How The Detroit Lions Own ‘Sonic and Knuckles’ Gave Detroit Kids a Night to Remember

As a huge Detroit Lions fan, I’ve always loved how our players embrace their personalities both on and off the field. And when Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery leaned into their video game-inspired nicknames to do something meaningful for kids in Detroit, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride.

For those who don’t know, Gibbs and Montgomery have earned the nicknames “Sonic” and “Knuckles” because of their lightning speed on the field—think Sonic the Hedgehog and his equally cool, red-fisted sidekick, Knuckles. On Thanksgiving, the pair arrived at the game with their namesake escorts following right behind them:

But what’s even cooler is how they’ve taken these playful identities and turned them into a way to give back.

Recently, the duo partnered with the Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation, an organization founded by former Lions great Lomas Brown, to host a special screening of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 for kids in the Detroit area.

Imagine being a kid, sitting in a theater with two of your football heroes, who just happen to share names with your favorite video game characters. It’s the kind of thing that makes lasting memories and shows just how much Gibbs and Montgomery care about the community.

You can HEAR how excited those kids are.

What I love most is that this wasn’t just about football or video games—it was about connection. By teaming up with the foundation, they brought smiles to kids’ faces and reminded all of us how important it is to give back. For these players, being “Sonic” and “Knuckles” isn’t just about fan hype—it’s about making a real difference off the field.

It’s moments like this that make me proud to cheer for the Lions. Gibbs and Montgomery are proving that superheroes don’t just exist in movies or on video game screens—they’re also out there, rocking Honolulu Blue and doing good for Detroit.