The Thibodaux native hopes to play in the Super Bowl for the Lions | sport

All his life, Thibodaux native Amik Robertson has heard it from critics.

“You’re too small,” some said.

“You didn’t play at a big enough school,” others said.

“There’s no way you’re going to make it at the highest level,” others said.

But on the final weekend of the NFL season, Robertson silenced all those critics and made himself and our region proud – setting in motion a push that he and his team hope will culminate in a Super Bowl championship becomes.

Robertson is a starting defender for the Detroit Lions — a team that had a bye in the NFC playoffs last weekend and will begin its Super Bowl journey this weekend.

To earn that bye, the Lions had to win a showdown game with the Vikings in Week 18. In that game, Robertson played arguably the best game of his entire NFL career, limiting superstar receiver Justin Jefferson to just three catches.

After the game, Robertson was seen kneeling on the turf at Ford Field and showing his love and support to God. It has also been a time of joy for a young man who has worked hard to find his place at the highest level and is enjoying the ride here.

“There’s no telling how good we can be,” Robertson said after the NBC telecast of the game. “We believe the sky is the absolute limit for our guys here.”

Robertson has been waiting for this moment his whole life.

At every level, Robertson shined and succeeded – even if critics always pointed out something he couldn’t control: his height of just 1.70 meters.

With Thibodaux, Robertson was a dominant force – a player who played both ways and had a career filled with defining moments.

Former Thibodaux coach Chris Dugas, the current offensive coordinator at Central Lafourche, said he knew as soon as he saw Robertson that he would be special.

“You could see it straight away. Things just looked different for Amik,” Dugas said of his former prep star earlier this year. “You could see the talent. You could see the athleticism, but perhaps more important than those things was the tireless drive and work ethic. As soon as we had him, we knew he was a very special football player. And the success he is currently having comes as no surprise to anyone who took part in our program with him.”

After a dominant career with Thibodaux, Robertson signed with Louisiana Tech, although he received a tempting offer from LSU late in the game.

With the Bulldogs, Robertson was once again a force, dominating on defense and special teams, establishing himself as one of the most decorated players in program history.

Due to his lack of elite size, Robertson fell in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft and was selected by the Raiders – the team he spent four seasons with.

Robertson had some good moments as a Raider – establishing himself as a reliable secondary option in both 2022 and 2023. But when his rookie contract expired, he changed scenery and moved to a contender, signing a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions this offseason.

The Lions got a bargain.

Robertson was a key part of the Lions’ defense – a defense that was torn apart by injuries.

Robertson started as a slot cornerback, but due to several injuries in the secondary, he is now the team’s primary fullback.

In the season finale, the Vikings planned to trick Robertson and feed the explosive Jefferson, arguably the best receiver in the league.

Robertson never flinched, won most of the one-on-one fights and had the game of his career.

“That kid was special,” NBC’s Chris Collinsworth said on the game’s broadcast.

After the game, Thibodaux’s followers exploded on social media, expressing their support for one of their own.

This weekend, that same support will be on full display as the Lions begin their journey to the Super Bowl.

Robertson said he wants to help Thibodaux win a title, adding that he loves the team in Detroit.

He has also become a leader in the locker room because of his style of play.

“Man, I’m so proud of him,” Lions safety Kerby Joseph said. “He’s been waiting for this moment and is making the most of it.”