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Zak Keefer

@zakkeefer.bsky.social

950 followers 200 following 66 posts

Senior writer at The Athletic, adjunct professor IU Media School

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jan 2

Another humiliating loss.
Accountability slipping.
Former greats ripping the team.

"There's no vision here," said one player. "From the front office to the coaches to the players, no one's ever on the same page."

Inside the Colts' latest lost season, with James Boyd www.nytimes.com/athletic/603...

After another lost season, Colts face another crossroads: ‘There’s no vision here’

Indianapolis has been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity for much of the last decade, and changes could be coming.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Zak Keefer

The Athletic @theathletic.com · 24d

Mike Evans is one 1,000-yard season away from breaking Jerry Rice's all-time record, but his consistent excellence was born out of agony.

Evans' father's murder drove him to the NFL. Vincent Jackson helped him stay there.

http://dlvr.it/TN52V0

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · 24d

I went to Tampa to find out what made Mike Evans one of the baddest dudes in football.

Turned out to be one of the realest interviews I've had in years.

And it started with the night his uncle brutally murdered his father outside the home he was sleeping in:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...

His father's murder drove Mike Evans to the NFL, a 'big brother' taught him to stay there

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Sep 3

After it was over — after he'd authored the most successful season from a rookie QB in NFL history — he walled off the world for a few days.

When the Super Bowl was on, he turned it off.

"Couldn't watch," he says.

Inside Jayden Daniels' road to Year 2: www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Jayden Daniels doesn't seek the spotlight; it's coming for him anyway

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Sep 2

The story behind the story 👇🏻
www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

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Reposted by Zak Keefer

Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · Sep 2

Must-read here from Zak on a topic that will resonate with Bears fans

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Sep 2

The voices in the story did not hold back:

➡️ Peyton Manning
➡️ Troy Aikman
➡️ Alex Smith
➡️ Andrew Luck
➡️ Bruce Arians
➡️ Chris Ballard
➡️ Matt Hasselbeck
➡️ Matt Ryan
... and more

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Sep 2

"Organizations fail young QBs before young QBs fail organizations."

What led Kevin O'Connell to say this?

And why do so many around the NFL agree?

I spent 4 months asking Hall of Famers, No. 1 picks, busts, coaches + execs why teams keep breaking young QBs:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

The bust files: How NFL teams break young quarterbacks

Finding a franchise quarterback remains job No. 1 for anyone in charge of an NFL roster, so why do they keep screwing it up?

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Zak Keefer

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Aug 18

From @theathletic.com: “I fell out of love,” Andrew Luck says, reducing one of the most shocking retirements in NFL history into five tidy words. Then, the game that was once brutally beaten out of him slowly began to pull him back in.

Pain took football away from Andrew Luck; what brought him back to Stanford?

Luck walked out on one locker room that needed him. He wasn't ready to walk away from another.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Zak Keefer

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Aug 18

Andrew Luck knew he made the right decision by leaving the NFL.

He just hated what he left behind.

Read more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

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Reposted by Zak Keefer

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Aug 18

Pain took football away from Andrew Luck.

“I fell out of love,” he says, reducing one of the most shocking retirements in NFL history into five tidy words.

And then? Something happened that he didn’t see coming.

http://dlvr.it/TMY2n9

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Aug 20

"I was gonna play until I was 40 or 45," Andrew Luck tells me.

To which I said, "Wait a minute, what?"

After it was over, he found himself in a fog. "I can't be 30 years old and retired. This is ridiculous."

Then something pulled him out of it:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Pain took football away from Andrew Luck; what brought him back to Stanford?

Luck walked out on one locker room that needed him. He wasn't ready to walk away from another.

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Aug 13

"I accidentally married Aaron Donald."

"You can tell people I am delusional. I don't care ..."

This story isn't just creepy, it's terrifying. Great reporting from @nathanfenno.bsky.social on the stalker who left a future Hall of Famer in fear

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Aaron Donald was one of the NFL's toughest players. A stalker left him living in fear

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jul 30

New from me: a look inside the Colts' QB battle ⤵️

A reckoning at the top — about the mistakes they've already made with Anthony Richardson — and a surprising approach if 2025 doesn't go to plan:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...

A make-or-break season for Anthony Richardson? That's not how the Colts see it

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 25

"No cellphones until middle school. Even then, they couldn't be used at dinner. And until 11th grade, they had to charge their phones at night in their parents' room."

How do you raise a star QB in the social media age? Fascinating from
@brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Raising Arch: How Cooper and Ellen prepared Texas’ QB for the Manning family spotlight

Cooper and Ellen Manning spoke to The Athletic about their rising star son, who prepared for an intense spotlight by avoiding it.

www.nytimes.com

Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 20

From Kansas City:

The Chiefs passed out the rings no one wanted this week. There was no ceremony, no real celebration.

"A reminder," Patrick Mahomes called them.

All they've thought about since February is making it back: www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs offense look for answers as Super Bowl sting lingers

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 20

Forget the pundits.
Forget the ratings.
Forget all the Thunder-in-five picks.

The Pacers are one win from a title, with all the momentum in the world and the mettle to win a Game 7 on the road.

Column from an ear-splitting Game 6: www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Pacers have the momentum entering Game 7, and 'it’s all about that one game'

www.nytimes.com

Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 19

From Kansas City, for @theathletic.bsky.social:

"I feel like I failed my guys," Travis Kelce said Wednesday, going back to the pain of Super Bowl LIX.

The Chiefs' tight end dishes on why he came back, dropping weight and if 2025 is his Last Dance: www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Travis Kelce is 'only interested in Super Bowl rings.' Next up? The chase for No. 4

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 15

Correct -- but not a top 10-pick by the Pacers (as the story noted)

Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 14

It was right there for the Pacers Friday night — a win that could’ve changed this franchise forever.

Then the team that’s feasted in crunch time throughout the playoffs crumbled.

Now, it gets really hard.

Column from Game 4: www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

On the doorstep of NBA Finals control, the Pacers let Game 4 slip away

Make no mistake: If Indiana goes on to drop this series, Friday's game will be the cause. The Pacers simply found so many ways to lose.

www.nytimes.com

Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 12

They don't pay the luxury tax. Their star is a lightning rod for criticism. They're stubborn about their style. They don't give a crap who gets credit.

That is who the Pacers are.

Now they're 2 wins from a title.

Column from Game 3: www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...

Pacers are showing who they really are — and that they’re for real

Game 3 revealed what the Pacers look like at their best. Dogged. Determined. And dominant when it matters most.

www.nytimes.com

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 9

A few years ago, I asked Jim Irsay about passing down the Colts to his daughters.

"I want them to be who they are. They've known this league since they were in their cribs. They're intelligent. They're good listeners. They're motivated. It's truly a blessing, and rare that it works out this well."

Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 9

Jim Irsay thought about this a lot and planned for it. He wanted all 3 daughters to have equal share in ownership — and most importantly, for the team to stay in the family.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon has been a heavily involved exec for several years; was expected she took the helm.

Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 9

Details of the Colts ownership transition, per the team:

Carlie Irsay-Gordon becomes owner + CEO. Essentially, she's the boss.

Casey Foyt becomes owner + executive VP.

Kalen Jackson becomes owner, chief brand officer and president of the Colts Foundation.

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Reposted by Zak Keefer

The Athletic @theathletic.com · Jun 6

Two days, one city, two championship events separated by just seven miles and juxtaposed in scope and spirit.

The Women’s College World Series. The NBA Finals. All happening in Oklahoma City.

http://dlvr.it/TLCfJ0

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Zak Keefer @zakkeefer.bsky.social · Jun 5

A proud basketball state is having a moment.

In Indiana, hoops are as hot as ever.

New at @theathletic.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

Between Pacers' NBA Finals run and Caitlin Clark mania, Indiana is having a basketball moment

www.nytimes.com

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