Tim Peeler: NC State's connections to the Detroit Lions playoff run

The city of Detroit is in a frenzy these days because of the long-suffering NFL Lions, but the franchise’s championship drought is one short cloudburst from being over.

The Lions play at San Francisco this weekend in the NFC Championship game, with the winner headed to the Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11. For the Lions, it would be the first appearance in the Super Bowl in franchise history.

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill is the only former NC State player on the field for head coach Dan Campbell, but there has been plenty of support for the Lions to get there, starting with one of Campbell’s top advisors, assistant general manager Ray Agnew, an All-ACC player for Dick Sheridan’s Pack from 1986-89.

Agnew is in his third season as an assistant general manager for the Lions, having already won Super Bowl titles with the Rams franchise as a player in St. Louis and as the director of pro scouting in Los Angeles.

That only scratches the surface, however, of the support the Lions have gotten from a city frothing for success for a franchise that won its only NFL championship in 1957, long before the Super Bowl was created, when it beat the Cleveland Browns 59-14.

“The city is on fire right now,” says former Pack quarterback Erik Kramer, who happened to be the last Lions quarterback to win an NFL playoff game in 1992 until Jared Goff led this season’s team to wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay in the first two rounds this season. “It’s been so awesome to see the support the team has gotten.”

Kramer was with the Lions for three seasons as part of his NFL journey, which also included stops in Atlanta, Chicago and San Diego, but he’s remained tied to the Motor City for the last 32 years because of his playoff success.

He’s been to the playoff victories and is considering heading to Detroit this weekend for a 70,000-person watch party at the Lions’ Ford Field.

“I know the 49ers are favored to win the game this weekend,” Kramer says. “I just don’t see it. The Lions are playing at their peak right now.”

Another Wolfpack player and Lions alum who was on the sidelines with Kramer two weeks ago against the Rams was former defensive back Terrence Holt, all decked out in his Lions gear while standing next to big brother and former Rams’ wide receiver Torry.

It was a good day for the all-star Pack safety from 1998-2002.

Holt knows how the city’s fans feel, however, about their long-term lack of success in the NFL playoffs.

“It’s been misery,” he says. “That’s why the atmosphere has been so incredible for these first two playoff games. They are loyal to the team and support it like no other.”

Kramer and Holt are just a handful of former Wolfpack fans who have played for the Lions. Former Pack running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight was on the Lions’ active roster until suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against the Panthers in October.

The Lions have drafted five former NC State players, beginning with offensive lineman Chris Dieterich in 1980, running back Joe McIntosh and offensive lineman Joe Milinichik in 1987, Holt in 2003, defensive end Willie Young in 2010 and McNeill in 2021.

Others who have played for the Lions include wide receiver Brian Clark (2010), offensive lineman Leroy Harris (2011), defensive end Corey Smith (2006-08), linebacker Stephen Tulloch (2011-15) and defensive backs Dovonte Edwards (2007) and Eric Williams (1987).

Holt is anxious to see if the Lions can break away from the club of 12 teams who have never advanced to the Super Bowl.

Mainly because he already knows he’s going to be in Vegas for the big game, representing Raleigh’s Holt Brothers Construction and Holt Brothers Foundation at an NFL-sponsored forum on Black-owned businesses.

Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at [email protected].