On Saturday (September 25), Pro Football Network learned of the passing of Mike Tagliere, a pillar in the fantasy football community. Mike’s impact on the world of fantasy football is immeasurable, and we were all devastated by the news.
Tommy Garrett, one of our Fantasy Analysts, wrote the reflection below about how much Tagliere meant to not only him but many who work and strive to work in the fantasy landscape.
All of us here at Pro Football Network extend our condolences to Tabbie (Mike’s wife), their children, Alyssa (18) and Jonathan (4), his extended family, his friends, and all those who Mike positively impacted throughout his life.
A tribute to Mike Tagliere from Tommy Garrett
Editor’s Note: This reflection was written this past weekend after Tommy learned of Mike’s passing. So this would not get lost in the shuffle of the NFL weekend, we decided to hold this until Monday evening so it can get the attention and respect it deserves.
Before I get going, we need to talk for a second. Or I guess I need to talk at least.
I’m going to be honest with you right now. I don’t want to be here writing this. Not a single part of me wants to be sitting in front of my laptop on a Saturday afternoon. I’ve sat here over 10 hours a day ever since I started working as a full-time fantasy analyst in the middle of a pandemic in 2020.
At that time, COVID was impacting everyone’s lives in one way or another. Outside of getting it myself, not much changed for me. I sat at home and worked — that was it. Inside my four walls, life remained basically the same. I was lucky. Even though my entire family contracted COVID at one point or another, we were all fine. I was lucky because I didn’t know anyone who passed away from this awful virus — until today.
Earlier this morning, I found out that we lost one of the pillars of the fantasy community, Mike Tagliere. Tags — as we all knew him — had been hospitalized by a severe case of COVID-19 since mid-August. I knew things weren’t going well for Mike based on tweets from his wife Tabbie, but I always had faith he would beat it. We all did. I never doubted it for a second.
I was lucky to know Mike, even if we never managed to meet in person. To me, he is what a fantasy analyst should be. He was unrelenting in his quest for knowledge, did his best to educate readers, and passed on all those hidden hours of work to the people who consumed his content.
Mike was known for his weekly in-season article, The Primer. To me, The Primer and Matthew Berry’s Love Hate column are the two best fantasy articles written each week. Tags’ stats and info combined with Berry’s story-telling ability would comprise a perfect fantasy article. Matthew’s article made me want to be a fantasy analyst. Mike’s made me want to be a better one once I finally got my shot.
When I started doing this weekly weather report, it was my way of trying to merge the two styles together and was the only article I felt was in “my voice.” Was it the 35,000+ word behemoth Tags pumped out every week? Of course not — but it was the one I enjoyed writing the most.
So as I sit here with my thoughts and emotions all over the place, no matter how much I don’t want to do write, I have to do it. That’s what Mike would do, and it’s the only way I can honor him. By pressing forward and continuing to do my dream job, even when I might not want to do it.
Mike “Tags” Tagliere, 39, leaves behind his wife, Tabbie, and their two children, Alyssa (18) and Jonathan (4).
I’ll miss you, bud.
Forever #TagsStrong.
A GoFundMe has been set up by FantasyPros to help support Mike’s family. Please join PFN in providing whatever you can. Click here to support the Tagliere Family.