Miami, Fla. — I never thought I’d finish my evening at Super Bowl 54 Opening Night by talking to Jimmy Garoppolo – a devilishly handsome, two-time Super Bowl champion who will play quarterback in front of a billion people in a few days – about why he believes in ghosts, but sometimes life pulls you in odd directions and you just have to roll with it when it does.
So I did.
The annual Super Bowl Opening Night event – which used to be the Media Day thingy on Tuesday morning – can be a grueling night for reporters that often leads to very little info worth using. You go in with grand plans and storylines you hope to chase down and then the madness begins and everything and every player becomes a crowded mess that sucks the life out of you.
The Chiefs went first Monday night and by the time the 49ers were wrapping up I found found myself sweaty and tired. That’s when I posted up next to Jimmy G, partly because those looks can just draw you in, but also because there was a spot against the rail where I could rest my elbow, which felt incredible after a few hours of being on my feet.
I stood to the side and just listened as some guy asked Jimmy G about his favorite emoji to use for when he’s excited. Jimmy G said he’s not a big emoji guy. The guy then brought up how some other player liked a ghost emoji and Jimmy G quickly said that he DEFINITELY believes in ghosts. I mean, the way he said it was like how I say I DEFINITELY like bagels in the morning. So much confidence, so much conviction, so much truth.
Things went on from there, with some questions about football, being a quarterback, playing for the Patriots, etc. etc. etc.
So with a few minutes left before the 49ers would leave I had to follow up because I’m a journalist, after all, and that’s what we do – we ask the tough questions.
Here’s how things went:
Me: “Do you really believe in ghosts?”
Jimmy G: (While taking a sip of Gatorade) Uh-huh.”
Me: “Why?”
Jimmy G: “Why?”
Me: “Yeah.”
Jimmy G: “They’re real.”
Me: “How are they real?”
Jimmy G: “What do you mean?”
Me: “When was the last time you saw a ghost?”
Jimmy G: “Now, I’ve never seen one, though. I never said I’ve seen one. But yeah, you’ve got to believe in something, right?”
And that was the end of our talk about ghosts. I wish it could have gone on longer but he obviously wanted to move things in a different, less serious direction.
You can see the strangest conversation I’ve ever had with a two-time Super Bowl champion QB right here:
I didn’t think I’d end up talking to Jimmy Garopplo about why he believes in ghosts but here we are. pic.twitter.com/QPTIREbOir
— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) January 28, 2020
Does Jimmy G really believe in ghosts? It sure sounds like it, which is fine. People can believe in ghosts if they want to. Who am I to say you can’t believe in ghosts? The world is a crazy place. You want to sit around and think about how ghosts are real? More power to you. Go for it.
But I do know this – Super Bowl Opening Night is a strange place and I’m just happy it led me to a strange conversation about ghosts with a man who could get a third Super Bowl ring on Sunday night.
It’s just nice to know that these people who play this incredible game are real people, just like us.
But not like ghosts.
Monday’s biggest winner: Andy Reid.
The Kansas City Chiefs coach showed up to Super Bowl Opening Night in style with one of his many Hawaiian shirts. This guy’s swag heading into Sunday night is sky high, and his team seems to be riding the confidence into their first appearance in the Super Bowl in 50 years. That shirt screams “Chiefs by 100.”
More on the Super Bowl
– Richard Sherman on what Kobe Bryant would tell him about grieving the basketball star’s death: “He would tell me to man up and stop being a baby.”
– A reporter came to Super Bowl Opening Night dressed as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” just to get off a really lame joke for Patrick Mahomes.
– I’ll be in Miami all week for Super Bowl 54. Make sure to follow FTW on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for all the behind-the-scenes stuff all week.
(Follow me on Twitter, even if you believe in ghosts. It’s Ok.)