiick. Little. Morris. Griese. Shula. I loved those players and that coach. Once I even stood in line at a public appearance just to get their autographs. I waited for those games like they were events. It was magic.

And then football became something I didn't mind but didn't chase.

Until it got personal again.

My daughter became a football athletic trainer. I started going to games to watch her work the sidelines. I met players she worked with — linebackers, DBs, the big guys up front — at U of I, the Bears, Miami, Duke, Northwestern. Suddenly I had someone to root for. Suddenly every game mattered.

This season I found myself genuinely marveling at the Bears. Watching Caleb Williams like it was my job.

So yes. I promise to do better. Less fair-weather. More true fan.

Turns out all football ever needed to do was make it personal.