Jahmyr Gibbs found a way to steal the spotlight during Sunday Night Football without even touching the ball.
In the Lions’ matchup with the Panthers, Gibbs used his player intro to toss out a line that instantly lit up fans. Instead of going with Georgia Tech or Alabama, he said he went to “Hollywood Arts,” the fictional performing arts school from Nickelodeon’s Victorious. It was the kind of offbeat shoutout that had social media doing a double take almost immediately.
The reaction came fast, and it was all over the map in the best way. “Jahmyr gibbs hollywood arts?
Like Victorious?” one user asked.
“Jahmyr Gibbs, Hollywood arts” knew I loved demon for a reason ofc he knows ball 😭🙏🏽,” another fan wrote. “Gibbs said he’s from Hollywood Arts 💀” one tweet read.
“LOL not Jahmyr Gibbs saying “Hollywood Arts”🤣🤣” someone laughed. “Did Jah just throw out a Victorious reference?
‘Jahmyr Gibbs, Hollywood Arts'” someone asked. “Has Jahmyr Gibbs always said his school is fucking Hollywood Arts ??
😭😭” asked one fan. “Did Gibbs say “Hollywood Arts” during the starters rundown?
Both my daughter’s perked up,” someone else enquired.
The reference landed with even more people because Netflix has a real Hollywood Arts spinoff on the way, and TVInsider has reported Daniella Monet is reprising her role as Trina Vega for it.
Gibbs has already been a major talking point this season, with analysts predicting he could put together a rare 1,000-yard rushing and receiving campaign. He’s been a key piece for Detroit on the field. But on Sunday night, he became the center of attention for something completely different.
That’s not exactly new territory for him. Gibbs has been popping up in conversations for reasons beyond football before, including when he got roasted over a new back tattoo in April. Still, this one caught plenty of longtime fans off guard.
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Still, the film left one issue hard to ignore. The offensive line had rough patches, with Luke Fortner and Robert Hunt both showing their struggles, even as Young kept playing effectively under pressure and Chuba Hubbard turned in a breakout performance. Akayleb Evans had mixed results in coverage, which is the kind of uneven stretch Carolina can live with only if the protection in front of the quarterback steadies itself soon. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Win Showed Real Growth But Left One New Concern
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Devin Lloyds return gave the defense a lift, but the performance also pointed to where the next step has to come. The Panthers did not consistently get enough pressure on Jared Goff, and that kind of issue can linger even after a good win if it is not cleaned up. There was also concern after injuries to Monroe Freeling and Jaelan Phillips, two absences that could matter quickly if the team is forced to navigate them for any length of time. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Canales Had Panthers Fans Loving One Postgame Moment
Sunday nights 32-26 win over Detroit gave Dave Canales plenty to smile about, and the Panthers first-year coach made sure to share the credit after the game. Bryce Young delivered one of his sharpest outings with 329 yards and two touchdowns, Tetairoa McMillan piled up 14 catches for 192 yards, and Carolina fed off an atmosphere that felt louder as the night wore on.
Canales postgame NBC interview with Melissa Stark is what really resonated with fans, though, because he did not just talk about the play on the field. He pointed to the crowds impact on the game, a small moment that fit the tone of the night and underscored how much the Panthers needed every bit of support in a tight finish. [Read more 🡒]
