Hanging Up Hope: Until Next Season, Packers

Today, I hung my Packers jersey in the closet. Not with anger, not with despair, but with the kind of bittersweet reverence only a true fan knows. After last night’s crushing playoff loss to the Eagles—22-10, in case you’ve blacked it out already—it feels like the end of a journey. The kind where you walk home in the rain, telling yourself the weather matches your mood.

That jersey, though. It’s not just a piece of fabric; it’s a battle flag. Over the months, it’s soaked in every cheer, every groan, every hopeful “Go Pack Go!” This season, it’s been there through the highs of fourth-quarter comebacks and the lows of “How did we miss that tackle?” moments. It was there last night, too, as we fought to stay alive and watched our hopes slip through frozen fingers.

Hanging it up today wasn’t easy. It never is. There’s an ache in knowing I won’t wear it again until the leaves are turning, the air is crisp, and the promise of a fresh season lies ahead. Eight months feels like a lifetime when you’re counting Sundays.

But as I carefully placed it among the others—each Packer shirt a reminder of seasons past—I felt something else, too. Gratitude. Because even in a losing season, this team gives us so much. Community. Passion. The belief that maybe next year, we’ll hoist that Lombardi again.

So, for now, I’ll fold away the frustration, tuck in the disappointment, and let hope linger in the air like Lambeau snow. The jersey might be out of sight, but the memories of this season won’t fade. Nor will the anticipation of what’s to come.

Until then, we rest. We recover. And when September rolls around, we’ll suit up again. Because no matter how painful the losses, the victories always make it worth it.

See you next season, Green and Gold.