Canton family savoring son’s amazing NFL journey with Lions

 Canton family savoring son’s amazing NFL journey with Lions

Jim and Renee Nowaske had front-row seats to watch son Trevor’s NFL debut in New Orleans.

True story: For Canton resident Renee Nowaske’s Dec. 4 birthday in 2022, her family gifted the die-hard Detroit Lions fan tickets to that day’s home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As the Lions players were running out of the tunnel before the game, Renee said to her son Trevor (who had just completed a stellar five-year career as a linebacker for Saginaw Valley State University’s football team), “Wouldn’t it be amazing if you were running out of that tunnel next year?”

Fast forward to last week when Trevor Nowaske, a graduate of Salem High School, learned he would be promoted to the Detroit Lions’ active roster for the first time for the team’s Dec. 3 game in New Orleans.

Nowaske was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Lions in April, made the team’s practice squad in September and was promoted to the 53-player roster a few weeks ago after another NFL team expressed interest in signing him.

New Orleans-bound

“When we found out Trevor was going to be active for the game in New Orleans, we said, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to get a flight,” Renee recounted. “Not only did we want to be there to see his first game, we wanted to be close to the field.”

Trevor Nowaske connected with his parents minutes after the Lions victory over New Orleans
Trevor Nowaske connected with his parents minutes after the Lions victory over New Orleans

After searching a few sites that offered NFL tickets for sale, the Nowaskes secured fourth-row seats in the Superdome, not far from the tunnel the Lions players would emerge from before the game.

Trevor played on special teams during the Lions’ 28-23 victory over the Saints and nearly blocked a punt on one of his first NFL plays.

“It was phenomenal because we were so close to the field, we could lock eyes with him when he walked out,” Renee said.

“And after the game, we were able to share the joy of his first NFL game with him. I get teary-eyed thinking about it; it was that emotional.”

Trevor Nowaske walks off the Superdome field following last week's game
Trevor Nowaske walks off the Superdome field following last weeks game

Both Jim and Renee Nowaske, and their daughter Hannah, have savored every minute of Trevor’s against-the-odds journey. According to one statistics-focused website, just .0022% of high school football players move on to make an NFL roster.

Hometown hero

The fact that it has unfolded for their hometown NFL team makes it even more special, Jim and Renee emphasized.

“I knew in my heart that Trevor had what it took to play at the next level,” Jim said. “That it has happened in Detroit, well, we feel very, very fortunate because we’ve been able to follow along so closely on his journey.”

“We’re so happy Trevor ended up in Detroit because we get to be so much closer to the experience with him,” Renee added. “Family members can make it to the home games, we get to go to all the local stuff, the Lions organization has been phenomenal. Trevor has been loving every minute of it.”

The Nowaskes and their relatives have purchased multiple No. 59 Nowaske Lions jerseys, which they proudly wear to games, both home and away.

“When we were walking out of the stadium in New Orleans, somebody shouted, ‘Hey, Nowaske!’,” Jim shared. “We knew they were shouting at us because there aren’t that many Nowaskes (he chuckled).

Complete strangers share their pride

“It turns out the guy was from the Trenton (Mich.) area, he’d been following Trevor’s unlikely story and he told us how proud he was that a local athlete had accomplished what Trevor has accomplished.”

“People will see our jerseys at home games, come up to us and say, ‘Oh, are you related to the Saginaw Valley kid?’,” Renee said. “It’s been so cool to see how the local community has embraced Trevor’s story.”

Jim and Renee said Trevor’s No. 1 fan is his sister Hannah.

“She has always been his biggest supporter,” Renee said. “Whenever she hears news about him, she lets us know.”

Embracing the journey

Although Trevor is still living in Canton at home with his parents, they’re like ships passing in the night on most days.

“He’s usually at the Lions’ facility from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days, so we’ll see him for a little while when he gets home at night, but then he usually heads straight to bed because he’s so tired,” Jim said.

“He eats most of his meals at the facility because the food they feed the athletes is obviously fantastic,” Renee said, smiling. “This is the least I’ve cooked for him since this whole NFL journey started.”

The Nowaskes said Trevor’s playing status will remain a week-to-week thing, based on a number of factors, including injuries.

“He totally understands and embraces his role,” Jim said.

“And we’re loving every minute of his journey.”

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.

Ed Wright

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