The Detroit Lions won their division for the first time since 1993 last season, taking over a position the Green Bay Packers held for many of those years in between.
But despite the new division champ, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t sound too worried about falling short to the Lions this past year. In fact, he even seemed to subtly troll their NFC North rivals when speaking to media on Tuesday.
“Around here, we’ve never hung banners for division championships, so it’s never been about that," Gutekunst said, via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. “It’s a nice starting point, but I think we’re always looking for bigger things.”
Fans guessed this comment was in reference to the Lions’ only two banners hanging in Ford Field for the four times the team has won the division. The Lions have never won a Super Bowl or appeared in the Big Game. The Packers have won four Super Bowl titles.
Lions fans came back with some shots as well toward Gutekunst, specifically referring to the fact that the Packers have hung zero banners since he’s been there. Take a look at some of the social media responses.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) February 27, 2024
Lotta talk for a guy who had a Hall of Fame QB for a quarter of a century and 1 championship to show for it. https://t.co/odPTEjKG1x
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) February 27, 2024
Finally achieving enough success to where Packer fans feel the need to diminish it is an amazing feeling https://t.co/sw6sK2LefJ
— Craig Glassbrenner (PS5 Owner) (@_CraigG4) February 27, 2024
It’s not the starting point now, though.
— Michael Drew 🍻🍻 (@MikeDrewWhat) February 27, 2024
Brian Gutekunst’s management tenure has taken the @packers from usually winning the North to usually not winning the North.
That’s just a fact. https://t.co/FEFEZRJEej
How many banners have been hung during his tenure as GM? Surely a few with a statement like this, it can’t be less than one can it??? https://t.co/yDUT1kGG9m
— Sawyer Charles (@sawyerhoff1) February 27, 2024
