NEW ORLEANS — Super Bowl 59 week is underway in the Big Easy, a historic city filled with vibrant culture and decadent cuisine, from oysters to Po-boys, beignets and even fried alligator. But alligators are friends, not food, according to Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back/fullback Carson Steele.
Steele’s 15-year-old pet alligator Crocky-J was first introduced to the world during the Chiefs’ 22-17 Week 3 win over the Atlanta Falcons, when Steele recorded 17 carries for 72 yards in his first NFL start. Crocky-J has since developed a cult following and has become the unofficial mascot of the back-to-back champion Chiefs, who are going for a historic three-peat against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
Crocky-J, who resides in a large tank in Steele’s childhood home in Greenwood, Indiana, unfortunately won’t be on hand to watch the Chiefs’ attempt at history. (‘I didn’t know where to put him,’ Steele said.) Instead, Crocky-J will be ‘watching’ from home.
‘He’s back in Indy, but we got a TV turned on for him to make sure he’s watching,’ Steele told USA TODAY Sports on Monday evening at Super Bowl Opening Night. ‘He’s going to have to watch himself for a few days, because a lot of people are coming here (to New Orleans), but we’ll make sure he’s fed well good, so he’ll be all right.’
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Crocky-J joined the family when Steele was in second or third grade, he recalls.
‘I was always a daredevil kid, so I wanted something cool. I asked for a reptile or turtle. My mom was a big no on snakes,’ Steele said. ‘A couple days before Christmas, a UPS guy knocked on the door and he had a package that said ‘live reptile’ on it. I was freaking out because I knew Santa had brought me something cool. I opened the package up and there he was in a burlap sack.’
Steele knows an alligator isn’t your average pet, but he doesn’t consider himself a normal running back.
Steele has always been known for his eccentric flair (and equally impressive hair). He started his collegiate career in 2021 at Ball State, where his sheer strength and ability to squat 600+ pounds as a true freshman earned him the ‘most interesting man in CFB’ title. (His Ball State bio reads, ‘Son of Joseph and Angela Steele … has one sister … owns a pet alligator,’ after all.) Steele was named the team’s most outstanding freshman on offense after recording 192 carries for 891 yards and six touchdowns, and he upped the ante his sophomore campaign with a conference-leading 289 carries for 1,556 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022.
Steele transferred to UCLA in 2023 and turned in another 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage. He signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft and is now one win away from a Super Bowl victory in his rookie season.
‘Man it’s awesome. Loving it so far. Some of these guys have been here for a second, but my first time has been great,’ said Steele, who finished the regular season with 56 carries for 183 yards. Steele said he’s focusing on ‘little detail things to relax and calm down and take it one play at a time’ as he prepares for his first Super Bowl.
‘Just take it as a regular game. Obviously it’s not a regular game. It’s a big moment, so you got to make big moment type of plays,’ Steele said, ‘but (the Eagles) are putting on the pads the same way you are. It’s the same game ever since you’ve been a kid.’
One part of his childhood that keeps him grounded is Crocky-J. When asked about his pet alligator’s new fame, which has spawned everything from Halloween customs and custom shirts, Steele joked, ‘I don’t think he knows it, unfortunately. I’ve been trying to tell him every once in a while, but it’s super cool to see everybody enjoy him.’
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