Windsor’s Seguin scores title of NFL Canada’s fan of the year

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sThe conversation was just a blur for Windsor’s Stephanie Seguin.

Friend Jen Pillon told Seguin she had someone on the phone that wanted to talk about the Chasing Hazel Foundation. Pillon said it was Nate Burleson, but Seguin said she sort of went blank hearing the name of the 11-year NFL veteran and current co-host of Good Morning Football on the NFL Network.

“I felt so bad,” Seguin said Friday. “I knew he was somebody. He introduced himself, but I was just shocked and couldn’t process what was going on. I just didn’t even catch his name.”

The Canadian-born Burleson, who also played for Seattle and Minnesota during his NFL career, was calling to talk about the Chasing Hazel Foundation in support of Down syndrome before informing Seguin that she had emerged from a field of nearly10,000 candidates to be recognized as NFL Canada’s fan of the year, which comes with a $30,000 cash award.

“I didn’t know what to say,” Seguin said. “I literally said, ‘Is this a joke.’ I just didn’t know what to say.

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“Then they told me there were 10,000 (applicants) and we were first. Not second or third, but first and that the vote had been unanimous. I’d like to say it’s once in a lifetime thing, but it doesn’t happen to everyone once in a lifetime. To be chosen out of 10,000 is stunning.”

It was Pillon that submitted Seguin’s name for the award during an online contest for her work with the charity, which began in 2017.

“We just wanted to advocate for people with disabilities, promote inclusion and provide a place for people to connect in our community,” said Seguin, whose daughter Hazel has Down syndrome. “We started off small with a play group at St. Clair College.

“It’s been a great experience for everyone to have this mentality of inclusion in a space where everyone can feel they’re an equitable member no matter ability. The support received from residents in Windsor is just inspiring and makes me want to keep going.”

Along with the charity charity, Seguin said the family is also huge fans of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.

“My husband Matt is a huge fan and has been since (former linebacker) Derrick Thomas played,” Seguin said. “I was always like, ‘I’m not going to be the girlfriend or the wife that likes the same team.’

“I was going to pick another team, but five or six years ago, we went to Arrowhead (Stadium where the Chiefs play) and I was like, ‘This is my team.’ The tailgating, the atmosphere, the fans are so gracious. I’m converted now. My kids know that when they wake up Sunday morning, they have to put a Chiefs shirt on.”

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In fact, the family became season-ticket holders for the Chiefs in 2019. They try to catch a couple of games each year and playoff games, but were unable to do so in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We still are technically season-ticket holders next year,” Seguin said. “I have a couple of girlfriends there with children with Down syndrome and we text all game.”

At first, Seguin thought the $30,000 was being given to the charity, but Pillon informed her that the money was going to her.

“When (Burleson) told me we won $30,000, I thought, ‘The foundation’s getting 30 grand’ and I was so pumped,” she said. “(Pillon) said, ‘No, it’s for you.’ I won’t lie, we don’t do this for money or recognition.”

Burleson informed Seguin of her win last month, but the spot did not run on the show until this week.

“They look for somebody that’s making a difference in the community,” Burleson said in the segment.

Seguin admits she had to watch the segment on television to believe it really was true.

“Until that happened, it was like, ‘Did this even happen,’” Seguin said. “It’s been wild.”

Seguin has not received the money yet and said she really hasn’t made plans for it.

“No, not really,” she said. “Probably a finder’s fee for my friend Jen and put some money back into the foundation. We just feel so grateful.”

jpparker@postmedia.com

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