Tom Izzo’s Unique NFL Fandom: Cheering for Both the Packers and Lions
Tom Izzo’s loyalty to Michigan State basketball is unquestioned, but when it comes to the NFL, his allegiances are a little more complicated.
Despite being a Michigan native, Izzo grew up near the Wisconsin border and was a Green Bay Packers fan. However, after spending decades coaching in Michigan, he developed a soft spot for the Detroit Lions—especially when his childhood friend, Steve Mariucci, became the Lions’ head coach in 2003.
“I still like the Packers … I still pull for them,” Izzo told Up & Adams. “But I gotta tweak it a little bit. When in Rome, do like the Romans. I still got my cheesehead, but I just keep it on bait.”
While Lions and Packers fans rarely see eye to eye, Izzo remains an exception, proving that even in a fierce rivalry, there’s room for dual loyalties.
Michigan State’s Tom Izzo Has Unusual Loyalty to Both Packers & Lions
