National Football League
Detroit Lions
NFC/North
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HISTORY OF THE DETROIT LIONS
The Detroit Lions, originally the Portsmouth Spartans relocated to Detroit from Ohio in 1934 and won their first 10 games, shutting out 7 teams in the process. The Lions hosted the very first NFL Thanksgiving game as the Lions took on the Chicago Bears losing to the Bears 10-3.
The 1935 season would fair much better for the Lions as the team finished with a 7-3-2 record and marched into the NFL Championship game against the New York Giants. Led by QB Earl Clark, the Lions defeated the Giants 26-7 and won their first NFL Title.
It would be 17 seasons before the Lions would again compete for the NFL title. In 1952, the Lions marched into a hostile Municipal Stadium in front of 50 thousand plus fans and upset the Browns 17-7 to win their 2nd NFL Title. The next season would provide a rematch of the Browns and the Lions for the NFL Title. The Lions nipped the Brown 17-16 for their 2nd consecutive title win and 3rd overall.
The 1957 Lions climbed back to the championships again meeting the Cleveland Browns at Briggs Stadium in front of 55 thousand plus fans. The Lions tore apart the home team 59-14 and claimed their 4th title and 3rd of the decade.
The Lions would suffer through an extended phase of mediocrity and it would not be until the 1970 season that they would again make the playoffs. In a wildcard game against the Dallas Cowboys, the defenses of both teams sparkled but the Cowboys emerged victorious with a 5-0 win, to date the lowest scoring game in NFL History.
The Lions would suffer through another 12 years before making it back to the playoffs in the strike shortened 1982 season. Matched up against the Washington Redskins, the Lions were slaughtered 31-7 and eliminated from the playoffs. The Lions returned to the playoffs the next season winning their division but were again knocked out, this time by the San Francisco 49ers.
The Lions would not get back into the playoffs until winning their division in 1991. The NFC Championship pitted the Lions against the Washington Redskins in Washington. The Lions had been unable to beat the Redskins at home since 1935 and were routed 41-10 by the eventual Super Bowl Champions.
The final game of the 1993 season for the Lions pitted them against the Green Bay Packers in a battle for the Division. The Lions won that contest 30-20 but the Packers would return 6 days later and beat them 28-24 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Lions have not made it back to the playoffs since.
The Lions have made the playoffs 14 times in 75 seasons. They have been NFL Champions 4 times (1935, 1952, 1953 and 1957). They have been Division Champions 8 times (1935, 1952, 53, 54, 57, 1983, 1991 and 1993).
The team has had 17 Hall of Famers on their rosters: Lem Barney (1967-1977), Jack Christenson (1951-1958), Earl Clark (1931-32, 1934-38), Lou Creekmur (1950-1959), Bill Dudley (1947-1949), Frank Gatski (1957), John Henry Johnson (1957-59), Dick Layne (1960-1965), Yale Lary (1952-53, 1955-1964), Bobby Layne (1950-58), Olie Mattson (1963), Hugh McElheny (1964), Barry Sanders (1989-1998), Charlie Sanders (1968-1977), Joe Schmidt (1953-1965), Doak Walker (1950-1955) and Alex Wojciechowicz (1938-1946).
The Lions have retired 9 jerseys: #7 Earl Clark, #20 Lem Barney, #20 Billy Simms, #20 Barry Sanders, #22 Bobby Layne, #37 Doak Walker, #56 Joe Schmidt, #85 Chuck Hughes and #88 Charlie Sanders.
Team Awards include: a Coach of the Year (1991 Wayne Fontes), two Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards (1967 Lem Barney and 1978 Al Baker), six Rookie of the Year Awards (1959 Nick Pietrosante, 1960 Gail Cogdill, 1967 Mel Farr, 1968 Earl McCullough, 1980 Billy Simms and 1989 Barry Sanders), two Offensive Player of the Year Awards (1994 and 1997 Barry Sanders) and three NFL MVP Awards (1944 Frank Sinkwich, 1960 Joe Schmidt and 1997 Barry Sanders).
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