Lions receiver Isaac TeSlaa cheers for Unity Christian at the football state finals
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa signs autographs for young fans at Ford Field before the start of the Division 4 football state title game on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. He was there to root on his alma mater Unity Christian High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
DETROIT, Mich. - “Isaac! Isaaaaaac!!”
Young fans were holding up No. 18 Detroit Lions jerseys trying to get the attention Lions star wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
The Hudsonville Unity Christian grad was on the sidelines to watch his alma mater on Friday afternoon as Unity Christian played in the Division 4 football state finals. Unity would lose 23-22 to Dearborn Divine Child.
TeSlaa had scored a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on Thursday night in the Thanksgiving game. And he was right back on the same field the next morning.
TeSlaa graduated from Unity Christian in 2019 and wanted to see his alma mater play for a state title. He even led the Crusaders out of the tunnel while wearing a Unity baseball cap.
“It’s pretty cool,” TeSlaa said. “Running out here for games with the Lions is a little different than coming out here (with Unity). Just kinda reliving that experience of being a high schooler and seeing how giddy these guys are to come out here and play on this field. It reminds me that I’m so grateful that I get to play out here every Sunday.”
TeSlaa, 23, was a quarterback in high school when he led Unity Christian to the state title in 2018. So it’s unusual for him to make the transition to wide receiver. And even more rare to go from Division II Hillsdale College and transfer to Division I Arkansas, where he was drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2025 draft.
“Two very big dreams I had were to play in the NFL and I wanted to play receiver at some point,” he said. “I thought it was more of a pipe dream than something that would become a reality. But God has blessed me with a lot of opportunities. I’ve made the most of ‘em.”
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa chats with reporters at Ford Field before the start of the Division 4 football state title game on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. He was there to root on his alma mater Unity Christian High School. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
Unity football coach Craig Tibbe said it was a blessing having his former player show up to root on Unity.
“It’s really fun to see Isaac again,” Tibbe said. “It’s pretty neat to have him walk into your locker room and lead these guys out (of the tunnel).”
TeSlaa did wander over to the stands sign the jerseys for the screaming kids for about 20 minutes before the game.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “This is my home turf now and I got to lead my high school out here and show ‘em the ropes. I’m glad I could experience this with ‘em.”
This season with the Lions, TeSlaa has six catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns.
Much of this story originally posted for the Holland Sentinel. To read the game story and see a photo gallery, click here.