By Blessing 
Tom Izzo’s unwavering commitment to Michigan State is well known. He’s been a Spartan through and through, joining the basketball program as an assistant coach back in 1983 and eventually taking over as head coach in 1995. Aside from a brief stint at his alma mater, Northern Michigan, Izzo has dedicated his entire college coaching career to Michigan State.
But while his loyalty to Spartan basketball is crystal clear, things get a little more complicated when it comes to the NFL.
Izzo has an unusual rooting interest in professional football — he cheers for both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. It’s a rare stance, especially considering the two teams are longtime NFC North rivals with a feud dating back nearly a century.
The mixed allegiance makes more sense when you look at his background. Though born in Michigan, Izzo grew up not far from the Wisconsin border and naturally gravitated toward the Packers early on. But his Lions fandom grew once he settled into life at Michigan State — especially when his childhood friend, Steve Mariucci, took over as the Lions’ head coach in 2003.
“I still like the Packers … I still pull for them,” Izzo told Kay Adams during an appearance on the Up & Adams Show.
“I’m trying to stay in the times,” he added. “I gotta adjust a little bit. I gotta tweak it a little bit. Doesn’t mean that I’ve lost all my loyalty. When in Rome, do like the Romans and I’m in Michigan. I still got my cheesehead, but I just keep it on bait.”
While most fans pick a side in the Packers-Lions rivalry, Izzo walks a unique line — and he’s perfectly fine being the exception.