Chiefs superfan X-Factor, the nom de guerre of local man Ty Rowton, has just announced his retirement, saying that he was “becoming a monster.”
Rowton, who is known by his signature red triangle hat, has been a polarizing figure among Chiefs fans for years. The attention accelerated after the Bills game, in which he became involved in a skirmish with another superfan, known as RedXtreme.
Video of the altercation has been widely described as a knockout punch. But the Tweeted video did not in fact show such a punch, as discussed on Kansas City’s Only Podcast.
Following the altercation, X-Factor made a memorable appearance on the local Fox affiliate in which he spoke of himself in the third person and expressed anger about being called a meth addict, as he was actually a cocaine addict and alcoholic.
X-Factor subsequently shared a letter purported to be from the Chiefs, telling him that he was banned from Arrowhead and team activities. He nevertheless made the trip to Maryland last weekend to witness the Chiefs win over the Washington Football Team.
In announcing his retirement via Facebook post, X-Factor acknowledges that he was inebriated prior to the alleged fight with his former friend.
“I have let more people down than I can ever imagine. So many look to me as inspiration to get clean. I threw away over fifty months clean and sober because pride said ‘Ty, you can have one beer and escape your problems for once in over four years,'” he writes. “I started living life old Ty lived making terrible decisions. I drank and smoked a joint at Arrowhead which lead me to be in a fight.”
“My family has suffered way too much for having to defend me,” he continued. “I was becoming a monster that addictions had created many years ago. I hate that Ty, but God says, ‘You are forgiven, you are my child and make so many mistakes but you hit your knees and beg for forgiveness, ask for help and know that I’m the only God.'”
He then said that he will retire from super fandom and asked for prayers: “God bless you all and I love you all. Please put me in your prayers.”
