MARSHALL, Mich. — Mike Kipp of Marshall has been a Lions fan for as long as he can remember.

Growing up in Michigan, Kipp felt it was customary to become a fan of the hometown team.

He did that, and then some.

He made being a Lions fan a large part of his identity, calling himself ‘Superfan Hutch,’ in reference to star Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

As his love for the Lions grew, Kipp became more interested in the ins and outs of the franchise. He became such a fan that he is now a season-ticket holder.

“For all those years we were just, we were terrible,” Kipp told News Channel 3. “We were the laughing stock in the NFL. Now, it’s one of those things where people want to come to Detroit, people want to be Lions fans. It’s kind of grown on me a lot, just watching how far the Lions have come.”

The Lions won their first division title in 30 years in 2023 after years of losing football.

Kipp sat through year after year of hope and disappointment, but knew that giving up on the team was never an option.

He saw similarities in how the team persevered through tough times and noticed similarities in his own life.

“I lost my mom when I was 17 years old,” Kipp said. “So, watching this team grow, just kind of seeing things and how they’ve gone through the adversities and things through this team. So, I’ve glued to that of how this team has become what they are now.”

Kipp has high expectations for this upcoming Lions season.

Detroit went 15-2 last season, despite multiple injuries on the defensive side of the ball, including a season-ending leg injury for Hutchinson.

Despite the loss of Detroit’s star coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, and the sudden retirement of center Frank Ragnow, Kipp believes the Lions are primed to win the NFC North again — and go even farther.

“This year, if we stay just healthy, I mean I’m not saying super healthy, just healthy,” he said. “I think we have a really good shot at winning the Super Bowl.”

Kipp knows just how meaningful a Lombardi Trophy would be for the City of Detroit.

“If they brought back the Super Bowl, what Jared Goff has done for the city and what Hutch could do being a hometown kid bringing the Super Bowl back to the city, I just think it would blow the roof off Ford Field,” he said.

The Lions kick off their season against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.