It’s a curious twist of fate that Amon-Ra St. Brown’s initial preferences during the 2021 NFL Draft didn’t align with his current success in Detroit.
In a recent interview, St. Brown openly acknowledged that the Lions were the one team he hoped to avoid playing for in the NFL Draft. His desire was to join the Green Bay Packers, where his brother, Equanimeous St. Brown, was already playing. However, as the draft progressed, and with no pick from Green Bay, St. Brown found himself increasingly frustrated, especially by Day 3.
Reflecting on the situation, St. Brown candidly shared, “When it got to Day 3, I was already mad. I even told my brother [Equanimeous], ‘If there’s one team I don’t want to go to, that’s the Lions. Just, please, I don’t want to go to the Lions.’ [My brother] was on the Packers at the time, and I was like, ‘I want to play with him.'”
Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Unexpected Journey with the Detroit Lions
Despite St. Brown’s hopes, Green Bay opted for other selections before his turn came up, leaving him drafted by the Lions with the 112th pick. It’s an interesting turn of events, as St. Brown ended up with the team he initially hoped to avoid, ultimately finding success and carving out a significant role in Detroit’s offense.
Despite his initial reluctance, Amon-Ra St. Brown’s journey with the Detroit Lions has turned into a tale of unexpected success and appreciation.
Recalling the moment he learned he was headed to Detroit, St. Brown expressed mixed emotions. “Sure enough, I check my phone and it’s 3-1-3, Detroit,” he recounted. “I’m like, ‘No way.’ I was happy, but I was unhappy at the same time because I didn’t want to come here.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown Embraces Detroit: From Reluctance to Resilience
However, St. Brown’s sentiments have since shifted dramatically. Over the past three seasons, he has become a cornerstone of Detroit’s offense, earning Pro Bowl honors twice. Last week, the Lions underscored their commitment to him by awarding him a lucrative four-year, $120 million extension. Despite his initial reservations, St. Brown has come to appreciate his time in Detroit.
Reflecting on his journey, St. Brown remarked, “Looking back on it, it’s [for] the best. I don’t think there’s another team where I could have done what I’ve done here with the people that are around me: The coaches, my teammates, the fans, the city. Just the whole story of how everything has been going so far, I would pay for this if I could, to have this whole thing happen again, because it’s a perfect story.”
For St. Brown, the only way this perfect story could improve further is with a Super Bowl victory for the Lions. After coming tantalizingly close to the big game last season, the team is poised for another strong run in 2024, making them one of the NFC favorites to compete for the championship.
