From Hating the Huddle to Heart on the Line: How Two Brothers Taught Me to Love the Game

For the better part of my adult life, if you mentioned football, I’d probably recoil. Not an exaggeration—hate doesn't quite capture the visceral dismissal I had for the sport. The roar of the crowd, the constant chatter, the sheer gridiron intensity—it was background noise to be actively tuned out. The only reason I’d tolerate a game being on was for the sacred trinity of the Super Bowl: the halftime show, the commercials, and, most importantly, the food. That was until February 2023, Super Bowl LVII.

The Unlikely Turning Point: A Brotherly Bond

My husband casually mentioned that this particular championship featured two brothers playing against each other on the offensive line. Intrigued by the human element—because, let's be honest, that's what hooks people—I paid closer attention. The brothers were Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles.

But it wasn't just the on-field rivalry that grabbed me; it was the aftermath.

After the Chiefs clinched the win, the image seared itself into my memory: these two massive, tough athletes, both giants of the game, finding each other amidst the chaos to share a genuine, emotional embrace. Then came the revelation: Travis, fighting back tears, telling his brother Jason that he wore the number 87 because it was the year Jason was born. He admitted he followed his brother everywhere, playing football because of him, eventually ending up in the NFL right alongside him.

These weren't the stereotypical, one-dimensional jocks I'd imagined. They were just two brothers whose bond transcended the white lines, driven by admiration and a shared path.

Diving Headfirst into a New World

That single moment of raw, sibling vulnerability cracked my lifelong armor against the sport. I started learning. I researched the Kelce family. I listened to their podcast, "New Heights," and suddenly, the complex terminology started making sense. I wasn't just watching players; I was watching the culmination of decades of family support.

The following season, something astonishing happened: I found myself rooting for both the Eagles and the Chiefs. I was all in—learning about draft day, obsessing over the Eagles' Christmas albums (yes, really), and becoming engrossed in the Chiefs Kingdom culture. I was learning player positions, understanding the D-line versus the O-line, and suddenly, football was a story unfolding in real-time.

Jason has since retired, but my dedication has solidified. I’m now a diehard Chiefs fan, steeped in the history of the organization, appreciating the genius of Coach Andy Reid, and cheering passionately for every single player on the field.

My husband and my sons are, understandably, completely flabbergasted—they joke I must have been abducted by aliens. I’ve flipped the script; now I'm the one filling my husband in on trades, draft picks, and next week's matchups.

The Real Victory: Finding Something to Cheer For

So, why write a blog post about this sudden, unlikely conversion? Because this obsession, this passion—however unexpected—is a vital reminder. In life, we all desperately need things to anchor us. We need teams to root for, stories to invest in, and narratives of comeback, perseverance, and teamwork to follow.

Whether it’s professional sports, a community garden project, mastering a new language, or simply getting through a tough Monday, we all need that thing that pulls us out of the day-to-day grind. We need to see how good people navigate the losses, celebrate the wins, and manage the inevitable adversity.

When the world feels overwhelming—when you’re facing hardship, devastation, loss, or pain—that hobby, that interest, that passion is your lifeline. It’s the scheduled joy you look forward to, even if it’s just one football game a week. It’s proof that even when the majority of the world seems set against you, there is always a place to find investment, excitement, and, yes, even a little bit of victory.

Life is about living fully, and sometimes, that means letting a couple of tough-as-nails brothers from a famous football family show you exactly how to love the game.

©Lisa King, MS, LPC