“I hate to brag, but I’m lighting it up, baby.” Decades ago, Richmond native Lee Krost was amongst the many talented but unfortunate quarterbacks who tried out for the Baltimore Colts but lost out to the soon-to-be-legendary Johnny Unitas. Now, at 74 years old, he’s absolutely killing it on the flag football field. Krost is living the dream.
“I hate to brag, but I’m lighting it up, baby.” Decades ago, Richmond native Lee Krost was amongst the many talented but unfortunate quarterbacks who tried out for the Baltimore Colts but lost out to the soon-to-be-legendary Johnny Unitas. Now, at 74 years old, he’s absolutely killing it on the flag football field. Krost is living the dream. However, while his original dream probably involved retiring after a successful pro career, his story has turned out far less boring than that. His son, Richmond filmmaker Lucas Krost, submitted a three-minute documentary he made about Lee’s late-blooming career to the NFL’s “Together We Make Football ” mini documentary contest, and the video became one of the contest’s 10 finalists. Suddenly, at 74, Lee Krost has grabbed the attention of the entire pro football world.
Observing the Douglas Freeman High School football team’s practices sometime during the first half of the previous century, young Lee Krost decided he wanted to become a quarterback. As he told the New Haven Register, he made the choice because the quarterback got hit the least. Krost became a successful quarterback at Randolph Macon, and followed his college years with a semi-pro stint for the Richmond Vikings. This led to the Colts taking notice of his talent. To this day, Krost has a rocket arm and a quick release. Players a third his age consistently testify to his continued talent.
Now living in Norwalk, CT, he’s quarterbacked his YMCA Sunday flag football team, the Leegions, to a perfect regular season. Keep in mind, this is not a senior citizens’ football league–the second-oldest player on Krost’s team is in his 30s. He’s long since moved past the reactions people used to have, like “Where’s his wheelchair?” as he recalls in the mini doc. Having exceeded all reasonable expectations, he’s reputable, if not feared, on the field. Plus, as he told the New Haven Register, his wife Lynn approves. “It gets me out of the house. That’s what she likes about it,” he said.
His team has recently exited the playoffs, but Krost shows no signs of slowing down. Krost’s history is truly awesome, but it’s not just his age that inspires. It’s his passion. His 29 year-old son John, who is a receiver on Krost’s flag football team, described his influence to the New Haven Register. “He’s definitely my hero, and a super inspiration to all of us. He never stopped.” In the documentary, though, Lee himself explains that he’s not just there to be an inspiration–he wants to win. “I don’t care how old I am. You win a tennis match–feels great. You win a golf match–feels great. You win a football game–best feeling in the world. It’s dynamite. It really is.”
The remaining finalists for the NFL’s “Together We Make Football” contest can be seen at togetherwemakefootball.com/contest.html–click that link to watch, share, and vote for your favorite documentary. These 10 videos highlight a diverse variety of incredible stories about football touching the lives of ordinary people. It’s a nice counterpart to the ongoing controversy over concussions in the sport, as well as providing a break from the often melodramatic storylines of professional football. Fans are encouraged to share and vote for their favorite, with the winners receiving a trip to the Super Bowl in February. Lee Krost’s story has caused a national stir, and is the perfect fit for this contest. With its rich history and inspirational storyline, you can’t help but root for Lee Krost to win that trip to the Super Bowl.
