It’s been quite some time since we checked in with Detroit Lions fans regarding their opinion of general manager Brad Holmes. The last time we polled our audience was almost exactly a year ago, following the team’s 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, those poll results were lost to time (and a migration to a new content management system at SB Nation).
Detroit, MI
Matthew Stafford’s pending playoff return to Detroit sparks debate over support of jersey
(CBS DETROIT) – A Detroit bar is banning Matthew Stafford jerseys ahead of the big game.
Stafford spent 11 years as a Lion. Now, his return on Sunday for the Wild Card game has some excited while others scoff.
“It’s my job to create the vibe of the party it’s our first home Lions game for playoffs in thirty years. I don’t know, do you want to be at the Christmas party with the dude that dressed like the Grinch,” said Erik Olson, owner of Thomas Magee’s Bar.
Stafford jersey or not? It’s a big question happening as the playoffs are days away.
READ: Emagine Theatres showing Detroit Lions-Los Angeles Rams game Sunday
As Stafford makes his return to the Motor City, some want people to pump the brakes on the Stafford fandom. Thomas Magee’s Bar posted online that if fans attempt to enter on gameday with a Stafford Lions jersey, they’d be turned away.
“The actual Stafford and Lions colors kind of represent a not-so-happy era for us on an incredibly happy day for us,” Olson said.
Olson believes Stafford would understand his reasoning. Others, like John Yu, owner of Pro Sports Zone, said this season has been a hot one for Lions gear.
“I look at the holiday season. I would say 80% of the sales involved Lions products,” Yu, said.
With days until the big game, Yu is expecting a big turnout over the weekend. He knows Stafford’s return is a hot topic and expects to sell a few Stafford jerseys.
“We have a few customers call in looking for Matthew Stafford jersey just because he did so much for Detroit – and also without that trade, we might not be in the same spot as we are today,” he said.
Kelly Stafford recently responded to a jersey ban post, adding, “Matthew has always been the bigger person and will continue to be that. Praying for an incredible game with zero injuries.”
“We want the Lions to win and you want to support Jared Goff, but it’s also Stafford brought the city together for many years,” Josh Chesney said.
Chesney is a lifelong Lions fan and is also one fan who recently bought a Matthew Stafford jersey.
Both Yu and Chesney agree that everyone should be able to support whoever, that’s a part of the game. But, they know only one team can be victorious.
“I think the atmosphere will be too much to handle he’s [Stafford] used to everyone cheering for him and this time around it’s not going to be anyone cheering for him. It’ll probably be boos,” Chesney said.
If the Lions win, it’ll be the first time they got a playoff victory since 1991.
Terell Bailey
4Warn Weather – SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy skies. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. A few storms could be strong with gusty winds and hail. High: 71.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy skies, becoming partly cloudy skies late. Low: 45.
SUNDAY (MOTHER’S DAY): Mix of sunshine and clouds, cooler temperatures. High: 61.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies. Another chilly night. Low: 41.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny skies, remaining chilly. High: 58.
After a beautiful end to the week on Friday with sunshine and a little cloud cover, with warmer temperatures moving into the region as well, some of us are waking up to some patchy dense fog on Saturday morning. Some places south of M-59 are seeing reduced visibilities down to around a mile. If you do run into some patchy dense fog, be sure to use your low beams.
That warming trend continues into the start of the weekend on Saturday, but it also brings a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Another cold front will work through the region by Saturday afternoon and early Saturday evening and that will bring our thunderstorm chance. High temperature is warming into low 70s by Saturday afternoon.
The Storm Prediction Center has placed most of the region under a Marginal Risk (1 out of 5) on our severe weather scale for the start of the weekend. Gusty winds and hail are the primary threats as we work through the start of the weekend, but this will not be a widespread threat for severe thunderstorms.
Behind that cold front for the end of the weekend on Sunday, we will keep a mixture of sunshine and clouds into the forecast. High temperatures running about 10 to 15° cooler to end the weekend. Expect high to warm into the upper 50s to lower 60s by Sunday afternoon.
Drier weather sticks around for the start of next week, before another chance of rain moves into the region by the time we get to Tuesday. The cooler-than-average temperatures will continue into the start of next week as well. Expect high temperatures to remain in the 50s for Monday and Tuesday.
Temperature start to warm up by the middle of next week, and Drier weather moves back in by Wednesday behind another cold front moving into the region. Expect high temperatures into the lower 60s on Wednesday to warm into the upper 60s by the time we get to Thursday. Above average temperatures move back into the region as we look ahead into the end of the week, expect high temperatures back into the lower 70s by the time we get to Friday.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
But as you can see below, Holmes has been an extremely popular figure among Detroit sports fans for pretty much his entire career.
Although, if there was a time when Holmes’ popularity took a hit, it was likely during the 2025 NFL season, when the Lions took their first clear step back since he and Dan Campbell came to town.
Since last year’s data was lost to time, this is a good opportunity to check back in with Lions fans. While Holmes certainly deserves a ton of credit for getting the Lions back to relevancy and helping them produce four consecutive seasons with winning records, there are some serious blemishes on his resumé now. The 2024 NFL Draft class has not lived up to his high standards through two seasons, some of his riskiest picks over the last few years have all failed to pay off, and last year’s roster just wasn’t good enough to withstand the injuries.
But Holmes is also coming off a very crowd-pleasing draft. Detroit addressed their two biggest needs with their first two selections, and there were no crazy head-scratching picks or expensive trade ups. Many have categorized his latest draft as “back to business as usual,” which could have some fans he lost back on his side.
However, that is all up to you. Vote on your thoughts about Holmes’ time in Detroit below, and share your extended thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
-
Business1 minute agoChina’s Exports and Imports Set Records in April Amid High Energy Costs
-
Science7 minutes agoVideo: Pentagon Releases U.F.O. Files
-
Health13 minutes agoHantavirus Vaccines and Treatments Are in the Pipeline
-
Culture25 minutes agoBook Review: ‘Selling Opportunity,’ by Mary Lisa Gavenas
-
Lifestyle31 minutes agoHunting For Lexapro Clocks, Viagra Neckties and Other Vintage Pharmaceutical Merch
-
Technology43 minutes agoDyson’s powerful 360 Vis Nav robovac is down to $279.99 for a limited time
-
World49 minutes agoAs Trump forces NATO to pay up, alliance races to close military gap with US
-
Politics55 minutes agoInside the US military playbook to cripple Iran if nuclear talks collapse