Everyone else has better stories for sure, definitely pick one of them. But I just wanted to share my past few years, since I hadn’t really had anyone that could appreciate it fully (sorry it’s long):

In 2020 in the height of COVID, I found out my wife had cheated on me with my best friend. We just bought a house and had a kid together a few years prior, but now I’m filing divorce papers, discussing custody and moving into an apartment alone. Depression hit hard, but it was right when football season was starting back up, and I needed my Birds, now more than ever, to get my mind off things! Got me a Hurts rookie jersey so I could get pumped about the future.

And the Eagles sucked. Bad. Every game was unbearable to watch. 4-12. Wentz gone. Dougie P. gone. Rebuild felt inevitable, and the SB started feeling like it was lightning in a bottle. The Eagles felt as sad and hopeless as I did that year.

Over the next year, things improved a bit. My doctor wrote me a prescription that kinda helped, I bought a small house, COVID eased up so I could take my kid to more fun places. And the 2021 Eagles showed hope too. Hurts looked like a good affordable starter we could build around, Howie finally didn’t fuck up drafting a WR in Smith, and we still somehow made the playoffs!

The following year I did finally see a therapist, since I couldn’t shake my persistent depression and anxiety. Started getting the proper treatment I needed, and felt much better. And guess what? 2022 Eagles were absolute studs. Hurts was an MVP candidate overnight. We watched the Shove blossoming before our eyes. Each week’s New Heights episode was almost as anticipated as the actual game for me. As excited as I was though, I never let myself go overboard. I knew nothing is ever a sure thing.

Despite that, the SB loss hit me so much harder than I expected. I’ve felt disappointment watching my team lose before. I knew it was a very realistic possibility and kept my expectations in place. But as soon as it was over, I just fell apart. It was like the last 3 years of shit came back and hit me all at once.

I didn’t realize until that moment how much this team and this game meant to me. I love everything about the organization; the personality, the mentality, the grit, the players, the true love for the city they represent. I really felt like I was a part of all of it too, and I didn’t know how much I needed that.

This year, we’re off to a terrific start again. Not a single one of those wins have looked pretty, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have a heart attack before the season is over. But if they somehow just keep getting better every year, I can too. :)