ROCHESTER, Mich. — Even as the Detroit Lions' 2025 season wrapped up without a playoff berth, the spirit of the team's star players continues to inspire local creativity. At the Home Bakery here in Rochester, a life-size cake depicting wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs in their viral "Spider-Man + Superman" celebration has become the latest tribute to the duo's on-field flair.
The elaborate edible sculpture captures the moment from the Lions' Week 7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Gibbs broke free for a 78-yard touchdown run. In the celebration that followed, St. Brown leaped over a crouching Gibbs, mimicking a superhero duo — St. Brown as Superman soaring skyward and Gibbs as Spider-Man in a dynamic pose. The cake, now on display in the bakery's front window, has drawn crowds of fans eager to see the sugary homage up close.
Heather Tocco, the owner of Home Bakery, led a team of 24 employees in crafting the masterpiece, a project that consumed at least 400 hours of labor. Tocco herself stepped in as a model to perfect Gibbs' crouching stance, ensuring the cake's proportions matched the players' real-life athleticism. "We have a fist bursting through the glass. Like, it's the coolest thing," Tocco told ESPN, describing the dramatic setup where the cake appears to shatter the window from within.
The bakery suspended parts of the cake from the ceiling to achieve the flying effect, pushing the boundaries of their sculpting techniques. The players' black uniforms are rendered in intricate detail with edible icing, adding to the realism. Tocco explained that the goal was to recapture the communal joy from a similar project the previous year.
Last January, Home Bakery unveiled a 6-foot-2 life-size cake of St. Brown performing his signature headstand celebration. That creation came at the height of the Lions' successful 2024 campaign, which had propelled them to the postseason for the first time since 2022. Fans responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, sending thank-you cards and drawings to the shop, crediting the bakery for fostering a sense of unity amid the team's triumphs.
This year's effort arrives in a different context. The Lions finished the 2025 regular season with a 9-8 record, marking their first missed playoffs since 2022. Despite a disappointing finish, they closed out on a positive note with a Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears, a victory that Tocco highlighted as a silver lining.
"It's still an epic celebration, and when we did the last window in January of last year, it just brought people together," Tocco said. "We were getting thank-you cards mailed to the door, and kids were drawing us photos, saying 'thank you for doing this' and 'thank you for bringing people together' and quite honestly, I kinda wanted that feeling again, too."
The owner emphasized the cake's role in sustaining fan morale. "The fans united, and it's giving us something to rally around and still show our love. Sure, the season didn't go as we wanted, but at least we beat the Bears," she added, reflecting on the bittersweet end to the year.
St. Brown and Gibbs were standout performers despite the team's overall struggles. According to season statistics, St. Brown amassed 1,401 receiving yards on 117 catches, scoring 11 touchdowns. Gibbs, meanwhile, rushed for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns, showcasing his versatility as a key offensive weapon.
The original celebration that inspired the cake occurred during a pivotal game against the Buccaneers. In that Week 7 matchup, the Lions secured a hard-fought win, with Gibbs' long touchdown run providing a highlight that energized the Ford Field crowd and quickly went viral on social media. Videos of the "Spider-Man + Superman" pose racked up millions of views, cementing it as one of the season's most memorable moments.
Local media, including ESPN reporter Eric Woodyard, documented the bakery's process through behind-the-scenes footage shared on Twitter. The clip, posted on January 5, 2026, offered a glimpse into the meticulous work, from sketching the poses to layering fondant over structural supports. Woodyard's coverage helped amplify the story, drawing national attention to the Rochester shop's dedication to Detroit sports culture.
Community response has mirrored the positivity from the previous year's cake. Visitors have stopped by the bakery not just to admire the display but to purchase treats and share stories of their fandom. One parent mentioned bringing their child, who had been upset about the Lions' playoff miss, only to leave beaming after posing for photos with the cake.
For Tocco and her staff, these projects represent more than artistic endeavors; they are a way to connect with the community that supports their business. The Home Bakery, a fixture in Rochester since its founding, has built a reputation for custom cakes that blend whimsy with precision. Past commissions have included wedding cakes and corporate logos, but the Lions-themed displays have proven particularly resonant.
As the offseason progresses, the cake serves as a reminder of the highs amid the lows. With the NFL Draft approaching and free agency underway, Lions fans are already looking ahead to 2026. Tocco hinted that future celebrations might be in store if the team rebounds, suggesting the bakery's window could once again become a canvas for victory poses.
In a city where sports loyalty runs deep, creations like this one underscore how local artisans can keep the flame of fandom alive. Whether through a touchdown dash or a carefully sculpted sugar fist, the bond between the Lions and their supporters endures, one sweet tribute at a time.