The Super Bowl is the biggest spectacle in American sports, bringing together fans from all corners of the country to watch the two best teams battle it out for the championship. But for some fans, like those of the Detroit Lions, the game represents a bittersweet reminder of the franchise’s ongoing struggles to reach that elusive pinnacle of success.
Super Bowl LIX, which would take place in February 2025, is no different. For Lions fans, the excitement and anticipation around the big game often come with a healthy dose of cynicism and humor. After all, their beloved team has not won a championship since 1957 and has rarely made a serious run at one in the intervening years.
This year, as Super Bowl LIX approaches, Detroit Lions fans have taken to social media, sports talk shows, and fan forums to express their feelings about the game. And many of them are revealing a surprising truth: rather than rooting for one of the two teams playing, they’re simply hoping for something—anything—that will make the experience less painful.
“Rooting for an asteroid” has become a rallying cry of sorts for many Lions fans, a way of expressing frustration with the team’s continued lack of success. But while this may seem like an exaggeration, it speaks to the broader sense of apathy that has taken hold of the fanbase over the years. Here’s a closer look at the humor, the bitterness, and the hopes for the future that characterize the unique perspective of Detroit Lions fans when it comes to Super Bowl LIX.
The Unwavering Struggles of the Lions Franchise
Detroit Lions fans have had a tough road to travel. Over the years, the team has experienced numerous low points, including:
- The 0-16 Season: In 2008, the Lions became the first NFL team to go 0-16, a historic embarrassment that has haunted the franchise and its fans ever since.
- Playoff Droughts: The Lions have only made the playoffs a handful of times in the last few decades, and have not won a playoff game since 1991. Despite occasional flashes of hope, the team’s inability to break through has left fans frustrated.
- Coaching Carousel: The Lions have cycled through a number of head coaches, none of whom have been able to lead the team to sustained success. This lack of stability has contributed to a sense of disillusionment among the fanbase.
- Ownership and Management Woes: The Ford family, which has owned the team for decades, has faced significant criticism for its management of the franchise. Many fans feel that ownership is too focused on other business interests and not dedicated enough to winning.
For fans who have been through these ups and downs, Super Bowl LIX represents yet another year in which the Lions are nowhere near the championship game. For many, the dream of watching their team in the Super Bowl feels like a distant fantasy, something they may never get to experience in their lifetime.
The Humor of “Rooting for an Asteroid”
In a season where the Lions’ playoff hopes have once again faded, many fans have adopted a sarcastic sense of humor to cope with the pain of being left out of the championship discussion. “Rooting for an asteroid” has become shorthand for wishing for an event that would put an end to the game, ideally in a way that’s both catastrophic and absurd.
It’s not that Lions fans are actually hoping for an asteroid to strike the Super Bowl—though, if we’re being honest, they wouldn’t be totally against it. The phrase is a form of dark humor that allows fans to laugh at their own misfortune. After all, it’s easier to laugh about the situation than to cry about it. A post on a popular Lions fan forum reads, “If the Lions can’t be in the Super Bowl, I’m at least hoping for something epic to happen. Maybe an asteroid? A meteor shower? Anything to make this feel less like a bad joke.”
While the sentiment behind this joke might seem bleak, it reflects a genuine frustration with the state of the team and a sense that fans have been let down one too many times. For Lions supporters, the Super Bowl has become more of an occasion to lament the team’s failures than to celebrate anyone else’s success.
Apathy and Indifference
Perhaps even more than humor, what’s striking about many Lions fans’ perspectives on Super Bowl LIX is their apathy. Rather than picking a team to root for or against, many have simply tuned out of the excitement altogether. Instead of watching the game with any sort of emotional investment, they are content to sit on the sidelines, maybe checking in occasionally to see what’s happening, but ultimately indifferent to the outcome.
This apathy is born from years of disappointment. It’s hard to care about the Super Bowl when your own team can’t seem to get anywhere near it. In fact, some Lions fans have even gone so far as to say they prefer to skip the Super Bowl entirely and do something else on the day, like taking a walk or catching up on sleep.
“Honestly, I don’t even care who wins,” says one Detroit fan. “I’m not gonna let this game ruin my weekend. If the Lions aren’t in it, I’m just going to grab a pizza and watch something else. Maybe I’ll catch the highlights later, but that’s it.”
This level of detachment speaks to a deeper sense of disillusionment. It’s not that Lions fans are bad sports; it’s that they’ve been let down for so long that they can’t bring themselves to get excited about the game, even if their favorite team were somehow miraculously involved.
A Longing for Change
Despite the humor and apathy, there is a palpable sense of longing among Detroit Lions fans. They want something more than just mediocrity. They want to see their team in the Super Bowl, to feel the joy of championship glory. The frustration with the status quo is evident, and many fans have expressed a desire for change, even if it means shaking up the organization from top to bottom.
Some fans have turned to social media to call for new leadership, both in terms of coaching and management. Others are hoping for a fresh influx of talent through the draft, while some are calling for a bold trade or free-agent signing that could help turn the tide.
Despite all of this, there remains a sense of hope among Lions fans. Even after years of disappointment, they still hold on to the belief that one day—perhaps sooner rather than later—the team will turn things around and make a Super Bowl appearance. The challenge is staying patient in the meantime.
“I know it’s been rough, but I still believe the Lions can get there someday,” says another Lions fan. “We just need the right pieces to fall into place, and maybe a little bit of luck. Until then, I guess I’ll just keep rooting for a miracle.”
The Dream of a Future Super Bowl
While Super Bowl LIX is out of reach for the Detroit Lions, it’s not entirely beyond the realm of possibility that they could one day make it. The NFL is an unpredictable league, and dynasties can change in an instant. Just ask the Kansas City Chiefs or the Philadelphia Eagles, both of whom had long stretches of mediocrity before finding their way to the top.
The Lions’ current roster has some promising pieces, including a strong quarterback in Jared Goff, a budding star in running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and a defense that has shown flashes of potential. But whether these pieces can come together to form a true contender remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Lions fans will continue to watch from the sidelines, hoping that one day, their team will rise to the occasion. Whether it happens in their lifetime or not is still unclear, but the dream lives on.
Super Bowl LIX might be just another chapter in the ongoing saga of frustration for Detroit Lions fans, but it also serves as a reminder of the team’s potential. In the words of one fan: “I’ll watch the Super Bowl this year. I’ll just be hoping that the next one is ours.”
Until then, the Lions’ fanbase will keep rooting for an asteroid—or at least for something that makes the wait a little more bearable.