Parents of 49ers kicker Jake Moody face dilemma as lifelong Lions fans: ‘It’s tough’
The Lions have never reached the Super Bowl
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Detroit Lions are in the midst of a magical season as they prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Detroit is looking to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history, one of only four NFL teams to never reach the big game.
A fan holds up a large foam finger that says, "#1 Fan Lions" during an NFL NFC Divisional playoff football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions on January 21, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The dream of playing in the Super Bowl has become a reality for long-suffering fans of the Lions, but for one family, it comes with a twist.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TRAVIS KELCE, TAYLOR SWIFT DON’T LISTEN TO OUTSIDE NOISE: ‘AS LONG AS WE’RE HAPPY’
49ers kicker Jake Moody is from Northville, MI, a town roughly 30 miles outside of Detroit. Moody was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the 49ers after five years with the Michigan Wolverines.
His parents, Chad and Lisa, are both fans of the Lions and have a difficult call in front of them, though both have already made their decision.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It’s tough, but we’re going to root for the 49ers," Chad told Detroit Local 4 News. "Our son’s on the team, so of course, we’re going to root for our son’s team."
San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) walks off the field after the NFL professional football game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2024, at Lev's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"The second a team plays against my son, I’m going to root for my son, of course. I had to do the same thing with Michigan vs. Michigan State, and I did OK with that," said Lisa.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chad Moody, who says he’s been a Lions’ fan "basically since birth," told Detroit Local 4 News that his parents used to take him to training camp in the 1970s.
While he’ll be rooting for the 49ers on Sunday, if Detroit manages to beat San Francisco, the Detroit gear will be making an immediate comeback.
"However, if the 49ers do happen to lose, I’ll be breaking out my Lions gear and cheering for them in the Superbowl, of course," Chad said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jake Moody has connected on 21 of 25 field goal attempts this season, with a long of 57 yards.
San Francisco 49ers place kicker Jake Moody (4) warms up during the game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 3, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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For Detroit quarterback Jared Goff, the trip to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is a visit back home. Goff grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Cal Berkeley.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It’ll be fun to be able to play a big game there, but I’ve played there quite a few times, and we’ll have some friends and family there," Goff said with a shrug. "It’ll be cool."
The Lions and 49ers kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.