ST. LOUIS — Any given Sunday when you flip on NFL Red zone, you’re probably going to see a St. Louis kid making a big highlight.
Whether it’s Edwardsville’s AJ Epenesa dominating for the Bills, SLUH’s Tony Adams coming up clutch for the Jets or begrudgingly rooting for those Rams and Vianney’s Kyren Williams, St. Louis talent is everywhere.
By my unofficial count, there are 15 NFL teams that have seen a St. Louis area native suit up for them this year. That's one team short of half the league.
Something odd is happening in Detroit, though. The Lions have not one… not two… not three… but four St. Louis area natives leading them to a breakout season.
And we have to start on special teams.
Punter Jack Fox is from Ladue. Kicker Riley Patterson is from Edwardsville. And they make quite the combo.
“I actually went to his wedding in St. Louis, so yeah we spend a lot of time together and I'm lucky to have him around," Fox said of his relationship with Patterson.
"It's a blessing for sure, being able to talk to somebody from the same area, doing the same type of stuff... Someone who enjoys eating Imo's Pizza," Patterson said of his relationship with Fox.
Patterson has some clutch kicks in his career, including a game-winner in the playoffs for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. Fox is one of the best punters in the league, with one of the largest contracts for a punter in NFL history.
And Like good St. Louisans, they’re still sour about the lack of an NFL team in their hometown.
“I was mad just like every other St. Louisan out there… I’m sour about it still," Fox said.
Special teams is only the start of the St. Louis-Detroit connection, though.
The Lions’ breakout superstar rookie tight end Sam LaPorta? Yeah, he’s from Highland. With nine touchdowns and close to 800 yards receiving, the former Bulldog is putting together one of the best seasons by a rookie tight end in NFL history.
“He fits right in. he plays like a vet. Seems like he knows exactly what he's doing. He's great at finding space. He's fast. He's athletic. And he's really a great guy. Everybody likes him. So he's really been a treat to have on the team. And he's really good, man," Patterson said of LaPorta.
And if LaPorta is the tank, Jameson Williams is the Ferrari.
The Cardinal Ritter grad out of Alabama is one of the most electric receivers in football when he gets the ball in his hands. And the young wide-out is just touching the surface of his potential.
“He’s the fastest human being I’ve ever seen," Fox said of Williams.
Together, these St. Louis Lions have helped lead the team to their best season in years. At 10 and 4, the Lions have a starving Detroit fanbase dreaming big.
And the STL kids have a pretty good comparison for what this moment feels like in Michigan right now.
“It’s incredible. Most of our away games it seems like half the crowd is Detroit Lions fans. And just the buzz around the city is unbelievable. It kind of feels like October baseball in St. Louis," Fox said.
"It's pretty cool to be a part of something like that. You kind of have to pinch yourself. You're one of these guys on one of those teams that can hopefully make a run this year," Patterson said.
And if you are a St. Louis football nomad looking for a good story with a local tie-in to root for the rest of the way… these guys have your pitch.
“The Lions are a fun team, who just happen to have a bunch of St. Louisans who are all proud of St. Louis," Fox said.