With one more day to go until the start of the 2024 National Football League regular season, ESPN Radio host Michelle Smallmon completed the “NFL Bachelorette” segment on UnSportsmanLike and selected her new favorite team. The venture was created after Smallmon had not cheered for a team following the relocation of the Rams from St. Louis, Mo. to Los Angeles, Calif. ahead of the 2016 season.
Smallmon, a former host at 101 ESPN in St. Louis, did not choose an NFL team to root for since that time and began to feel left out. A few weeks ago, the ESPN Radio morning program released a promotional video filmed at Pier 17 in New York City that was inspired by The Bachelorette. The program quickly narrowed down the teams to a final six consisting of the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.
Since that time, Smallmon has appeared across several ESPN Radio affiliates and heard pitches about why she should choose particular teams within her top six. Shortly thereafter, Smallmon eliminated the Bengals, 49ers and Dolphins to leave three final teams vying to receive the final rose. To begin Wednesday’s edition of the show, three helmets sat on the table with accompanying roses; however, co-host Chris Canty noticed something awry with the Jets display. The rose placed with the Jets helmet looked dead, something that he believes was a warning sign and ostensible red flag.
“The red rose that she gave the Jets has died not once, but twice,” Canty remarked. “I really hope that when Smalls makes her decision later on in the show today, that it’s not the guys with the greet helmets. I really hope.”
The Jets were eliminated as Smallmon left the possibilities between the Bears and Packers as her new favorite team. Smallmon revealed the news during the second hour and started her explanation by stating how she attended the University of Illinois and grew up in the state with many of her friends cheering for the team.
“They have a perfect identity,” Smallmon said of the Bears, “and you guys know how important home is to me, which is why I’m giving my final rose to – wait a minute. I don’t live there anymore. I don’t live in Illinois anymore. CC, give it to the Green Bay Packers.”
As Smallmon revealed the Packers as her selection, the room erupted into celebration and was rapidly replete with confetti. Throughout the remainder of the program, callers voiced their opinions pertaining to her choice and former Packers offensive tackle Mark Tauscher joined the program to congratulate her and discuss more about the team. The Packers qualified for the playoffs last season and defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round. In the next week, the team lost a close game to the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to win the NFC, but it demonstrated the poise and talent on the gridiron, led by fourth-year quarterback Jordan Love.
“Yesterday, I went to the vintage store,” Smallmon said. “First thing I picked up, it said, ‘Green Bay, cheese and football.’ What more could I ask for than cheese and football?”
“A Green Bay Packers fan,” co-host Evan Cohen said. “Michelle Smallmon has done it. NFL Bachelorettes is complete.”
