With the season winding down I thought it might be interesting to let everyone talk about how they became a fan of their favorite NFL team. Did your Dad set you up, were the the local team, the team that seemed to be on TV every week, the team that seemed to win all of the time or was it maybe one player that pulled you towards that team?

Don't have one any more.

 

I grew up with Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. Not quite old enough to remember "the game" but it was local legend. What a bunch of characters and great players over the years - Artie Donovan, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, Gino Marchetti, Mike "Mad Dog" Curtis, Raymond Berry, Jimmy Orr, Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb.

 

We used to go up to training camp at what was then known as Western Maryland College. Some of my very first memories.

 

When the Colts left the town under cover of darkness, I disowned the team. I'll never root for them as long as there's an Irsay associated with them.

Eagles.

 

Rooting against the Cowboys always had me rooting for NFC East teams; the Eagles were my favorite. Used to love Randall Cunningham and Reggie White.

Steelers.

 

Dad’s Team.

Eagles.

 

Rooting against the Cowboys always had me rooting for NFC East teams; the Eagles were my favorite. Used to love Randall Cunningham and Reggie White.

 

Gotta admit - that's an easy thing to do.

Bengals

 

I was a Vikings fan growing up in Louisville. I moved to Cincinnati in 1976, someone gave me a ticket to a Monday night game against the Rams. I was hooked, bought season tix in 1980, when I could finally afford them. I have had them for 37 years now.

 

They really are the only team in any sport that I am a diehard fan.

 

I like the Reds, Blue Jackets, UC, UK, and X equally. I root for all of them.

Edited December 11, 20178 yr by Bengal Maniac

My first football memories are watching Steelers-Starboys I in the Super Bowl. I told dad, "Their colors look mean." I was hooked. Especially after seeing Count Drac Lambert with his jacked-up teeth.

 

 

I begged my parents repeatedly for years to send me to a school where I could play football. They didn't. Ugh.

Dolphins.

 

First time I watched Larry Csonka run over a DB I fell in love with the team. It has been tough for many years since then.

Bengals. Basically every time I like is because of my dad. I grew up watching or in the Bengals case listening to them since they were blacked out so much in the 90s lol.

I was a school crossing guard in 5th grade when the PTA bought us all NFL rain ponchos. 6th graders got first pick and I ended up with either the Rams or Redskins, I liked Blue better than Maroon and I've been a Rams fan ever since. My Fandom was sealed when after writing them a letter in 6th grade they sent me a big envelope with stickers, a patch and a large poster.

 

Jack Youngblood is my all time favorite Ram.

Packers.

 

One side of the family from 30 mins outside GB. Kind of engrained in my DNA.

Minnesota Vikings. I have always loved my Vikings since 1968. My dad's team was the Bengals.

Growing up as a young boy in the late 60's and early 70's I liked the Kansas City Chiefs. Mainly for two reasons I like their uniforms and I like WR Otis Taylor.

This is a fun thread.

 

I was a Browns fan before I was born. My Dad used to tell me about Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Dante Lavelli, Len Ford, Lou the Toe Groza, Paul Brown etc., etc. The first stars I remember were Leroy Kelly and Paul Warfield. The Browns were winners. When I was a teen the Cardiac Kids were working magic. Brian Sipe and Ozzie Newsome, Jerry Sherk, Walter Johnson, Dick Ambrose, etc. Man that was fun. Then just after High School Bernie Kosar manipulated the supplemental draft so the Browns could draft him. He was from Boardman, OH and loved the Browns. This loyalty to the hometown team endeared Bernie to all of us. Then he could play and some of the best of times (and the worst of times) occurred during his tenure in Cleveland. Ernest Byner and Kevin Mack ran with heart and power. Webster Slaughter was catching passes down field and Kosar was so incredibly accurate with his passes and smart. When Bill Belichick benched him in favor of Vinnie Testaverde, I couldn't believe it. Art Modell moving the team while BB was coach cemented my disdain for BB and Art Modell, let's just say my thoughts towards him were not very Christian. I remember the last game in the old stadium before Modell turned tail. What a sad day. I was so happy when Cleveland got its franchise back.

 

I will always be a Browns fan. It's in my blood. I am so passionate about them, even now, after all these horrible years. I will be a Browns fan after I die and I have infected my sons with Browns fever as well.

Don't have one any more.

 

I grew up with Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts. Not quite old enough to remember "the game" but it was local legend. What a bunch of characters and great players over the years - Artie Donovan, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, Gino Marchetti, Mike "Mad Dog" Curtis, Raymond Berry, Jimmy Orr, Gene "Big Daddy" Lipscomb.

 

We used to go up to training camp at what was then known as Western Maryland College. Some of my very first memories.

 

When the Colts left the town under cover of darkness, I disowned the team. I'll never root for them as long as there's an Irsay associated with them.

 

I feel your pain, McPapa. I disdain what Irsay did. I liked the Colts when I was a kid, behind the Browns of course, but my Dad greatly respected Johnny Unitas and I loved the intensity with which Mike Curtis played. My favorite Colt was Bubba Smith. I haven't been able to be a fan of the Colts because of their disloyalty to Baltimore. I like Peyton Manning but I never had interest in watching them because of their history.

 

Imagine after losing your team like that, being willing to do that to another city. I hate the Steelers because I am a Browns fan (that's football), but even worse are my feelings towards the Ravens (that's personal).