JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As a career educator, Melissa Fullmore knows how much patience is required to teach children.
The CEO of KIPP Jacksonville (Knowledge is Power Program) also knows that some are more challenging than others. Those are the ones who pull at her heart, the underdogs for whom she roots the hardest to succeed.
Patience and pulling for the underdog are two attributes that undoubtedly go into Fullmore’s choice of NFL team.
Fullmore has been named the Jacksonville Jaguars Fan of the Year, a process that began with fans nominating themselves. Each team, in consultation with the NFL, makes the final selection that includes their passion for the team and community service.
Each NFL team will send their Fan of the Year to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, where an overall NFL Fan of the Year will be selected.
Melissa Fullmore: 'Never easy to be a Jaguars fan'
It’s pretty easy for a Kansas City Chiefs or Detroit Lions fan to enthusiastically support their team. It's not so much for a Jaguars fan over the last season and a half, but Fullmore said she will never give up on the Teal and Black.
“It’s never easy being a Jaguars fan,” she said. “I am in love with this team. We have great guys and I think we can get over the top. If you switch one touchdown in some of these games and we’ve got a 7-3 record.”
Spoken like a true, glass-half-full optimist.
“I always have that optimism that anything is possible,” she said. “I root for underdogs in my field. We’re serving kids on the Northside and Westside who normally don’t have people rooting for them. That’s the story of my life — coming from a single-parent family and education changed the trajectory of my life.”
Melissa Fullmore grew up a Jets fan
Fullmore has been a Jaguars season ticket holder since 2018, with seats in the West Club near the tunnel where the players run on and off the field.
She said she has been an avid fan of the team since the franchise formed in 1994. She grew up on Long Island, N.Y., in the same neighborhood that produced Syracuse wide receiver Rob Moore, and she initially was a Jets fan.
Fullmore has an undergraduate degree from Lynn University, Masters degrees from Florida A&M and Havard and her doctorate from Southern Methodist.
In addition to heading the charter school that serves more than 3,000 students from K-8, and Bold City High School, Fullmore volunteers with AMIKids Jacksonville, which provides access to postsecondary education.
She and her husband Derek have three daughters.
Melissa Fullmore will deliver first 'Duuuval!'
Fullmore is obviously looking forward to the Super Bowl. She wishes the Jaguars would be there but failing that she’s pulling for a Detroit-Baltimore matchup.
Other perks include delivering the first “Duuuval!” before the final home game of the season against the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 29, and being presented a ceremonial key to EverBank Stadium.
Jaguars fans can vote for Fullmore as the NFL Fan of the Year through Feb. 5, 2025 by visiting nfl.com/fanoftheyear or through in-game video board promotions during home Jaguars games through the end of the season.
Melissa Fullmore's favorite Jaguars
- Linebacker Foye Oluokun: “Hands-down, my favorite player. I love defense. That’s what wins championships. He’s the leader on the field but he’s not always in the limelight.”
- Running back Maurice Jones-Drew: “He's the little train that could.”
- Defensive end Calais Campbell: “I love him and what he stands for, as a football player and a person.”
- Tight end Evan Engram: “Just a nice person. I’ve seen him interact with fans and he’s awesome with them.”
Melissa Fullmore's other favorites
- Favorite uniform combination: Teal tops and pants.
- Favorite game of all time: Playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
- If she could pick on Jaguar to coach Bold City High football team: David Garrard or Byron Leftwich.
What other perks should Melissa Fullmore get?
Okay, a trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl is every fan’s dream. Giving the first “Duuuval!” will be a moment to remember. But perhaps Fullmore should get a little more for being the Fan of the Year for a 2-9 team:
- A day on owner Shad Khan’s yacht “Kismet,” complete with a spa treatment (yes, there is a room on the boat for hair, nail and massage services).
- Give her the headset and let her call plays for one quarter.
- Let her make one third-day draft pick (hey, the Jaguars have 12 of them ... they can let Fullmore take a shot).
Editor's note: This story was first published by our news partners at the Florida Times-Union.
