Even losing an NFC football game won't define these Lions, or Detroit | Opinion

Like many of you, I woke up Monday morning worn out, disappointed and upset over the Lions’ stunning 34-31 loss to San Francisco.

But it is our resilience, as a city and region, that keeps us moving constantly forward. Even in our darkest moments, Detroiters have always believed that our future is bright.

Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson arrived in San Francisco wearing a T-shirt bearing part of the city’s motto, resurget cineribus, "it will rise from the ashes," written by Father Gabriel Richard after the great fire of 1805. That’s part of who we are. The rest of that saying — speramus meliora, "we hope for better things" — that’s who we are, too.

That’s the feeling I want us to hold onto now.

Regardless of our circumstances, we must continue to press forward, making our communities better. Becoming what we are.

Nothing for us here in Detroit has ever come easy. Success in our region comes slowly and methodically. And no one win or loss will ever define us, or our team.

I know the Lions will make it. And they’ll do it in a way that mirrors our triumph as a city.

I believe in the Lions

Sunday night, I went from looking for a flight to Las Vegas at halftime, to a 17-point swing that left me stunned.

As a native Detroiter, I’m crushed that my team was a few plays from reaching a Super Bowl, a game I’ve never watched my team in. As a 27-year season ticket holder, I’ve watched the twists and turns of an organization many thought would never turn around.

And yes, somehow I’d convinced my wife I would be OK, even though I walk with a cane after a major stroke 11 years ago, making my way through Las Vegas in my Lions gear.

It was a moment I deserved to participate in, cane and all. Damn that I haven’t traveled by plane in the past 10 years. It was the Super Bowl, an experience I needed to take part in.

We may have lost on Sunday, but we have great leadership that will put us there again.

And trust, I plan to be there, whenever it happens.

The cost of leadership

As I scrolled through my Facebook feed Monday — the new morning newspaper — fans on my timeline were questioning Dan Campbell’s decisions not to kick field goals, that we all now think might have won Sunday night’s game.

I’ve always said the two toughest jobs in America were Detroit’s mayor and the head coach of the Detroit Lions. Each has to make tough decisions. And when it doesn’t work out, each hears about it.

Fans will always have questions, but good, sound leadership means the leader must be comfortable with their decisions and stay true to their philosophies, even when it’s unpopular.

That’s the place Dan Campbell is in now.

Leaders find a way to press on, to support their teams.

That’s what caught my attention from one Facebook post by Sommer Woods, our real Detroit ambassador. A phenomenal former college golfer who worked for the PGA Tour early in her career, sports are Sommer’s wheelhouse.

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She wrote, after Sunday’s games, about how Lamar Jackson of the Ravens stayed true to who he is, even though his team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. Clearly disappointed that the Lions didn’t win, she added that the team didn’t take charity to get here, they worked hard: “We earned it, and with this leadership, I truly believe we will be back in the winning spot again.”

And Sommer also wrote about the feeling that spread across our region during the Lions’ playoffs run.

“So here’s my challenge to Detroit Lions fans and the state of Michigan. Let’s keep that same collaborative energy,” she wrote. “This excitement we felt can truly fix anything, don’t allow it to stop at sports. That feeling can be translated to fix many problems in the city.”

Detroit grit gives us strength

Remember, the Bad Boy Pistons lost to Boston and the Lakers before winning back-to-back championships. The University of Michigan football team lost in the College Football Playoff semifinals twice before winning the national championship a few weeks ago.

We all can look back at times in our lives where we hit snags.

I could have wondered how I ended up in a hospital bed with a stroke, after never having any major illness in my life.

But Detroit grit, toughness and resolve got me through it. It’s that fortitude I learned from Detroiters — east and west side — that gave me the strength to endure.

There are tough times, but those setbacks only make us stronger.

And so, I’m here today saying one Lions football game won’t define this team. Or us.

Our resolve is what makes us Detroit. It’s in our blood.

So take a little time to be upset over Sunday’s outcome, then take it from Aaliyah and "dust yourself off and try again."

We’ve got the NFL draft in April to show football fans who we really are, our love for the Lions, and that one grueling NFC championship game won’t stop us.

We always live to fight again. The Detroit Lions — just like our city— aren’t going anywhere.

Darren A. Nichols is a contributing columnist at the Free Press. He can be reached at darren@dnick-media.com or his X (formerly Twitter) handle @dnick12. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: After NFC loss to 49ers, don't count Lions, or Detroit, out