Rich from Bannockburn, IL

I followed the Pack as a kid in Chicago, but it wasn’t until I found their healing powers that I became a lifelong fan. I was a 12-year-old riding my bike home when I hit a hole and the bike and my unmentionables violently collided. I crawled home and into my bed writhing in agony. Then I thought how would Bart Starr man up and deal with this pain, and after a few minutes pondering this, I somehow fell asleep and woke up the next morning with no pain. Bart and the boys took care of me.

Jordan from Osterdock, IA

I must’ve been an impressionable youth, and I remember the day like it was yesterday. My dad was a Vikings fan and I, a 49ers fan, until one day in kindergarten in 1994. A boy in my class, Noah, walked up to me “Who’s your favorite football team? “The 49ers.” He said, “You should be a Packers fan.” “OK.” And that was it. From that day forward it was all about Green Bay. Mom and dad went from giving me 49ers gear to Packers gear almost instantly!

Scott from Iron Mountain, MI

As a youngster growing up in a small town in the 60s in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I would watch the Packers at my uncle’s house. I would be sitting on a small stool between a couch and an oil burner watching the great Packer teams. After the games we would go outside in the snow and reenact the plays from the game. When I became a parent, I would watch the game with my daughter and throw her passes with a Packers football in our living room. I am blessed.

Being quite young and just started watching football on the old black and white TV and had the opportunity to watch the Ice Bowl with my brother. We each picked a team to cheer for, me the Packers and he the Cowboys. Watched it to the bitter end. I still remember lying on the floor in front of the TV and being consumed. To this day, I am a Packers fan, and he remains a Cowboys fan.

Kevin from New Milford, CT

I grew up in the snow belt in North Central Pennsylvania in the 60s – no cable, only three channels available. I remember watching the Packers teams on the local CBS affiliate and thinking how tough they had to be to play in the bitter cold and the snow. Plus, the image of Vince Lombardi prowling the sidelines put them over the top for me.

I became a Packers fan at the age of 31, when I went to UW-Madison as a research associate in 1997. At the time, the only football game we got in Brazil was the Super Bowl, which I´d been watching regularly for a few years without any specific preference. Arriving in Madison four months after Super Bowl XXXI, I fell in love with the team, especially after learning that it is public-owned, and have been a follower ever since. Sporting the Brazilian national colors also helps…

Air Force brat and my stepfather was from Maryland, so the Baltimore Colts with Johny Unitas was my team since the early 60’s. From my perspective, that field goal was not good by the way. Moved to Wisconsin in 1972. John Brockington and MacArthur Lane were running so well, and I got interested in the Pack. When the Colts left Baltimore, it cemented my new team as the Packers. The first game was against the Bears in the mid-70s and my future father-in-law took me too. Think the Pack won. Lots of losing seasons.

Paul from Nevada City, CA

Being around nine in the early ’60s, it was a quandary as my mother was from GB and my dad from Cleveland; recall watching a game between them while in Amarillo and was captivated by both teams, especially Jim Brown. However, GB soon won me over due to the greater family connections and visits to GB, not to mention the NFL Championships and Super Bowls that timeframe.

I became a Packer fan in 1956 because I liked the football card colors of green and gold. Being from Rockford, IL, all the neighborhood boys liked the Bears with their boring football card colors. The Packers were in last place then, but I grew to love them. I always mention to people the gold represents our sun, and the green represents life on earth.

I always say I was born and raised as a Packers fan. I grew up watching the ’60s Lombardi Packers. I remember the Ice Bowl, the Super Bowls, Starr, Favre, Rodgers, Love. My dad had season tickets from when they played in Milwaukee. I remember him telling the story of actually being able to go inside County Stadium to pick out his seats; upper deck, 50-yard line. Treated my daughter and son-in-law to the Miami game for their 20th last year. Their first game at Lambeau. Passing on the tradition!

Who is your pick for 2025 Insider Inbox Fan of the Year?

Serious business, nominating II fan of the year. So, I went on a three-day darkness retreat, seeking to have the name revealed to me. In my semi-conscious state, many names danced through my head: Bret from Hertel, Paul from Ledgeview, Caleb from Knoxville, Ray from Phoenix, Lori from Heredia, Lori from Broomfield (all Lori’s are great), Jeff from Chandler, Jeffrey from Eveleth, Mark from Weston, even Randy from McDonald, TN (not worthy, but my brother). As I emerged bleary eyed, the name that I uttered – my first words in days – was Jennifer from Middleton, WI. She. Is. Worthy.

She is…and a wonderful lady, as well. Congratulations to Jennifer from Middleton, who is our 2025 Insider Inbox Fan of the Year. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Outsider Inbox. I can honestly say this was the best one yet. That brings us to the doorstep of the training camp and the start of the 2025 Packers season. Let the excitement begin.