Reminding myself why I love this Kansas City Chiefs is definitely a big part of this season!
I became an NFL fan during lockdown. As a teacher, I was working from home most of the time and finding it difficult to sleep.
I had always been aware of the Super Bowl – you do not watch as many American sitcoms as I do without at least hearing about the NFL!
One ill-fated January evening, I suggested to my husband that we make the most of the situation and grab some snacks, stay up late and see what all the fuss was about. Plus, ‘The Weeknd’ was playing the half-time show, so I was sold.
I set about learning all I could about American football. There is a lot to take in; first downs, yardage, snaps, three and outs, punts, touchdowns and field goals. Becoming a fan means having to learn a new language!
Finally, I felt like I understood enough to at least have some understanding of just what was going on. Now, I just needed to educate myself a little on the teams who would be competing for the ultimate prize.
The Kansas City Chiefs (not from Kansas) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by someone named Tom Brady?
The Chiefs were the defending champions after defeating the San Francisco 49ers the year before. All eyes were on their superstar young quarterback, Patrick Mahomes – could he retain the Vince Lombardi trophy?
Retrospectively, we know how it ended, but I enjoyed my first real taste of American football.
Arrows or cheese?
My husband, influenced by his best friend, had decided to keep following the NFL as a Green Bay Packers fan. They the ones who wear cheese on their heads! (That is where Roz was from in Frasier!)
The 1:00am alarm was set for next season and despite enjoying the Packers games, there was something not quite right. To me it just was not the same as that team in red, the one with the young quarterback, that lost in the Super Bowl.
The season marched on, and we decided to venture to the London games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We watched the Miami Dolphins take on the Jacksonville Jaguars – what an event!
Even the most disinterested spectator would be hard pressed not to be swept away with the crowd!
Finally, I had to admit to my husband that my heart was full of arrows, not cheese.
Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Chris Jones had given me something I thought that I would never find in sport; a passion, a faith, an online family and a reason to get up at 1:00am!
The Chiefs may not be opening up big margins in their games this year, but they are finding a way to win.
Whether it is blocking field goals, or doinking kicks in off the uprights, the Chiefs are my team for a reason.
