Competition never retires—it reinvents itself. When a six-week, no-pads semipro football league for 37-and-under went viral, athletes from every sport tuned in. Its raw grit and community spirit sparked a conversation about athletic longevity—and caught the eye of Carmelo Anthony, who sees in it a blueprint for his own next chapter
This league resonates because it’s raw and unfiltered. It is nothing like the NFL and other major leagues, but it shares the same passion and love for the game. The video spreading around the internet shows guys over 40 working 12-hour shifts and playing games on the weekends, putting their all into every down. The structure is like a reduced six-week season, flexible schedule, and an unashamed homage to community competitiveness, while it has created a new dimension for senior athletes who believe they still have something to give even after their retirement. For some, it’s the end of the story. For some, like Carmelo Anthony, it’s an indication that the door is always open.
Speaking openly about his post-retirement attitude, the 10-time NBA All-Star underlined that his competitive drive is still very much alive. Anthony, who officially retired in May 2023 after a 19-season NBA career packed with honors, including a scoring title in 2013 and three Olympic gold medals, now draws motivation from unexpected places. The viral football league footage sparked more than nostalgia; it reignited a personal reflection on “unfinished business” in the NBA. “I’m with this,” Anthony admitted on camera, watching the league’s highlight reel. “I f—— with this! I shout out to whoever started this league right here. ” “Chasing sport dreams while pushing 40. You sh— with it or sh— out of it. “
Viral 37U football highlights had the crew in shock
Melo: “These old n***** still active, man.”
Karlous: “Contact football with they work insurance … talk about love for the game.” pic.twitter.com/Jypmu6s0Ra
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) May 15, 2025
Anthony’s comments went beyond casual praise. They showed a deeper desire that athletes who have left the pro spotlight typically have, or the ones who never had a chance to reach it, can still display their talent and love. Anthony is still one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history, and now he is focused on his son Kiyan Anthony reaching the top level in the next 5 years, as his father was a player who created iconic moments from Denver to New York and beyond.
“Yeah, cuz think about how many like athletes, former athletes, who maybe got out the game early, who still feel like athletically inclined. You know what I’m saying? Like they want to still go out there and hoop and play basketball, football, and baseball. And they that athleticism don’t it might go down. might dwindle a little bit, but your love for the game don’t don’t go. They probably felt like they got they got out the game early, too early. They, you know, they probably play football on they block and all type of sh—. Why not?”
The statement from the former pro showed that more and more players are refusing to go away quietly. Whether it’s a league just for veterans or weekend basketball, or their favorite sport runs, this pattern is about getting back to rhythm, being relevant, and defining oneself at any given age, just with the love for the sport.
Hoodie Melo lives on in local courts
Though his NBA career is finished, Anthony’s love of the game endures in more personal environments: local courts, summer runs, and low-pressure leagues where the stakes are different but the attitude is the same. “I’m about to get going this summer, though. Bring them 40 and over. You know what I mean? It’s coming back this summer,” he teased.
Anthony’s “Hoodie Melo” persona was born during offseason workouts where he’d don a hood to “lock in” and block out distractions. It’s the mindset he’s carried into every post-retirement challenge. Even at 40, he still rocks the hood, whether shooting around New York’s West Side courts or leading star-studded pick-up games in Los Angeles.
Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; Carmelo Anthony cheers in the second half against France in the men’s basketball gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s not about playing once in a while,” Melo told ESPN’s TikTok channel when discussing off-season routines. “If you’re gonna do it, you’ve gotta commit”—a mantra he’s lived since his Georgetown days, through Olympic gold in Paris 2024, to every barn-burner pickup session under gym lights
The vision is already forming. A new league inspired by U37, but this time it’s for the 40-and-up crowd in basketball. Whether this 40+ basketball league materializes this season or beyond, Carmelo Anthony’s teasing and behind-the-scenes work suggest one thing: real athletes never retire—they just find new fields to conquer.
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