The NFL regular season ended a week ago Sunday night, and with six playoff exits this weekend, 24 of the NFL’s 32 teams are on to 2022.
The end comes fast
Having been around the game for almost 30 years, I am still, to this day, stunned by the finality of the end of the season each year.
One day the team facility is bustling with energy in preparation for the next game, humming with movement and activity of players, coaches and staff. The next day, when there is no game to prepare for, most of that group is packing up and leaving, some walking out of the facility for the last time.