I'm SO excited to introduce you all to my very good friend, Anna! Anna and I met while our husbands both played for the Packers. Her oldest son is just a month or so older than my daughter. Midwesterner at heart, she's now living in California with her husband and two sons. They are NFL vets and I always love learning through others who have been through this experience!
What team did you start on?
Green Bay Packers. Corey was drafted in 2014 and spent 7 years with the packers. I made the big move to Green Bay after we were married in 2016 just in time to usher in his 3rd season.
Teams you've been on since?
We are now with the LA Chargers and getting settled into life on the west coast!
Game day ritual or tradition?
I’m not superstitious so I don’t really have a ritual or tradition these days. Mainly just try to get ready and out the door, turn on some tunes, have a libation or two and cheer loud!
What was your experience with the draft/free agency/etc?
Draft was a relatively quiet experience for us. We weren’t sure how it would play out and so we just watched and waited, the two of us, from my apartment in Columbus at the time. Corey was selected in the 5th round and we were so stunned when it was the Green Bay Packers who called. It was such a nerve racking but exciting time! He left the very next morning as most guys do - so it was definitely a whirlwind in that regard! As I mentioned we spent the first 7 years in Green Bay so never hit free agency until this time around. We knew that we likely would not be back in Wisconsin so we were very anxious to see how things would play out. Corey ended up getting offers from the Arizona Cardinals and the LA Chargers.
Your favorite moment in the NFL?
Oh gosh, this is a tough one! There have been so many special moments. Probably our first family night in Green Bay with our son Seamus. I had dreamed about what that might look like for years and hoped that one day our kids might get to experience cheering on their dad. Corey’s rookie season was also one I’ll never forget with bookend games in Seattle one his first NFL start and the other the NFC Championship.
Something you've struggled with in the NFL?
Managing expectations. Boundary setting. The usual suspects.
One thing you wish someone prepared you for?
Constant change and the stress that can accompany each passing season whether whether it be friends leaving town, injuries, etc.
A resource that the NFL offers that you use(d)?
Healthy babies.
(Sarah here, YES! I didn't know about this until my second pregnancy. This is an incredible resource for women in the NFL. You can enroll in the "Healthy Babies Program" through our NFL insurance.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I am grateful to have experienced “the sports world” from this perspective. It’s easy to get wrapped up in fandom (I sometimes laugh at my former fan self). But the guys on the field, coaches, referees are all just people. They are someone’s son, brother, father. It’s important to remember their humanity in an industry that often views them as a commodity.
