For Ninotchka Jackson-Wright and her daughter Kyla L. Wright, Detroit Lions fandom has never been a phase or a hobby. It has been a family inheritance, a weekly ritual, and a deeply personal connection to the city they love.
That lifelong devotion has now earned the Detroit-area mother and daughter the honor of being named the Detroit Lions’ 2025 Fans of the Year, the first mother-daughter duo ever selected by the franchise to represent the team in the NFL’s national Fan of the Year competition.
The recognition places Jackson-Wright and Wright among a select group of fans from across the league who “exemplify unwavering loyalty, creativity, and community involvement.” As Lions Fans of the Year, they now advance to compete for the title of Ultimate NFL Fan of the Year, which will be announced during Super Bowl weekend at the NFL Honors ceremony.
When asked how it feels to receive the honor, the pair summed it up simply. “Very excited,” Wright said, with her mother echoing the sentiment: “Yeah, really excited.”
That excitement was genuine, and completely unexpected. Jackson-Wright recalls that the moment unfolded under the guise of something far more ordinary. She received an email inviting her and her daughter to what was described as a shopping spree at Ford Field, supposedly part of a contest for loyal Lions members.
“They said there had been a contest and we were randomly selected, and it was totally unbelievable to us,” Jackson-Wright said. “We were like, ‘What? Us?’”
The two were told to come dressed as if they were heading to a game, a request that didn’t raise any suspicions given their reputation for elaborate game-day fashion. Cameras were set up, the marketing team greeted them, and they were allowed to select items from the team store. Then came the surprise.
“They said, ‘We have one more thing for you,’ and presented us with Honolulu blue jackets,” Jackson-Wright said. “They told us to turn them around, and when we did, it said ‘Fan of the Year.’ It took us a minute, and then we looked at each other like, ‘Oh my gosh, we won!’”
Wright said the reaction was immediate and unfiltered. “We literally just took off running,” she said. “It wasn’t planned because we didn’t know. We were just so excited.”
The honor is rooted in a story that stretches back decades, to a time when the Lions still played at the Pontiac Silverdome. Wright was, as she puts it, “born into Lions fandom.”
“There are baby pictures of me in Lions onesies, little pink Lions jerseys,” she said. “I’ve only ever known Lions football.”
That legacy began with Wright’s late grandfather, Jackson-Wright’s father, a devoted season ticket holder and unapologetic believer in the team, even during the darkest years.
“He was a diehard fan,” Wright said. “You couldn’t tell him the Lions weren’t the best team even during the 0-16 season.”
After his passing in 2017, the family made a conscious decision to keep that tradition alive. “My mom said, ‘What better way to keep his legacy going than to keep the season tickets in the family?’” Wright said. The four tickets were passed down, preserving a ritual that had become part of the family’s identity.
At his funeral, the connection between family, fandom, and Detroit was unmistakable. “At his funeral and memorial, we all wore Lions gear. Honolulu blue,” Wright said. “There was never another team.”
Today, that generational loyalty is on full display at Ford Field, where Jackson-Wright and Wright are well known for their coordinated, custom-made Lions outfits. Their bold game-day looks have made them recognizable figures in the stands and on social media, blending fashion, creativity, and team pride in a way that feels distinctly Detroit.
The NFL’s Fan of the Year program, however, goes beyond visible fandom. It also recognizes fans who make a positive impact in their communities, something that aligns closely with the values Jackson-Wright and Wright bring to their support of the team. Their selection reflects how Lions culture extends beyond the stadium and into civic pride and service.
Now, as national contenders, the duo is connecting with fellow super fans from across the country. Wright said they’re part of an active Facebook group that includes Fans of the Year dating back to 2020, as well as a WhatsApp group for the current class.
“We talk, joke, root for each other’s teams, and meet up when teams play each other,” she said.
Jackson-Wright added that the experience has included unprecedented access to the league itself. “We’ve also had multiple league calls with behind-the-scenes access,” she said.
Those sessions have included Q&As with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, insights into Super Bowl planning, and a closer look at how the league operates. “It’s been an incredible experience,” Wright said.
As part of the honor, the duo will attend the Super Bowl in Santa Clara in February when the Seattle Seahawks face off against the New England Patriots, though that perk has sparked some playful family tension. The family holds four season tickets, while Jackson-Wright’s husband and son hold the other two. The NFL, however, provides only two Super Bowl tickets per team.
“Please don’t get me started,” Jackson-Wright joked. “They thought we’d each get to bring a guest, but since there were two winners, it will just be us going.”
When asked if her father and brother were a bit jealous of their upcoming Super Bowl trip, Wright said: “Yeah… but don’t say that too loud,” while laughing.
On the field, both mother and daughter share a favorite current Lion. “Oh my God… I’d say Amon-Ra St. Brown,” Wright said, with Jackson-Wright quickly agreeing. Jackson-Wright also sees echoes of former quarterback Matthew Stafford in the team’s current roster. “They’re young, loyal, and excited to be part of a winning team,” she said. “That loyalty reminds me of Matthew Stafford.”
Public voting for the Ultimate NFL Fan of the Year is now underway, with fans able to cast ballots through Feb. 4.
Regardless of the outcome, Jackson-Wright and Wright are proud of how their story reflects how sports can bind generations, preserve memories, and reinforce a shared sense of place.
From the Pontiac Silverdome to Detroit’s Ford Field, from a grandfather’s unwavering belief to a mother and daughter carrying that torch forward, their journey is a quintessential tale of what it means to be a Detroit Lions fan.
