Patrick Suplicki of Stevens Point was selected the 28th member of the Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame during a ceremony inside the Lambeau Field atrium, February 19, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A cancer survivor who turned his basement into a Green and Gold shrine is the 28th member of the Packers FAN Hall of Fame.
After a nationwide search for this year’s greatest cheesehead, the Packers selected Patrick Suplicki of Stevens Point, during a ceremony in the Lambeau Field Atrium Thursday
Suplicki is no stranger to the contest. He was a finalist in 2020. Even though he did not win then, he said just being nominated is the ultimate honor for a Packers fan.
According to his bio on Packers.com, since childhood, Suplicki has been a die-hard Packers fan, with some of his fondest memories being spent watching games with his father, Elgie. Pat’s love for the team only grew stronger when, in high school, he dreamed of playing for the Packers. Tragically, an ACL injury in his junior year ended his football career. But instead of giving up, Suplicki found new ways to stay connected to the game, focusing on coaching and, of course, cheering on the Packers with unwavering dedication.
In 2023, Suplicki faced the greatest challenge of his life: a diagnosis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, a rare cancer in his neck. After 36 rounds of radiation, his future seemed uncertain. He feared he wouldn’t survive to see the birth of his third grandchild that November. But he fought with all his strength and was declared cancer free in 2024.
Long before his cancer diagnosis, Suplicki began working on turning his unfinished basement into the ultimate Packers shrine—a place for family and friends to gather. However, after losing his father to cancer during this time, he paused the project. Yet, just as he had fought through his cancer, he completed the basement, a tribute to his father and a lasting legacy of his love for the Packers. The basement, completed after five years of work, is a Packers heaven filled with memorabilia, photos, and signatures. The ceiling is painted to resemble Lambeau Field, and everything is covered in Packers, even the ceiling fan.
Now a grandfather himself, he shares his love for the Packers with his grandson and two granddaughters, passing the torch of fandom to the next generation. The joy of watching the games together has become a cherished tradition, one that unites his family and strengthens their bond through the Green and Gold.
The other nine finalists this year are:
- Jeff Goldapske from Appleton
- Jeff Lanier from Green Bay
- Lorraine Mueller from Wittenberg
- Mark Murphy from La Crosse
- Dean Schmitz from Wausau
- Patrick Hare from Moreno Valley, California
- Daniel Schneider from Crystal Lake, Illinois
- Valerie Ann Smick from Yorkville, Illinois
- Thomas Thrall from Durham, North Carolina
As the winner, Suplicki will receive four club seats to a 2026 Packers home game, four pre-game sideline passes, four passes to the Packers Hall of Fame, a custom Packers jersey, a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate and a one-year subscription to PackersNews.com. He will also have his name added to the list of FAN Hall of Fame inductees in the Packers Hall of Fame.
Last year, the late John Brosig of Pound was chosen as the winner. Brosig’s son accepted the award on behalf of his father, who had recently died of cancer.
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