303. Dad Crush May 2026

And here’s the secret: dads with crushes on other dads? That happens too. Admiration between men — free of rivalry or irony — is one of the most underrated forms of intimacy. A dad crush can be two fathers at a playground, one nodding at the other’s gentle way of handling a tantrum. Good job , the nod says. I see you.

The internet’s favorite “dad crush” archetype is Mr. Rogers or Bob Ross — men who radiated safety. But in real life, it’s the high school coach who stays late to help with calculus. The grandfather next door who saves you a slice of pie every Thursday. The boss who treats you like a human first, employee second. 303. Dad Crush

But the dad crush also happens in healthy families. It can be a recognition of someone else’s skill at parenting — the way a man can be goofy and authoritative, soft and strong, all at once. It’s the friend’s dad who grills burgers and asks about your art project, then gives you a firm handshake when you leave. There’s no overbearing advice, no emotional weight. Just presence. And here’s the secret: dads with crushes on other dads

And that’s a crush worth having.