There’s no doubt that some NFL players make some crazy choices when it comes to petting an animal. For example, Dez Bryant petted a monkey, or Darnell Dockett had a pet tiger. Well, their choices are definitely strange, but we also can’t ignore Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele, who has a strange and unique pet at home!

21-year-old novice tailback, Carson Steele, has a pet alligator at his home in Indiana. This alligator, named Crocky J, weighs about 100 pounds and is 5½ feet long. Scary, right? Well, when he was a kid, Steele learned to hold his pet alligator through trial and error. To hold his pet, he developed a manual for the animal. So first, you grab its tail and tie it under its arm, then place a hand on its belly to control its movements. Any mistake, like putting your hand too close to its head, can result in a painful bite. And Steele knows this all too well, because he’s been there himself.

During an interview, Carson Steele recalled an incident in which his pet alligator, Crocky J, bit him. He said: “I don’t even know if my mom and dad know about this. But when I was younger, I tried to show it to my friends and something happened. One of my friends moved or something and I turned around and looked the other way and he kind of got me. That was the only time.“

So, was it a painful and hard bite? Well, if you ask Steele, he would probably say yes, somewhat, because this bite “just a little bit” blood, leaving an impression. But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that it could have nearly killed the Chiefs star if it had been big enough and his carelessness had led to it!

Despite the terrifying buildup to the 2024 season opener, Crocky J has been in the news, quickly becoming a fan favorite.

Do fans want more Crocky J than Taylor Swift?

Carson Steele’s pet, Crocky J, was recently featured on NBC’s broadcast of Kansas City’s season opener against the Ravens on Thursday. As soon as it was shown on national television, fans began pouring in their comments about the unusual pet. One even called on the NFL to have more Crocky J footage than Taylor Swift’s, writing: “Let’s get more Crocky J and less Taylor this season.”

While many fell in love with the alligator, someone hilariously said, “I just heard about Crocky J and I would give my life for him.“Even another NFL fan just claimed that they”here for Crocky J.” It seems like Crocky J has already become a star this season, alongside Swift.

Carson Steele, who got this pet from his father when he was in the second or third grade for Christmas, has kept it back home with his parents in Indiana, in a large aquarium. And Steele is reportedly currently working on “about obtaining the proper documentation for the alligator to come to Kansas City.“