Tyler Conklin may have just joined the Detroit Lions, but growing up, Motor City wasn't where his heart was. In fact, he and his family sided with one of Detroit's fierce divisional rivals.

In a recent Sports Collector Daily segment with Tony Reid, Conklin spoke about how, being from Michigan, it wasn't Detroit that he or his family used to look up to, but rather last year's NFC North Winners.

"Being from Michigan, I wasn’t a Lions fan growing up," Conklin admitted during the interview. "My dad was in his family though a bunch of Bears fans. My dad drove from Southwest Michigan, and everybody in that area is like I feel like Notre Dame fans and Bears fans."

In fact, Conklin was born in Chesterfield, Michigan, just about 300 miles away from Chicago. Naturally, he grew up with the Bears' influence heavy in that area.

Later, in college, Conklin played tight end at Central Michigan for three years, racking up over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns. Later, he was drafted in the fifth round by the Minnesota Vikings.

Over his career, Conklin went on to not just be a starter for the Vikings, but he also played for the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Chargers, but never for the Chicago Bears.

Still, over eight years, the tight end has accumulated 2,645 yards for 11 touchdowns. In 2024, he hit his regular-season high with four touchdowns. But there's more to that story than just the number.

In the same Sports Collector Daily interview with Tony Reid, Conklin also discussed how this record number came with a connection to another NFL great, Aaron Rodgers.

Tyler Conklin is still owed Aaron Rodgers' historic jersey

Before Conklin signed with the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal worth up to about $1.3 Million, he caught a legendary pass in 2024 that took Aaron Rodgers up to 500 touchdowns in the NFL.

In the Week 18 game against the Miami Dolphins, Rodgers threw four touchdowns that day, taking his tally up to 503. To mark that special moment, where Conklin caught the historic 500th touchdown, the latter asked Rodgers to send him the jersey.

However, in the same Sports Collector Daily interview with Tony Reid as above, Conklin said he'd not yet received the jersey.

"I did ask Aaron to send me a jersey because I caught his 500th touchdown ball," Conklin told Reid. "He said he’s going to send me one. We’re still waiting on it. Yeah, I’m not going to question him about it, but after catching his 500th touchdown, it would be a cool little thing to have."

Interestingly, after receiving that historic pass, Conklin has yet to have another receiving touchdown in the NFL. Now with the Lions, surely he'll want to get back to producing meaningful numbers for Motor City very soon.

Do you think Tyler Conklin could go beyond his regular-season record of four touchdowns this season? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Aadesh Dhote

Edited by

Rudra Dubey