DETROIT – Detroit Lions fans have taken great Pride in having a significant presence at road games this season, which is why so many are hopping on planes bound for California.
There’s been a lot of Honolulu blue at Metro Airport on Friday (Jan. 26).
Die-hard Lions fans who can afford it are jetting out to the San Francisco Bay Area, and that includes family members of players like former Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.
“This is what we do,” said Donovan’s mother, Roz Peoples-Jones. “So excited at this point with it being in the playoff with Detroit we are excited.”
Roz’s son, Donovan, is currently the Lions punt returner. He was one of the Wolverines best athletes in school, so you might see a lot of people representing his No. 19 jersey.
“We always have our 19 or our Lions stuff on,” said Donovan’s girlfriend Imani Braxton. “It takes hours to decorate.”
Braxton says the entire team and their families have grown incredibly close this season.
“I’m really hoping they can bring home this NFC Championship and see them again in Las Vegas in two weeks,” Braxton said.
Hailing from Detroit’s west side, Donovan played for Cass Tech and the University of Michigan, and his mom says this NFL championship game is personal.
“To have watched him as a little boy and to take him to the games, it’s surreal,” Roz said. “And now he’s a player on this team, it’s a win for the city.”
A group from Warren says packing for Santa Clara felt surreal.
“It was so cool, never thought it was going to happen, and finally we get to go, and we went to both playoff games. It was crazy,” said Lions fan Kyran Daniels.
“I’m excited,” said Lions fan Cortland Cross. “When’s the last time we saw Detroit here, I wasn’t born, so we got the opportunity to go. We gotta root for the city.”