Ryan Fitzpatrick wandered to the podium at Raymond James Stadium decked out in a black-and-white-accented tracksuit following the Buccaneers’ 27-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Adding to the ensemble, a pair of gold-framed, black-lensed aviators were perched upon his nose, while two massive gold chains rested around his neck.
Paired with his bushy beard and short, slightly buzzed haircut, Fitzpatrick’s get-up gave him a look eerily similar to MMA superstar Conor McGregor.
Moments later, DeSean Jackson meandered into the room wearing just a pair of compression shorts. Soon thereafter, it was voiced that Fitzpatrick’s entire outfit was borrowed from his mercurial receiver, except for one important component.
“The chest hair is mine,” Fitzpatrick retorted at one reporter.
Over the past few years, the NFL has become a hyper-sensitive, politicized league. From anthem protests to concussion issues, the NFL has been squarely under the political microscope.
And in the same league that President Donald Trump verbally combats on an almost-weekly basis for its protests and supposed failing ratings, Fitzpatrick, or FitzMagic, as he’s been referred to over his two-game tear, has brought the fun back to football.
“I’m just trying to enjoy the ride,” Fitzpatrick said after the Eagles win.
Since his career’s beginnings, Fitzpatrick has been an underdog. Drafted in the seventh round and 250th pick overall, the former Harvard quarterback never should have even had a real shot in the NFL.
Over the course of his 13 years in the league, he’s never spent more than four years with a single franchise — he’s played for seven. And he’s spent virtually half that time as a backup.
After two years quarterbacking the hapless New York Jets, Fitzpatrick moved on to Tampa Bay last offseason. Entering his second year in the Sunshine State, little was expected of the grizzled veteran. Jameis Winston has been firmly entrenched as the starter since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2015.
But when Winston was suspended for the first three games of 2018 in late June, Fitzpatrick was thrust into action.
In response, the Gilbert, Arizona native leads the league with 819 yards and sits second in touchdowns with eight after the first two games of 2018.
Asked whether he'd had a pair of games like the first two of this season, Fitzpatrick said, "I don't know that I have. It’s such a great feeling out there.”
To be fair, Fitzpatrick’s hot start is unlikely to endure. Jameis Winston is eligible to play next week – though whether the Buccaneers play him is a separate argument entirely – and for a player Tampa Bay spent the No. 1 pick on just four years ago, it’s unlikely they’ll relegate him to clipboard duty for a veteran that hasn’t been able to hold a job longer than a few years.
That aside, Fitzpatrick has ridden his magical run with a youthful exuberance and flare that is lost on most 35-year-olds. From stealing Jackson’s clothes for a post-game press conference or chest-bumping 315-pound tackle Demar Dotson after a 58-yard touchdown pass, the former Harvard quarterback is just out there having fun.
“I’ve had so many ups and downs in my career,” Fitzpatrick said. “So when it’s going good I’ve learned to enjoy the ride and try and keep this thing going.”
