That Time My Eleven-Year-Old Took Me to the Super Bowl…aka Viva Las Vegas

Hey there, sports fans! Coach/Dad/Bryan here, and I’m pumped to share one of my all-time favorite adventures: our unforgettable father-son trip to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas!

Buckle your chinstraps, because this isn’t just a story about football; it’s about family, fantasy football, and fortuitousness.  

The Fantasy Football Fever

Let me diagram the play for you... My son, Jackson, has been a sports player and aficionado since he was in diapers. He went from crawling straight to running. From soccer to baseball, he could kick a ball and swing a bat with the best of them. But when it came to watching sports, his heart truly belonged to football. He knew every player, their position, where they went to college, probably even the details of their contract.  He learned to count by what we called “football math” where we’d name two players and he’d not only spout off each of their jersey numbers but add them together with joy.  Brady (12) plus Gronk (87) equals 99, and so on.  And then came fantasy football.  It all began in preschool when a group of dads and our mini-me’s kicked off a fantasy football league, affectionately named “Dads and Dudes.”

Imagine this: dads with their laptops and fantasy football magazines while the kids munch on snacks, barely paying attention to the draft. Well, except for Jackson! He was all in, even suggesting we show up on draft day with matching suits, briefcases and NFL theme music like the players walking into the locker room or the executives headed into the front office! Sundays became our sacred family time, lounging on the couch, comparing stats, screaming at the TV and proverbially living and dying by each fantasy win or loss.

From Casual Fan to Fantasy Football Pro

Fast forward a few years: “Dads and Dudes” is still going strong, but the boys have leveled up their game. Jackson became a fantasy football wizard, dazzling kids and adults alike with his stats knowledge, fantasy football advice and ability to prognosticate game outcomes. He once even called the Patriots epic comeback at halftime of Super Bowl LI, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, in spite of a close friend telling him it couldn’t happen. He was 6.  If you don’t believe me, ask that same friend who, to this day, is exclusively greeted with the three words Jackson uttered to him that night in 2017, “in your face!”

Then came last football season.  I was in a survivor pool (think of it as the ultimate combination of football knowledge and luck) in which I’d never made it past week 8 before being unceremoniously dispatched by an upset.  But this season was different.  I had a secret weapon, my 11-year-old football prodigy! We strategized weekly and even when I thought I had it all figured out, Jackson would often pull a fast one by switching our pick just before kickoff. I’ll never forget how in week 14 he literally saved our season by switching our pick from Green Bay (who lost by 2 in the final seconds) to Baltimore (who won on a 72-yard punt return TD in overtime). Although stressful, his instincts were always spot on, and we always lived to fight another week.

As each week progressed, it looked more and more likely that we might actually have a chance at winning or splitting the pool and taking our share of the prize money.  While dreaming of the prospect of winning this unlikely lottery, we started having conversations about what we’d do with it if we won.  The responsible financial advisor in me talked to him about saving for college and investing this for his future.  The super fun dad in me suggested we do something epic to commemorate such an achievement.  We clearly agreed that if we won enough, we’d check a box on our bucket list; a father-son trip to the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl Bound Express

And then it happened.  Much like the 1972 Miami Dolphins, the season ended and we found ourselves a perfect 19-0 (technically they went 17-0, but go with me here). Suddenly, our dream of attending the Super Bowl was now a reality we had to plan for! With our combination of luck and great friends, we locked down tickets to the big game, hospitality passes and even the official NFL tailgate on gameday. You better believe we booked our flights and hotel faster than Tyreek Hill on a breakaway!

Then it was off to Vegas, baby, Vegas! Jackson’s eyes sparkled with excitement as we touched down in the Neon City. After a quick check-in, we couldn’t resist walking the Strip, seeing NFL Central at Ceasars Palace, and stopping by the Bellagio fountains for a dazzling show. It was the perfect start to our adventure.

NFL Experience and Magical Memories

Saturday was jam-packed with action! We hit the NFL Experience, where we punted, passed and kicked our way to imaginary glory and even got “drafted” by our favorite teams. Imagine Jackson, full of energy and joy, throwing himself into every activity. It was pure bliss! (editor’s note: Dad did beat Jackson in the 40-yard-dash to show him the old man’s still got it). We stayed until it closed and even waved to Joe Montana and Jerry Rice on our way out. That evening, we capped off our magical day with a magic show by Matt Franco—an mind blowing experience that had us both laughing and gasping in amazement.  This guy had even more tricks and sleight of hand than Patrick Mahomes.

Almost unable to sleep from excitement, Sunday morning finally came and we were ready. We got dressed (in pre-planned matching Super Bowl swag, of course) and began our walk to Allegiant Stadium with tens of thousands of equally excited fans.  Our first stop was the official NFL tailgate where Gwen Stefani seemed to be singing directly to Jackson who, with his small stature, squeezed right to the front for an unobstructed view. We savored the food, especially the Super Bowl cupcakes, and rubbed elbows with athletes and sports celebrities like Chris Carter, Chris Collinsworth and Kevin Durant—talk about a highlight!

Game Day Glory

Walking into the stadium was surreal. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, and when Jackson realized our seats were phenomenal, his face lit up like the flashbulbs at kickoff. As Dolphins fans, we didn’t have a dog in the fight—whether the 49ers or the Chiefs won didn’t matter (though Jackson has a special place in his heart for Mahomes & Co). We just wanted to soak in the experience.

The game was everything we hoped for, filled with nail-biting moments, unforgettable plays and, of course, a Taylor Swift sighting. And the halftime show? Let’s just say we’re doing something right as parents as Jackson sang along with Usher, Ludacris and Little Jon word for word like nobody was watching. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, the game turned into an overtime thriller. Again, as Jackson predicted, Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to victory, and the stadium erupted in confetti and celebration.

A Memory for the Ages

As we left the stadium, hearts extremely full and still pounding with excitement, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. This entire journey—from Jackson’s fantasy football obsession to the father-son time we spent together each week to our once-in-a-lifetime Super Bowl experience—was a testament to the magic of sports.

Thanks to Jackson’s passion and expertise, we not only survived but thrived in our football pool and created core memories to last a lifetime. Here’s to many more touchdowns – on our fantasy teams and in our lives! Until next time, may your game days be filled with family, joy and excitement! And if you need a little help with your team, give Jackson a call!