Pope Leo XIV blessed Detroit Lions star Sam LaPorta and his new wife Callahan(Image: Mondadori Portfolio/Archivio Spaziani/Rocco Spaziani)Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has caused a storm in the NFC North Division after being blessed by Pope Leo XIV days after marrying his partner Callahan.
Sam and Callahan LaPorta visited the Vatican and met with the first American-born Pope in history, who blessed the newlyweds. Pope Leo XIV was recently seen joining in a Chicago White Sox chant in Vatican City, and jersey sales surged after he became the leader of the Catholic Church.
The Pope was born in Chicago and was recently given a Bears jersey by Vice President JD Vance after he visited the Vatican. Bears fans have criticized the Pope for blessing a rival player, while Lions fans are convinced this could be their season.
READ MORE: Ex-LIV Golf star playing PGA Tour event had farewell message to Phil Mickelson after exitREAD MORE: Viktor Hovland makes PGA Tour admission over ‘competing against Saudis’ at LIV Golf
LaPorta posted a photo of the Pope blessing him and his wife on Tuesday, days after they tied the knot. “Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride. A special moment we’ll never forget,” LaPorta wrote on Instagram.
However, while the majority of fans congratulated LaPorta on his exciting offseason, Bears fans were less pleased. “Is the Pope from Chicago? Not sure I like this,” one fan replied.
“Why would he bless a division rival?” one NFL fan questioned. “Chicago gotta be p—–,” another added.
In retaliation, Lions fans began theorizing that Detroit had been blessed ahead of next season. “Sam LaPorta has the blessing of the Pope we’re winning the Super Bowl,” one fan wrote online.
“Pope Leo blessed Sam LaPorta and his wife, record-breaking season incoming,” a post from The Detroit Times read. “Love the new Pope, but I wonder if he fully realizes how much punishment the Lions are going to inflict on his hometown Bears this season?” Another asked.
While the Lions and the Bears are divisional rivals, Ben Johnson decided to switch sides after agreeing to become head coach in Chicago. Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator as he worked under head coach Dan Campbell, but his strong reputation led to heavy interest in his availability.
Ben Johnson was key for the Detroit Lions but has become Chicago Bears head coach(Image: 2024 Todd Rosenberg)Johnson replaced Matt Eberflus. He will coach Chicago next season alongside defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, and special teams coordinator Richard Hightower. Johnson will also work with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who is already excited about the future.
Williams, the No. 1 pick out of USC in 2024, said on Friday during the Fanatics Fest in New York: “Ben Johnson is great, and it’s not just Ben Johnson. We have a young staff slash old staff, and we have a bunch of experience, bunch of new energy provided by the coaches and players.
“It’s been awesome. Ben Johnson, he uses some choice words every day toward me. He’s tough, and I love him. He’s awesome. It’s great being around him. We hang out in his office, and we just have lunch sometimes. Things like that.
“We’re building this bond and relationship to be able to last a while. I know Bears fans, it’s year after year typically, or every other year, where coaches and quarterbacks specifically are in and out, and our goal is to be here for a while.”