Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano is set for his first NFL start on November 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he’s had an unusual kind of help getting ready for it: his wife, Lydia Fagnano.
After Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley were sidelined by injuries last week, Fagnano stepped in against the Buffalo Bills and the Ravens fell 36-10. Heading into Thursday Night Football, he’s been running through the offense at home with Lydia, who has been part of the process behind the scenes all season.
“We go through walkthroughs in the living room,” the 25-year-old quarterback told reporters. “She probably knows the playbook just as well as us at this point.”
Lydia’s connection to the Bills makes that Week 1-like setting even more interesting. She grew up in a Bills family, graduated from D’Youville University in Buffalo, and was at Highmark Stadium when Fagnano took his first NFL snaps against her family’s team.
“I was born third-generation Bills fan,” Lydia explained to Matt King in an interview this week. “Now, absolutely cut off. Full time Ravens fan.”
That switch didn’t stop with her. She said her family and friends changed colors, too, once Fagnano entered the game.
“As soon as Joe went in that game, all the Bills gear came off, all the Ravens gear went on,” she said. “It was super cool to see, but we had some pretty conflicted Bills fans for sure.”
Watching from the sideline has been a different kind of stress for Lydia, who competed in NCAA triathlon and also ran cross country and track. The nerves hit hard when her husband is on the field.
“I’m the worst version of myself when he’s on that field to be completely honest,” she said. “I get a little shaky. I can’t breathe well.”
Still, she said the emotion comes from pride in everything he’s worked through to get there.
“I have full faith in him,” she said. “I’m just so proud of him because I know what it’s taken to get to be on that field and have gone through all this with him, it was so special. I teared up a little bit just because I couldn’t believe it was real.”
Their story goes back to high school in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where they started dating. College took them in different directions. Fagnano spent four years at Maine before moving on to the UConn Huskies football team for two years.
Lydia began at Daemon University, but transferred after the school cut its triathlon team. She stayed at D’Youville to finish her master’s degree in business.
Seven years of long distance didn’t shake the relationship much, at least not in Lydia’s eyes.
“To be completely honest, I just don’t like anybody else,” Lydia said. “He’s just so cool. It made it kinda easy.”
Now the couple is finally living in the same city, and Lydia said Baltimore has taken on special meaning for them.
“Baltimore is very, very special to us. It is like our first start,” Lydia said of the couple finally living together in the same city.
They also recently made another big move. A month before signing with the Ravens, the couple got married in their hometown in front of more than 250 guests.
For Fagnano’s start at M&T Bank, Lydia expects Williamsport to show up in force.
“I’m pretty sure the entire town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania is driving down on thursday night to be there,” she said.
She also said her husband’s routine doesn’t change much no matter the moment.
“So, it’s just been awesome. Joe is probably the most level-headed man you’ll ever meet.
So, nothing is different for him. He works just has hard whether he knows he’s going to play or he doesn’t know.”
Off the field, Lydia works for Vendor Connect and says she’s energized by the company’s growth.
“I work for a startup and the company is growing and it’s been incredible to be on that journey. They’ve really taken a shot with me and believed in me throughout this journey.”
When she’s not following Joe’s football path, she also uses her social media to highlight her uncle.
“I do a lot of video with my Uncle Paul who has Down Syndrome. So, creating awareness and showing all people are people… and you deserve love.
That’s kinda what I post on social media and what I push. There’s no negativity welcome.”
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