Daniel Radcliffe opens up about how he became a devoted NFL fan

Daniel Radcliffe has revealed how a simple fantasy football league kick-started his love for the NFL.

The 36-year-old Harry Potter star, who stars opposite Tracy Morgan in NBC’s new comedy The Fall & Rise of Reggie Dinkins, told People that his obsession with football began unexpectedly during a 2011 musical. 

“They started a fantasy football league and needed someone to make up the numbers, so I got involved,” Radcliffe says.

“At first, I didn’t do anything with my account for four weeks. Then someone said, ‘You’re bottom of the league.’ I thought, ‘Okay, well, I’ve got to do something.’ From there, I got into it—and I’ve never looked back,” he added. 

Today, Radcliffe is a “huge NFL fan” and plays in two fantasy leagues, one of which he runs with his girlfriend.

In The Fall & Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Radcliffe plays Arthur Tobin, a down-on-his-luck director attempting to rehabilitate the public image of disgraced football player Reggie Dinkins, played by Morgan. 

The show marks Radcliffe’s most comedic role to date and has given him a chance to indulge in his love of football on screen.

Radcliffe also praises his co-star Morgan for his effortless comedy. “What he brings as an actor is unteachable. 

He has natural charisma in his bones,” Radcliffe says. “Every day, he’ll say five of the craziest things you’ve ever heard, but also be incredibly kind and generous and funny.”

The series, which also stars Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall, has been a joy for Radcliffe, who says the cast shares a genuine love for their work. 

“The thing we all have in common is that we love doing our jobs,” he notes. “We love being on set and getting to work on stuff like this.”