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Detroit Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa doesn’t just have one of the best stories in the NFL right now; he might also have the funniest nickname debate on social media.
After becoming the first player in recent memory to record his first two NFL catches as one-handed grabs, fans have been flooding Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit with suggestions for what to call him. And TeSlaa? He’s loving every second of it.
From “Tiger” to “Vanilla-tron”
When asked by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press what his original nickname was, TeSlaa kept it simple:
“My dad always called me ‘Tiger.’ ‘Tiger’ or ‘Buddy,’” TeSlaa said. “I don’t know, he just called me ‘Tiger.’ Just like a, yeah, like a buddy, a tiger.”
But Lions fans weren’t about to settle for something as tame as “Tiger.” With his sticky hands and flair for circus catches, TeSlaa has already been compared to some of the NFL’s most electric wideouts, and the nicknames prove it.
The Internet Gets Creative
Asked which social media nickname is his favorite, TeSlaa didn’t hesitate.
“I think ‘Vanilla-tron’ is probably my favorite one.”
That nickname, of course, pays homage to Calvin Johnson, the Hall of Famer known as “Megatron.” It’s lofty company for a rookie, but when your first two grabs look like something out of a video game, fans are going to run with it.
Still, TeSlaa has heard plenty of other gems.
“I heard ‘Snowdell Beckham Jr.’ today. That was pretty good,” TeSlaa admitted with a grin.
And then came perhaps the most creative one yet:
“Yeah, I heard ‘Odell Blanco Jr.’ They’re crazy.”
The comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr. make sense. Like OBJ, TeSlaa has already developed a knack for highlight-reel one-handers. The difference? Beckham’s iconic grab came years into his career, TeSlaa managed it in his very first NFL game.
A Rookie Winning Over Detroit
For a rookie wideout who grew up a Lions fan in Hudsonville, Mich., this moment is surreal. TeSlaa’s journey, from Hillsdale College, to Arkansas, to now catching touchdowns in a Detroit uniform, already feels like a Hollywood script. Add in the viral nickname debate, and he’s quickly becoming one of the Motor City’s most beloved young players.
And here’s the best part: he’s not just a one-handed highlight machine. Jared Goff has praised his toughness, intelligence, and attention to detail, saying TeSlaa “does everything right.” The nicknames are fun, but the Lions see him as much more than a novelty. He’s part of the future.
Nicknames aside, Isaac TeSlaa is already leaving his mark on Detroit and the NFL. Whether fans stick with “Vanilla-tron,” roll with “Snowdell Beckham Jr.,” or get even more creative, one thing is clear: TeSlaa has the talent and personality to be a fan favorite for years to come.
Detroit may have found its next cult hero.
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Don Drysdale
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