After a six-month hiatus, the NFL has finally returned to the screens of millions around the world. The league’s 106th season opened with a matchup between the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, and their long-time rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, on Sept. 4.
While fans were able to stay engaged in the offseason with the draft in April and preseason games throughout August, the excitement of the actual season is unmatched. The Eagles managed to edge out a 24-20 win over the Cowboys in the season opener, which helped set the tone for a weekend full of action, as all 32 teams hit the field both locally and internationally—from a Friday game in Sao Paulo, Brazil to a Monday Night Football game in Chicago.
With the season underway, students on Seton Hall’s campus are donning their jerseys in anticipation of seeing their favorite teams back in action.
“I have been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan for all of my life,” said Chris Heite, a sophomore visual and sound media major. “I became a fan because of my father, who has been a dedicated fan since the 1970s.”
Avery Kachmarsky, a sophomore diplomacy major, moved to the Seattle area when he was young and has been a fan of the team ever since.
“Ever since I was young, I always watched Sunday night football games and made different posters with the Seahawks’ logo,” Kachmarsky said. “I have so many pictures from my childhood in jerseys.”
One of the main attractions of the NFL is the gameday atmosphere that fans and teams create. Both Heite and Kachmarsky have had first-hand experience watching a game in person, with Heite going to the opening game at MetLife Stadium between the Steelers and New York Jets on Sept. 7.
“There really isn't anything like an NFL game live,” Heite said. “The energy of the fans is truly remarkable.”
Kachmarsky had a similar experience attending Seahawks games in Seattle a few years ago .
“Just the atmosphere of the sports culture in Seattle is amazing, and being a fan is so much fun,” Kachmarsky said. “Even if we lose, everyone is just so enthusiastic about the team, and most people have a positive outlook no matter what.”
Ella Valles, a sophomore biology major, is a die-hard Eagles fan who hopes to go to a game in the future.
“Tickets are so expensive, but it is definitely a goal of mine,” Valles said. “I really want to go to a Kelly Green game at some point—it’s on my bucket list.”
While fans like Valles dream of one day experiencing the roaring of a crowd in a packed stadium, others have found new ways to engage with the sport at a distance. Over time, the NFL experience has expanded far beyond the stands, thanks in large part to the rise of sports media and the explosion of fantasy football.
Fantasy football was first created in 1962 by a part-owner of the then-Oakland Raiders, Bill Winkenbach, as reported by CBS. Further expanding in 1997, platforms like CBS and Yahoo! created online forums that allowed fans to play. In the time since, fantasy football has cemented itself as an essential part of the NFL fan experience.
According to Statista, over 29 million Americans play fantasy football during the NFL season. Heite is one of those people who expresses how it motivates him to watch games closely and consistently.
“I've found myself practically watching every NFL game closely, to see how my players do,” Heite said. “Fantasy football helps you stay locked in throughout the season.”
While Valles does not personally play fantasy football, she has seen the impact it has on her friends during the season.
“Hearing my friends talk about it makes me realize how devastating an injury for a player could be on the fantasy team as well as for the actual team,” Valles said.
Beyond fantasy leagues, the NFL has embedded itself in American communities not just through screens or stadiums, but also through outreach, charity and public service.
In 1973, the NFL created the NFL Foundation, which focused on the health and safety of players as well as engaging with young fans of the sport.
In addition to the foundation, individual teams also do their own charity work, focusing on the impact within local communities during the season.
Kachmarsky acknowledged the work the Seattle Seahawks and former quarterback Russell Wilson have done at the Seattle Children's Hospital in recent years.
“When Russell Wilson was on the team, he would always go to the hospital and be with the kids,” Kachmarsky said.
Despite all of the good press for the organization, controversies are not new to the NFL.
Though reffing is an issue across all sports, the NFL has faced its fair share of concerns over the judges of the game. Just this past offseason, three NFL refs were let go and moved to college football as part of an effort to crack down on refereeing mistakes, according to CBS.
Valles believes that this issue is of extreme importance, especially because it relates to protecting the league’s players.
“I think that some of the rulings, especially when it comes to penalties, should be geared more toward player safety,” Valles said. “Sometimes a call veers on the side of danger, but I think that there should be more [rules] in place to protect players.”
Kachmarsky echoes Valles’ opinion, citing the many injuries that players on the Seahawks have suffered in recent years.
“I know for the Seahawks there’s been a lot of injuries,” Kachmarsky said. “Recently, with Chris Carson or Rashaad Penny having season-ending injuries, has led to their early retirement from football.”
The NFL season may bring stress for viewers, but what keeps fans watching is the true love for the game.
“I just love the team environment,” Valles said. “ It helps because win or lose, we all have passion for our team and that is true for many organizations within the NFL.”
Kaelyn Blizard is the assistant editor for The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at kaelyn.blizard@student.shu.edu.
