Not only is it the most popular ticket in town, but it’s also the most sought-after NFL playoff ticket nationwide. This Sunday night, January 14, the Lions play the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field in the inaugural home playoff game in franchise history. A number of well-known celebrities may be in attendance.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will be playing in his first playoff game at Ford Field, which will heighten the excitement for the first-ever home playoff game for the Lions since the 1993 campaign. The Rams acquired him in 2020 in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, who will also face his former team, after drafting him first overall by the Lions in 2009.
For those of you who enjoy people watching while at the game, here are 20 big celebrities you may spot in the crowd or on the sidelines.
TIM ALLEN
Over the years, fans have witnessed the star of “Home Improvement,” “Last Man Standing,” and “The Santa Claus” on the sidelines at many Lions games. It’s no secret that Allen, a native of Metro Detroit who attended CMU and EMU, is an avid Lions fan. It would be shocking if he wasn’t cheering on his beloved team from the sidelines or the stands during their first home playoff game in thirty years.
JEFF DANIELS
The “Dumb and Dumber,” “Newsroom” and “Speed” actor actually performed a ceremony a couple of years ago with Peyton Manning to try and break the curse of Bobby Layne. Residents of the area and owner of the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan, Jeff Daniels, has been spotted at Red Wings and Tigers games in addition to Lions games in the past.
KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY
The Metro Detroit native and star of “Key & Peele,” “Friends From College,” and “Pitch Perfect 2” is a huge Lions fan. Recently, Key visited “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where Kimmel asked him to perform a self-impersonation of what he would do if the Lions ever won the Super Bowl. It goes without saying that Key was very excited. Given that we have witnessed Key at previous Lions games, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him there on Sunday.
EMINEM
Taylor Swift is with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Detroit Lions have Eminem. This season, the local rapper has been attending some Lions games in style, tweeting his excitement for the team after a few of their victories. Over the years, we have also seen him at other games. If he wasn’t watching this from a suite at Ford Field, it would be shocking.
FLAVA FLAV
Because his girlfriend is from Detroit, Flav told the Free Press last year that he divides his time between living in Vegas and Michigan. Could Flav be at Ford Field on Sunday? He appears to be at every major event in the area. Yes, sir!
SAM RICHARDSON AND TIM ROBINSON
The “Detroiters” stars, who are both native Detroiters, have been spotted together at Lions games this season. They both took home Emmys this year as well. Robinson for “I Think You Should Go,” his Netflix sketch comedy series; and Robinson for “Ted Lasso,” his Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series award. The two are obviously huge Lions supporters, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see them both at this Sunday’s playoff game.
TAYLOR LAUTNER
The Grand Rapids native and star of “Twilight” was recently spotted at the Lions’ “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Raiders at Ford Field on October 30. Since he is a fan, there’s a good chance he will attend the playoff game against the Rams on Sunday.
KID ROCK
The Metro Detroit native is a Lions fan and has been spotted at Ford Field games in the past, but he no longer resides in Detroit after selling his riverfront home. Kid Rock may travel back home to see his team play in their first-ever home playoff game at Ford Field now that he resides in Nashville.
DAVE COULIER
The comedian and “Full House” star recently moved back home to Metro Detroit and has been spotted at numerous Red Wings games. We even saw him at a Wings game in a suite with Jeff Daniels. Dave Coulier has always been a big Wings fan, taking part in Wings alumni charity games and he even wore a Wings jersey on “Full House.” It’s possible he could attend the Lions game, although we don’t recall seeing him at one.
J.K. SIMMONS
Oscar winner for “Whiplash,” actor J.K. Simmons is a native of Metro Detroit; we have seen him at Tigers games in the past, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he attended Sunday’s Lions-Rams playoff game, though we don’t remember seeing him at Ford Field.
JACK WHITE
We are aware that this multi-Grammy-winning musician loves the Tigers and baseball. At the 2022 Opening Day game, Jack White even sang the National Anthem. It’s very possible the White Stripes singer could be at the Lions game this Sunday.
BIG SEAN
He performed during halftime of the Lions Thanksgiving game in 2015. Big Sean, a rapper who was born and raised in Detroit, might very well attend the important playoff game this Sunday at Ford Field as a spectator.
BOB SEGER
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who was born in Detroit, is still local even though she has given up singing. Although we don’t remember seeing him at a Lions game, this is the first home playoff game the team has had in almost 30 years, so what better occasion to attend?
JIM HARBAUGH
He and his Michigan Wolverines just won the College Football National Championship. His brother’s team, the Baltimore Ravens, has a bye this week, so why not attend the Lions game? It’s possible we see Harbaugh on the sidelines at Ford Field.
TOM IZZO
Coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team could travel an hour to Ford Field on that particular night to watch the Lions play, as the team plays Rutgers in East Lansing this Sunday. He has previously been seen by us watching from the sidelines at Ford Field.
BARRY SANDERS, CALVIN JOHNSON, DEREK JETER, JALEN ROSE
There’s a good chance that many prominent local athletes, such as former Lions and NFL Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, will be present at the game on Sunday. This season, the two have been spotted at Ford Field with former Lions wide receiver Herman Moore.
Could Derek Jeter, a former New York Yankee and resident of Kalamazoo, be present at the game? He was seen at the Wolverine’s National Championship game in Houston. What about Jalen Rose, a former NBA player? He frequently appears at Pistons games.
Additionally, you might run into Chris Spielman, a former linebacker for the Lions who now works for the team, or Lomas Brown, a former offensive lineman who provides color commentary on the team on 97.1 the Ticket. Eddie Murray, a former Lions kicker, is also frequently spotted in the area. Maybe we’ll see a Tom Brady sighting. On Sunday, keep an eye out for all of these celebrities.