weekend report 012: a beginner's series to the NFL
football class is officially in session <3
Hi friend,
I canāt believe itās already August and summer is officially coming to a quick end soon. While I think it's important to live in the moment, I could not be happier that fall is around the corner, because it's the start of football season (yay!!!).
If you know me, you know I'm a massive football fan, specifically an Eagles fan (go birds!!!), and this is genuinely my favorite time of the year.
While following the NBA and other sports more closely have been such a joy, itās taught me that missing a sport actually makes you fall for it all over again. Thereās a ton of patience required during the NFL offseason, especially if your team doesnāt make the playoffs, because then youāre looking at nearly six months without them. But then training camp rolls around, and the excitement comes back all over again.
So I wanted to make a little NFL starter pack series for the month of August, because I remember exactly what it felt like to not know anything about football, but wanting to learn it. And if youāre new, itās honestly just so fun learning with someone.
But before we get into this series, one of the things I love about the NFL (and sports in general) is that the industry is ever-evolving and has become so much more than just scores and stats. There are so many different reasons to watch, whether itās for community, tradition, or a little fun competition. Itās an entire culture now, one that overlaps with fashion, wellness, business, and more. Itās also one of the only places where itās genuinely easy to make friends. We saw this during the Knicksā run, where culture and sports overlapped in the best way. Being an athlete or a fan today means participating in something much bigger than the game itself.
Take my personal favorite, Jalen Hurts, as the perfect example. Even if you have never watched a single Eagles game, there is a good chance you have heard his name. Maybe you saw him in a Jordan commercial, spotted him on a box of Wheaties in the grocery aisle, or caught an interview clip so quotable it naturally made its way onto your social media timeline. Thatās the world weāre in now. You donāt have to fully understand the stats to recognize the person or the sport, and honestly, to me, thatās a completely valid way to fall into a fandom. Start with a person you like watching, and the rules eventually have a way of following. And who knows, you might even end up meeting your favorite player one day:
Football was always on in my house growing up, but I never really understood what was happening. My real journey started with a work competition where I somehow managed to hit the leaderboard three weeks in a row. I picked the Eagles as my team before I realized my home team, the Giants, were their direct rivals. Iām sharing this because itās okay if you didnāt grow up with sports. Sometimes thatās the beauty of joining a sports community as an adult. Regardless of how you start, you end up in the same place: genuinely caring about something you never expected to love.
Finding my own way into football as an adult has also been such a cool way to look back and connect to all those hours I spent watching with my brothers growing up. It made me realize that my late arrival to the game was not a disadvantage, but a fresh perspective on a landscape that is finally making room for everyone. If you ever need a reminder that sports belong to the girls too, just look at the industry right now. Some of the best football content Iāve watched did not come from a major network. It came from women who decided to start talking about the sport they loved, and in some cases, working in it too. Broadcasters, creators, journalists, and scouts are showing up in every corner of this industry, not just as an exception, but as proof that we belong.
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So, as we start the series, maybe you end up picking a favorite player, having a Sunday tradition, or meeting a new friend group built around a shared team.
Regardless, I am so happy you are here. Remember, the only way to explore something new is to be willing to start as a beginner, the same way we all did at one point.
:)
So welcome to my section, friend. Next week weāll get started with the basics <3
healthy-ish NFL starter pack snacks
Lesser Evil Popcorn- the himalayan gold flavor reminds me of an organic version of movie theater popcorn (which i love!!!).
Boulder Sea Salt Kettle Chips - these are made with only three ingredients (potatoes, avocado oil, and sea salt). i really love that they used avocado oil, which is anti-inflammatory, and these chips are also great inside of a Jersey Mikeās sandwich.
Ice Cream for Bears - in all honesty, i eat one of these almost every week because it is so good and all the ingredients are natural. iāve been loving the cookie dough flavor, but classic vanilla is always a staple. if you end up making cookies or brownies, vanilla is also just the perfect topper.
game day fits
Off season Philadelphia Eagles sweater - I have so many pieces from this brand already, and they are definitely game-day staples in my closet. The quality is always really good, and right now Iām looking into some new cozy ones for fall.
Philadelphia Eagles Jeans - I actually have these jeans and I love how subtle the Eagles logo placement is. Itās such an effortless way to rep the team. If you get them too, we can be twins. so cute <3