Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes sat down with team reporter Dannie Rogers for an end-of-year interview that was filled with admiration for the fans.
He just can’t stop himself sometimes. You’ve certainly seen at least one video of Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes being overly happy, such as when he selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the 2023 NFL Draft, and now we know why.
While other front-office executives may be less prominent, Holmes is frequently photographed on the sidelines celebrating a victory with supporters or, more recently, bursting with joy in an elevator.
In an end-of-year interview with team reporter Dannie Rogers, Holmes emphasized that he is proud of both the players and the fans.
“When I saw how many people showed up (in Kansas City), I was like, what? Thursday? Like, I understand it, opening and all, but it’s still Thursday night. You have to take time off work. […] People have kids, and it’s a school night. It requires a lot of sacrifice. “When I saw that, I knew I had to show them love,” Holmes explained.
The appreciation is genuine. Holmes stated that the fans are, at their core, gritty, much like the Lions. They embody what the squad stands for. Whether at home or away, they turned out in droves, breaking Ford Field decibel records twice, selling out Ford Field for the first game ever, and drawing the largest attendance since the facility opened 22 years ago.
In the interview, Holmes compares the experience of winning the first playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams to having a kid. The 10-minute video is well worth a full viewing.
