The Tuesday following the Detroit Lions’ Week 7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings felt like just another day for Megan Stefanski.

After finishing her shift as a school librarian, she stopped by her family’s restaurant, Yooperman’s Bar and Grill in Goetzville, to catch up with a friend over a drink.

But when she stepped through the door, everything changed.

Inside the restaurant, Stefanski was met by an unexpected celebration.

Detroit Lions mascot Roary, cheerleaders, the marketing team, and even the legendary superfan Crack Man were all there, holding signs and cheering, shouting: “Congrats! You’re going to the Super Bowl!”

Stefanski had just been named the Lions’ 2024 Fan of the Year.

The announcement marked the beginning of what would become a whirlwind experience for her, with her calendar quickly filling up with media interviews, appearances, and tailgates—an overwhelming yet exciting series of events as she embraced her new role as one of the Lions’ most devoted supporters.

The excitement continued as, on Thursday, Stefanski attended a special meet-and-greet in Detroit with Lions legend and Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson.

The event, held at The Shadow Gallery in the city’s Eastern Market, was the perfect prelude to the Lions’ Thursday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers.

As she chatted with MLive, Stefanski reflected on the surreal journey that had brought her this far.

She shared her excitement about the possibility of the Lions making history by reaching the Super Bowl, a dream she’d held her entire life.

“I’ve been dreaming of this moment forever,” she said.

“We took over New Orleans last December (for Week 13). If it’s the Super Bowl, Lions fans are going to take over everywhere.”

With the Lions facing a crucial game against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Stefanski was feeling confident. Though the outcome wouldn’t necessarily decide the division, the game was important for the playoff race.

“It’s must-win football, and the guys know that.

Nothing has stopped them so far, and they know what they have to do,” Stefanski said. “They’re focused, and I don’t think anything is going to get in our way.”

When asked about the key players she expected to make a difference, Stefanski was quick to point out the duo of running backs, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

She affectionately referred to them as “Sonic and Knuckles,” anticipating a big game from the backfield.

“Ben Johnson, our offensive coordinator, is going to pull out some fun plays today,” she said, before shifting to the defense. “On defense, those new guys are going to go to war for (defensive coordinator) Aaron Glenn.

They’re just going to blitz like crazy and give it everything they’ve got.”

Despite the Lions having 13 defensive players on injured reserve, Stefanski wasn’t concerned.

“It’s not ideal, but we have so much depth that it’s just next man up,” she said. “Everyone is ready to step in and play their part.”

As for the Packers, Stefanski was not overly worried.

While she acknowledged that every team was prepared to win, she felt the Lions’ home-field advantage would play a significant role.

“The fans are going to be huge today. Detroit’s fanbase is the 12th man,” she said. “Teams like Seattle claim that title, but no one wants it more than Detroit right now. That’s going to make a big difference.”

Stefanski boldly predicted a high-scoring game with the Lions dominating.

“I think we’ll score multiple touchdowns. Maybe they’ll get one or two, but I’m expecting a 42–18 win for Detroit.”

With such a confident prediction, Stefanski believes the Lions are on the cusp of something special.

Her excitement was palpable, and her optimism about the team’s future—especially with a potential Super Bowl appearance—was undeniable.

As she put it, “Ben Johnson’s ready to play today, and so are we.”