This NFL fan got a big boost from Philly on his Guinness World Record trek
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Left to right: Raiders fan Brian Fowler holding one of his witness slips with Eagles fan "Halftime Holly"; Fowler with Texans mascot, Toro. Photos: Brian Fowler
Like a grizzled pro football veteran limping into the late season, Brian Fowler is starting to feel the Guinness World Record grind after attending dozens of NFL games.
Why it matters: The Los Angeles resident and devout Raiders fan has unofficially set two world records this season — and Eagles fans have played a pivotal role in his pursuit of history.
Catch up quick: Fowler began his journey at the Linc for Eagles-Cowboys, the first stop on his quest to attend 56 games this season.
- He took a sabbatical from work, set aside $25,000 for his run and has been vlogging the experience — part of how he gathers evidence to meet the strict rules imposed by Guinness to ensure the integrity of its records.
Zoom in: Fowler topped the previous record held by Chargers fans last month when he attended his 34th game.
- He tells Axios he also clinched a second record along the way, becoming the fastest person to visit all 30 NFL stadiums — doing it in 72 days, two days quicker than the previous record-holder.
Caveat: Guinness World Records will review all of Fowler's evidence at the end of the season and determine within 12–15 weeks whether he's officially the new record-holder.
Driving the news: This week's Eagles-Commanders matchup in D.C. will mark Fowler's 48th game.
- Fowler flew into Philly last week to watch the Eagles' snowy blowout of the Raiders. He'll have watched eight Birds games by the time his feat is done.
Zoom in: Birds fans have closely followed Fowler's trek, vouching for his presence at games and even offering him respite from the cold.
- He got a very Philly welcome from Bethlehem resident and influencer Dom Holmes, aka "No Shirt Dom," during last week's tailgate.
Between the flights: The trip has been grueling for Fowler, requiring him to hop countless red-eye flights, rely on spotty public transportation, skip meals or subsist off dreadful stadium food.
- He's looking at you, Tampa Bay, with that awful Cuban sandwich.
What they're saying: "I don't want to sound like a whiny little b–ch," Fowler tells Axios. "But my body hurts in places where it hasn't hurt before."
Yes, but: Fans he's met along the way have helped Fowler keep pushing through the late-season exhaustion.
- The Raiders fan in Houston who heard about his journey online and bought a ticket just to meet him.
- Philly's own "Halftime Holly," who snuck Fowler into the Linc's club section during the brutally cold Black Friday matchup between the Eagles and Bears.
And then there's this impressive stat line:
- Miles flown: 99,000
- Taxis, Ubers, buses and trains taken: 274
- Hotels booked: 40
- Footage filmed: 3,500 minutes
- Beers drank: confidential
The stories he'll remember for the rest of his life: Priceless.
The bottom line: "I just went into this thinking about the mission," Fowler says. "It did not take long for me to realize that this is a people journey."