In a time when COVID-19 has affected everyone’s lives, Chris Cooley saw one positive outcome: the chance to come home.

The former Washington Redskins tight end and Powell native was set to be the offensive coordinator at a high school in Virginia before the pandemic axed that state’s 2020 football season. With football canceled and his 6-year-old daughter, Sloane, set to begin kindergarten, Cooley and his wife, Madi, made the decision to relocate from Leesburg, Virginia, to Powell, Wyoming in August.

Cooley spent the first 10 years of his life in Powell before moving to Logan, Utah, where he’d eventually play college football at Utah State. He then went on to play nine seasons in the NFL, making two Pro Bowl appearances and finishing his career as Washington’s leader in receptions by a tight end.

This is Cooley’s first time living full-time in Park County since childhood, but he has always seen the area as his home. Chris has owned a property west of Powell since 2007, where the family currently resides, and many of Chris’ extended relatives still live in the area.

“I’d feel regret when I’d leave,” Cooley said. “I’ve spent almost every summer here, especially since I’ve been done playing.”

A different pace of life

Chris and Madi met in 2011, and from the beginning of their relationship, Chris made it clear that he one day wanted to settle down in Wyoming.

Madi, who lived in Virginia for her entire life before moving, wasn’t sure about the plan at first. But her view quickly changed.

“He was kind of like, ‘We’re going to be living in Wyoming at some point,’ and I was like ‘OK, hopefully not,’” Madi said. “But after the summers, I was like, ‘I really like this.’”

The area fulfills Chris’ and Madi’s love for the outdoors. Since moving, the family has taken advantage of the countless recreational activities in the surrounding mountains and rivers.

While Chris and Madi spent some of their previous summers fishing and cruising through the mountains on RZRs (two of his favorite activities), living in the area full time gives him the chance to do even more.

“There’s so much that I’ve never got a chance to see,” Cooley said. “I’m looking forward to getting able to experience a lot more.”

In addition to exploring nature, the community’s neighborliness has overwhelmed the Cooleys.

Rather than constantly being bombarded with picture and autograph requests, Chris values the countless handshake and “how are you” interactions he’s encountered from Park County’s welcoming residents.

“You might spend an extra 20 minutes in the store just talking to random people,” Chris said. “There’s not always just a stop; people will sit and visit.”

Madi added, “People are so polite and just want to be friendly and respectful.”

When he’s not exploring the outdoors or meeting new people in the area, Chris finds time for his other passions.

He watches around 20 to 30 hours a week of NFL game film, studying players and different formations on his laptop. Chris also has a podcast with The Team 980 (Washington Radio) host Kevin Sheehan, which he records every day.

The retired tight end is also passionate about art, as he owned a pottery gallery in Virginia. Though Chris hasn’t crafted pottery in a while, he still takes on art projects — but these days, they’re more centered around his children: Sloane and his 3-year-old son Bodi.

Compared to living in the Washington metropolitan area, the small, comforting atmosphere of Powell suits Chris and his family well.

“There’s just a slower pace to life that we enjoy,” Chris said.

Future in Powell

Chris and Madi admitted that they don’t plan on working for anybody in the future. But the couple wants to find a way to make an impact on others and the community as they settle into the area.

Due to the pandemic, getting immersed hasn’t been easy so far, but Chris and Madi have big plans for when things become somewhat normal again.

“We’ve talked about doing some art things at the school when that’s available,” he said. “We want to be involved in a bunch of charity stuff here.”

The couple is also excited about raising children in such a welcoming community that will allow them to pursue whatever interests they develop.

“Watching them and encouraging their happiness and success is what I hope for them,” Chris said. “If they want to do it, we’re going to help them do anything they want to do.”

He jokingly added that, “You can definitely see athleticism in both of our kids, and if [Bodi] doesn’t play quarterback in the NFL, then he’s cut off.”

The Cooleys plan to build a new home in the next couple of years on their current property. Chris admitted they aren’t in a rush to complete the project, but they have begun meeting with an architect to develop a plan.

When the new house is finished, Chris hopes to install a pottery studio. He expects to see more time for art when both of his kids are in school.

“As any parent sees when they’re both in school, they have more free time, so we’re waiting to see with that,” Chris said. “It doesn’t have to wait, it’s just hard to do a little thing here and there. Pottery’s a big production, so that will come more with the new house.”

Chris previously considered a career in full-time coaching, but he ultimately decided it would be too much of a time commitment away from his family. However, Chris said he’d “absolutely” be open to helping out with local high school or middle school programs, if he was given the opportunity.

Other ventures Chris and the family plan on pursuing include further exploring the mountains and becoming closer with Chris’ relatives in town, including his grandmother, Jan Muller.

Between the slower pace of life, recreational activities and the community, the Cooley family couldn’t feel more at home, less than a year into their residence in Wyoming.

And if there’s one thing they want people to know, it’s that this isn’t just a pit stop for them: They’re in Powell for the long haul.

“We plan on being here,” Madi said.

“This is our home,” Chris said. “This isn’t a come and stay for a year, then find something else. This was in our plans; this was something we were looking forward to.”