Avonte Maddox stood on the Lions logo at midfield, the same Lion that's tattooed on his arm. He stood next to former Lion Darius Slay, the Eagles' two honorary captains for Sunday's game in Detroit. Maddox was born and raised here. Slay made his name here. They lost the coin toss, but lit up the Eagles' sideline midway through the third quarter when Maddox forced a fumble by D'Andre Swift and Slay scooped it up and dashed into the end zone to extend Philly's lead to 38-0.
"That was pretty nice, a little Detroit on Detroit (crime) right there," Maddox said with a grin. "That's what I called it. I was pretty hyped about that."
Slay scored one touchdown in seven seasons with Detroit, back when Maddox was a fan. Back when Slay was one of his favorite players. It took Slay one game against Detroit to score another. Maddox was so excited when he met Slay in the end zone that "I jumped over his head." Maddox had family in the crowd. He had kids in the crowd from his old high school, Martin Luther King. He had his dad in the crowd for the first time this season.
"He’s been there every game since the beginning since I started playing any type of sport," Maddox said. "He pushed me through a lot with it. He was always tough on me with it. He never really gets to come out for the games because he works, so it was pretty cool to get him back at home."
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After the celebration in the end zone was over, Maddox found Slay on the sideline. He used to DM the three-time Pro Bowler for advice on playing corner; Slay would always respond. On Sunday, Maddox was looking for something else:
"I walked up to him and said, 'Slay, you think I can have that ball?' And he said, 'Yeah, you got it, brother.' I said, 'I'm trying to give it to my dad.'"
So when the game ended, that's what Maddox did. He found his dad in the crowd and tossed him the ball, a small token of gratitude for the journey that led Maddox here.
"I just tossed it up there like, 'Yo, this one’s for you,'" Maddox said. "And he just gave me that big smile he always do."
Then Maddox jogged off the field, over the Lion on his arm, Detroit on his heart.