Of the players inside the Lions locker room, only one is both a native Detroiter and a reigning Super Bowl champion.
That would be Avonte Maddox.
A standout at Detroit’s Martin Luther King Jr. High School, Maddox signed a one-year deal with the Lions in the offseason after capturing his first Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Since his arrival, Maddox has established himself as a key rotational player in the Lions’ secondary, even taking snaps at safety, a position he admitted was somewhat foreign to him.
He has done an admirable job of ingratiating himself with teammates while also stepping out in the community, lending a hand on several initiatives launched by the franchise.
Last week, MLive caught up with Maddox for our weekly rapid-fire question segment, where we discussed his return, memorable moments in the NFL and, most importantly, how he orders his chili cheese fries and from which Coney Island.
This is an important question. With you being a Detroiter, you know about Coney Islands and chili cheese fries. What’s your preference: squeezed, sliced, or shredded?
I’m going sliced. Because, I have done the squeezed (cheese) before, but I feel like when it’s sliced, I just feel like it’s a lot better for me. I don’t know about nobody else.
Follow-up: Where’s the best Coney Island?
Detroit One.
When you first found out that you were coming back home to Detroit, who was the first person that you talked to from your family and what was their reaction?
The first person I talked to, it was my pops, and he was excited. He was happy.
Who has been your biggest motivation to continue to play the game of football? Who inspired you to get out on the field and who kept you motivated?
I have to say my father as well. He’s like my best friend. I mean, he’s been the one that’s been coming to my games since I was younger. Him and my uncle, both of them. So they both did a lot for me in the sports world. Got me to playing baseball, football, basketball, all the sports. So I definitely contribute all my greatness to them.
Of the stories that you can share regarding this question, what has been the strangest thing you’ve experienced since being in the league?
That’s a good question. It ain’t necessarily been anything strange. It is different. It ain’t like college. It ain’t like high school football. It is kind of more of a business in a way. And then, at the same time, it’s more put on you than them forcing you to do it. It is all about you having to have a will and desire to do it yourself. So nothing really strange has happened since I’ve been up here.
If you could be a character or extra guest, whatever, on any TV show, which TV show would it be and why?
As a character on a TV show, what have I been watching? That’s crazy. I’d probably have to be on something like Avatar or something like that. They got special powers. I’d have to be one of the Avatar actually. I want all the elements.
