Kyla Wright and her mother, Ninotchka Jackson-Wright, stand out even among Detroit Lions loyalists. On Sunday at Ford Field, they weren’t just cheering from the stands — they were drawing attention from fellow fans eager to snap photos and share conversations. Their passion, style, and history with the team made them unmistakable.
Recently, the pair earned a unique honor: they were named the Detroit Lions’ 2025 Fan of the Year together. It marked the first time in franchise history that the recognition was awarded to two people at once. Their shared love for the Lions is deeply rooted, stretching back multiple generations.
For Kyla, fandom wasn’t a choice — it was part of her upbringing.
Her devotion to the team came directly from her mother, who herself inherited it from her father, Oliver Williams Jr. Ninotchka’s earliest memories as a Lions fan date back to games at the Pontiac Silverdome.
“My dad had the tickets,” Ninotchka explained to MLive. “When he passed away eight years ago, we took them over and kept them in the family. It meant everything to him.”
Although her father briefly drifted away from the team during the infamous winless season, his loyalty ultimately never wavered. When the Lions rebuilt and moved into their new home, his passion reignited. He stood by the team regardless of their record, a mindset that shaped how his daughter and granddaughter approach fandom.
That dedication has followed Kyla throughout her life. A graduate of Hampton University, a current Ph.D. student at Michigan State, and a former Miss North America (2024), she has experienced many milestones — but none more meaningful than continuing her family’s Lions tradition.
“I’ve been a fan since the day I was born,” Kyla said. “There are pictures of me in Lions onesies as a baby. I went to games with my grandfather, my parents, my siblings. Watching the Lions struggle and then rise again is something only true fans understand.”
She reflected on how different generations of fans have experienced the team in vastly different ways. While younger fans may only know recent success, Kyla remembers the darkest years — including the 0–16 season — when Detroit was widely ridiculed.
“We were there when people wore paper bags over their heads,” she said. “We still believed. That’s why every win now means so much. We didn’t just show up for success — we stayed when it was hard.”
Kyla went on to describe Lions fandom as something deeper than sports allegiance.
“Being a Lions fan is part of who you are,” she said. “It’s about loyalty, resilience, and grit. That’s not a trend for us — it’s been in our DNA. We went from the bottom to nearly the top, and not everyone gets to say they stayed through that.”
She recalled attending college out of state, where friends questioned her loyalty to a struggling franchise.
“They’d ask why I was wearing Lions gear,” she said. “And I’d tell them, ‘Because this is my team.’”
Wearing custom Lions outfits and their Fan of the Year chains, Kyla and Ninotchka eventually shifted their attention to the Week 16 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers — the Lions’ final home game of the regular season.
The contest carried major playoff implications. While Detroit could still reach the postseason with a loss, winning out — combined with favorable results from the Bears and Packers — would significantly boost their chances, including a potential NFC North title.
Kyla approached the moment with calm focus.
“I feel the same nerves I feel every week,” she said. “But like Coach Campbell says, it’s any given Sunday. You take the game in front of you first. Everything else comes later.”
Ninotchka, meanwhile, expressed the optimism that has carried her through decades of highs and lows.
“I don’t feel like today is the day we lose,” she said confidently. “We’re going after the playoffs. We’re coming.”
