Photo Credit
by Carrie Birdsong
First season: 1930
Play in: Ford Field Detroit, Michigan
Headquartered in: Allen Park, Michigan
League/Conference Affiliations:
1. National Football League: 1930 – Present
2. Western Division: 1933 – 1949
3. National Conference: 1950 – 1952
4. Western Conference: 1953 – 1969
5. Central Division: 1967 – 1969
6. National Football Conference: 1970 – Present
7. NFC Central: 1970 – 2001
8. NFC North: 2002 – Present
Team Colors: Honolulu Blue, Silver, Black White(2)
(3)(4)
Fight Song: Gridiron Heroes
Mascot: Roary the Lion
Personnel:
Owner(s): Sheila Ford Hamp(5)
Chairman: Sheila Ford Hamp
President: Rod Wood
General Manager: Brad Holmes
Head Coach: Dan Campbell
Team History:
1. Portsmouth Spartans: 1928 – 1933
2. Detroit Lions: 1934 – Present
Championships:
1. League Championships: 4
2. NFL Championships (pre-1970 AFL-NFL merger) 4
3. NFL National: 1952
4. NFL Western: 1953, 1954, 1957
5. Division Championships: 6
6. NFL Western: 1935
7. NFL Central: 1983, 1991, 1993
8. NFC North: 2023, 2024
Playoff Appearances: 20
NFL: 1932, 1935, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1970,
Fight Song: Gridiron Heroes
Mascot: Roary the Lion
Personnel:
Owner(s): Sheila Ford Hamp(5)
Chairman: Sheila Ford Hamp
President: Rod Wood
General Manager: Brad Holmes
Head Coach: Dan Campbell
Team History:
1. Portsmouth Spartans: 1928 – 1933
2. Detroit Lions: 1934 – Present
Championships:
1. League Championships: 4
2. NFL Championships (pre-1970 AFL-NFL merger) 4
3. NFL National: 1952
4. NFL Western: 1953, 1954, 1957
5. Division Championships: 6
6. NFL Western: 1935
7. NFL Central: 1983, 1991, 1993
8. NFC North: 2023, 2024
Playoff Appearances: 20
NFL: 1932, 1935, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1970,
1982, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997,
1999, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2023, 2024
Home Fields:
1. Universal Stadium: 1930 – 1933
2. University of Detroit Stadium: 1937 – 1937,
Home Fields:
1. Universal Stadium: 1930 – 1933
2. University of Detroit Stadium: 1937 – 1937,
1940
3. Tiger Stadium: 1938 – 1939, 1941 – 1974
4. Pontiac Silverdome: 1975 – 2001
5. Ford Field: 2002 – Present
Team Owner(s):
1. Harry N. Snyder 1930 – 1934
2. George A. Richards 1934 – 1940
3. Fred L. Mandel Jr. 1940 – 1948
4. Detroit Football Company: 1948 – 1964
5. William Clay Ford Sr. 1964 – 2014
6. Martha Firestone Ford 2014 – 2020
7. Sheila Ford Hamp 2020 – Present
The history of the Detroit Lions, a professional American football franchise based in Detroit, Michigan, dates back to 1928 when they played in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans. They joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1930 before George A. Richards, a radio executive, bought them, and moved to Detroit. They changed their name to the Lions in 1934 and won their first NFL Championship the following season. The Lions had their most success in the 1950s, winning the NFL Championship three times in 1952, 1953, and 1957, and made several playoff appearances in the 1990s. in 2024, they began their 95th season, continuing to be one of the NFL’s oldest franchises.
Portsmouth Spartans
The Lions franchise was originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans(1)(2). Originally an independent team, they joined the National Football League in 1930, after which they compiled a 28 – 16 – 7 record by the end of the 1933 season, including a berth in the first-ever game with the league title at stake in 1932. However, while they were successful on the field, they lived a hand-to-mouth existence off of it. At one point, players were given stock in the team in lieu of their salaries. By this time, it was apparent that mid-size cities like Portsmouth could no longer support an NFL team(1)(2)(3)(4).
Move to Detroit and early success (1934 – 1938)
In 1934, George A. Richards, a radio executive who owned WJR, a radio affiliate of the NBC Blue Network (the forerunner to today’s ABC), purchased the Portsmouth Spartans for $8,000 and moved the team to Detroit, renaming them the Detroit Lions(1). Richards picked the name because he intended to put together a team that would be the “king of the NFL,” much like the lion was the king of the jungle. He also wanted a tie-in to baseball’s Detroit Tigers. (4)
In their inaugural season (1934) in Detroit several months later, the Lions started off with a 10-game win streak that included seven shutouts. However, they lost the last three games of the season to the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears and finished in second place behind the Bears in the Western Division, once again coming up short of their rivals(1)(2)(3)(5). That same year, Richards negotiated an agreement with NBC to carry his Thanksgiving games live across all of the network’s affiliated stations(6). Since then, the Lions have played on Thanksgiving every season except the years during World War II(7)(8). In 1935, Dutch Clark led the NFL with 55 points, while Ernie Caddel led the league with 621 yards as they carried the Lions to a 7 – 3 – 2 record, which was first in the Western Division. As a result, they advanced to the 1935 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants(9)(10). The game was played on December 15th, 1935, in front of 15,000 fans in Detroit. The Lions won the game 26 – 7 to secure the franchise’s first World Championship, contributing to Detroit’s City of Champions for the 1935 – 1936 sports season, during which the Detroit Tigers won the 1935 World Series and the Detroit Red Wings captured the 1936 Stanley Cup. (10)(11)
After the season ended, the Lions played a team of NFL All-Stars in an exhibition game on January 1st, 1936, winning 33 – 0(12)(13). They played four additional exhibition games: a 67 – 14 win over the Westwood Cubs on January 13th, a 42 – 7 win over the Los Angeles All-Stars on January 20th, a 10 – 3 victory over the Green Bay Packers on January 26th, and a 30 – 6 victory over the Hawaii All-Stars on February 9th(13). Over the next two years, the Lions had records of 8 – 4 and 7 – 4 but finished third in the Western Division both years, again behind the Bears and Packers(14)(15). After falling one game short of the Packers in 1938, both Dutch Clark and Ernie Caddel decided to retire.(16)(17)(18)
Struggling (1939 – 1949)
In 1939, the Lions’ first year without their superstar players, they managed a disappointing record of 6 – 5(19). This season would set the tone for the next decade(20). Before the 1940 season, Richards, then living in Beverly Hills, and in poor health, sold the team to Fred L. Mandel Jr., a 31-year-old member of the family that owned the Mandel Brothers Department Store of Chicago.(21)
The 1940’s saw the Lions win only 35 games(20). The low point was when they went 0 – 11 in 1942, scoring only five touchdowns all season, getting shut out five times, and never scoring more than seven points in a single game(20)(22)(23). With the first overall pick in the 1943 NFL draft, the Lions drafted Frank Sinkwich from Georgia(24). The Lions finished the 1943 season with a 3 – 6 – 1 record(25). A notable occurrence during the season happened on November 7th when the Lions and the New York Giants played to a scoreless tie. As of 2024, this was the last time an NFL game has ended in a scoreless tie(26). In 1944, Sinkwich won the NFL Most Valuable Player award after leading the Lions from a 1 – 3 – 1 start to a 6 – 3 – 1 finish(27)(28). It was the team’s first winning record since 1939. (27)
Detroit improved on that record in 1945, finishing at 7 – 3. They were second in the Western Division behind the Cleveland Rams(29). The Lions were less successful in the latter half of the decade; in 1946, they only managed one win all year, while in 1947, they won only three games(30)(31). With the sixth overall pick in the 1948 NFL draft, the Lions drafted quarterback Y.A. Tittle. However, he never signed with the team, instead joining the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference. (32)
On January 15th, 1948, the NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Lions from Fred J. Mandel to the Detroit Football Company, a seven-person syndicate led by D. Lyle Fife(33). The Lions only won two games that year, but they kept building up their roster by trading quarterback Johnny Rauch’s draft rights to the New York Bulldogs in exchange for the draft rights to Doak Walker(34)(35). In 1949, the Lions improved to 4 – 8, missing the playoffs for a fourteenth consecutive season(36). During the season, team president D. Lyle Fife left his wife of 33 years for his secretary. The resulting scandal saw Fife resign and Edwin J. Anderson take over as president. (37)
Team of the 1950s (1950 – 1958)
At the start of the 1950s, the Lions had a roster to compete for championships but were still in need of a franchise quarterback. To solve this, they traded fullback Camp Wilson to the New York Yanks in exchange for quarterback Bobby Layne(38). After finishing a disappointing 6 – 6 in 1950, head coach Bo McMillin resigned(39). He was replaced by Buddy Parker, who had previously played for the Lions in the mid-1930s, including being a part of the 1935 championship team(40)(41)(42). The following season saw the Lions improve with a 7 – 4 – 1 record(43). In 1952, the Lions finished with a 9 – 3 record, tied with the Los Angeles Rams for first in the NFL’s National Conference. Thus, for the first time in 17 years, the team returned to the playoffs. (42)
In the National Conference Playoff, the Lions defeated the Rams 31 – 21 in front of nearly 50,000 spectators at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, playing in fog(42). The win sent the Lions back to the NFL Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns, which was the first of four championship games the two teams would play against each other during the decade(44). The Lions defeated the Browns by a score of 17 – 7 to win the second title in franchise history(42). The next year saw the Lions enjoy one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. They would draft future Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL draft(45). The Lions went 10 – 2, which was good for first place in the renamed Western Conference(46). In addition, the team had seven Pro Bowlers, eight All-Pros, and swept their division rivals Chicago and Green Bay in four consecutive weeks(47)(48)(49) the Lions faced the Browns in the 1953 NFL Championship Game, in which Layne found Jim Doran for a 33 – yard game-winning touchdown in the final minutes to win 17 – 16(50)(51). In 1954, the Lions would finish with a 9 – 2 – 1 record(52). They faced the Browns in the NFL Championship Game for a third consecutive season. This time, however, the Browns destroyed the Lions 56 – 10, ruining their shot at a three-peat. (44)
Despite the Lions’ success early in the decade, the mid-1950s looked like a falling-off point for the team. The Lions won only three games in 1955(53). In the following season, the team finished in second place to the Chicago Bears with a 9 – 3 record(54). During the 1957 preseason, Buddy Parker stunned the football world by announcing his resignation from the organization(55)(56). George Wilson took over as head coach(55)(56). Despite the turmoil, the Lions finished 8 – 4, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for first in the Western Conference(56)(57). As a result, the two teams faced each other in a playoff game in San Francisco(56). During the game, the 49ers took a 24 – 7 lead into halftime behind three touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle. During halftime, the 49ers, who assumed they had the game locked up, celebrated in their locker room. Because the walls in Kezar Stadium were so thin and the locker rooms were right next to each other, the Lions heard it. (56)
In 1958, the Lions traded Bobby Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Earl Morrall and two future draft picks. According to legend, as he was leaving for Pittsburgh, Layne said that the Lions would not win another championship for 50 years. Since this time, the Lions have not won another championship and the franchise’s subsequent years of (mostly) futility have been labeled “The Curse of Bobby Layne.”(58)(59) Without Layne, the Lions finished with a 4 – 7 – 1 record. (60)
Adjusting to life without Bobby Layne and committing to defense (1959 – 1969)
A 3 – 8 – 1 season in 1959 meant the Lions closed out their most successful decade in disappointing fashion(61). Going into the 1960’s, the Lions decided to go with a new rebuild, this time centered around defense. The team started by trading defensive end Gerry Perry to the St. Louis Cardinals for cornerback Dick “Night Train” Lane(62). Joe Schmidt later called it “one of the best trades that will ever be made in any sport”(63). Lane made three Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections as a Lion(63)(64). Detroit also drafted star defensive tackle Roger Brown to pair with Alex Karras, Sam Williams, and Darris McCord, forming one of the most fierce defensive lines in pro football history.(65)
The Lions also still had ‘50’s stars Joe Schmidt and Yale Lary as well as cornerback Dick LeBeau, who the team signed in 1959(45)(66)(67). Despite a 0 – 3 start in 1960, the Lions put together a 7 – 2 record to end the year at 7 – 5 overall(68). The Lions finished second in the Western Conference and earned a trip to the Playoff Bowl against their rivals the Cleveland Browns, who finished second in the Eastern Conference(69)(70). The game was played on January 7th, 1961, at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, and was the fifth (and to date last) playoff game between the teams. The Lions defeated the Browns 17 – 16.(70)
In 1961, a group of stockholders led by former president D. Lyle Fife attempted to remove Edwin J. Anderson as team president. Anderson resigned and one of his supporters, William Clay Ford Sr., was chosen to succeed him. Anderson was allowed to stay on as general manager(71). That year, the Lions improved slightly, finishing 8 – 5 – 1, and returned to the Playoff Bowl where they destroyed the Philadelphia Eagles 38 – 10(70)(72). The peak of the Lions’ early ’60s defense came in 1962 when they put together an 11 – 3 record and became only the third team in NFL history to never trail by more than 7 points in a game(73)(74). While the Lions finished behind the Packers again, they managed to defeat them on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit 26 – 14 in a game that became known as the “Thanksgiving Day Massacre”(75). This was the Packers’ only loss of the season, as they eventually won the 1962 NFL Championship(73)(75). The Lions went to the Playoff Bowl for the third year in a row, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 17 – 10. (70)(76)
Detroit’s luck came to an end in 1963 as the team fell apart, finishing 5 – 8 – 1(77). A betting scandal involving Alex Karras and Packers running back Paul Hornung, which led to both players being suspended for the 1963 season, also played a part in the Lions’ collapse. (78)
On November 22nd, 1963, William Clay Ford Sr. purchased a controlling interest in the team for 6 million dollars (79)(80). The sale was completed on January 10th, 1964(80). During Ford’s ownership tenure, which extended to his death in 2014, the Lions won just a single playoff game. (81)
The team would improve the next year, finishing 7 – 5 – 2. Despite this, they missed the playoffs(82). The Lions began losing its defense when Yale Lary retired following the 1964 season, while both Schmidt and Lane would retire a year later(66)(83)(84). In the mid–1960s, the Lions served as the backdrop for the sports literature of George Plimpton, who spent time in the Lions training camp masquerading as a player(85). This was the basic material for his book Paper Lion, later made into a movie starring Alan Alda plus many actual Lions players, including Alex Karras. (86)(87).
The Lions struggled through the mid to late 1960s but used the time to rebuild their roster eventually drafting Lem Barney to replace Lane, Bob Kowalkowski, and Ed Flanagan to build up the offensive line and running back Mel Farr(88). Despite said players being Pro Bowlers, the Lions still needed a franchise player which they found in the third round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft when they drafted Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders, a 7 – time Pro Bowler who is considered one of the best players to ever play the position.(89)(90)
Decade of mediocrity (1970 – 1981)
With the AFL – NFL merger, the Lions were placed in the new NFC Central division with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings(91). Motown soul singer Marvin Gaye made plans, after the death of partner Tammi Terrell, to join the Lions and go into football. He gained weight and trained for his tryout in 1970, but was cut early on. He remained friends with a number of the players, particularly Mel Farr and Lem Barney, who appear as background vocalists on his 1971 classic single “What’s Going On”(92). Finishing with a 10 – 4 record, they were the first team to qualify for the newly created wild card playoff position(93)(94). However, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 5 – 0 after a long, grinding defensive struggle and did not see the postseason again for the rest of the decade.(94)(95)
Despite the loss, the 1970 Lions remain one of the best teams in franchise history and one of the most underrated teams in NFL history(94). Also in 1970, the Lions we the opponent on the day Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicked what was then the longest field goal in NFL history. Dempsey’s 63–yard effort on the game’s final play lifted the Saints to a 19 – 17 victory over the Lions(94)(96). While playing at home with the Bears on October 24th, 1971, tragedy struck when wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. He remains the only NFL player to ever die on the field(97)(98). To honor his memory, the team wore black armbands for the rest of the season and retired his #85,(99) although the number eventually returned to circulation. (100)
In 1972, the Lions improved to 8 – 5 – 1(101). In the following season, they regressed to 6 – 7 – 1(102). Heart disease claimed another member of the franchise when head coach Don McCafferty died shortly before training camp in 1974(102). That season saw the Lions finish at 7 – 7(103). On Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, 1974, after over 35 years, the Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium, where they lost to the Denver Broncos 31 – 27 in front of 51,157 spectators, amidst snow flurries and a 21–point Broncos third quarter(104). The Lions moved to a newly constructed, domed stadium in suburban Pontiac(105). Another 7 – 7 record was produced in 1975, the Lions’ first year indoors(106). This was followed by a 6 – 8 showing in 1976(107). The team finished with an identical 6 – 8 record in 1977, struggling the whole season with an anemic offense that only put up 183 points(108). More mediocrity followed in 1978 with seven wins in the newly expanded 16–game season(109)(110). The bottom fell out in 1979 with a 2 – 14 record. (111)
This gave the Lions the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft, which they used to draft Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims from Oklahoma(112). Detroit also drafted quarterback Eric Hipple in the fourth round of the draft, who became the Lions starting quarterback for most of the decade(113). Detroit improved immediately in 1980, jumping out to a 4 – 0 start, before finishing with a 9 – 7 record, tied for first place in the Central Division with the Vikings, but failing to qualify for the playoffs due to Minnesota winning more games within the conference(114). The next year, the Lions had a chance to win the division on the final week of the season by defeating the Buccaneers at home; however, they would lose that game, once again failing to qualify for the playoffs, as they finished 8 – 8. (115)(116)
NFC Central Division champions and Billy Sims retires (1982 – 1988)
The Lions entered 1982 with hope for a possible playoff run. However, after a 2 – 0 start, a player's strike canceled seven games, cutting the season to nine games(117)(118)(119). After the strike ended, the Lions finished 2 – 5(117). Despite this, a 4 – 5 record was good enough to qualify for the playoffs(120). They became the second team to qualify for the playoffs with a losing record(120). In the Wild Card Round, the Lions were routed 31 – 7 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins(120)(121). In the following season, the Lions won 9 games to capture the NFL Central division championship. (122)
On December 31st, 1983, the Lions faced the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. After the 49ers took a 14 – 3 lead in the first quarter, the Lions were able to trim the deficit to 14 – 9 by halftime on a couple of field goals by kicker Eddie Murray, who made a then–postseason–record 54–yard kick in the closing seconds of the first half. Thanks to two touchdown runs by Billy Sims, the Lions led for the first time by the score of 23 – 17 with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter. Joe Montana then made one of his signature fourth-quarter drives by completing six passes, the last of which was the go-ahead touchdown to Freddie Solomon, which gave the 49ers a 24 – 23 lead with 1:23 left. The Lions were not done. Even though backup quarterback Gary Danielson, who had replaced an injured Eric Hipple, threw five interceptions, he pieced together a closing drive to put the team within field goal range with 11 seconds left. Murray, who had previously made three of four field goals, missed for the second time from 43 yards on a kick that went wide right, which secured the victory for the 49ers.(123)
On October 21st, 1984, during a game against the Minnesota Vikings, Billy Sims suffered a career-ending knee injury. He spent two years trying to rehab his injury before retiring in 1986(124). Sims’ injury would set the tone for the rest of the season as the Lions finished with a 4 – 11 – 1 record(125). Monte Clark was fired after the season(126). The Lions brought in Darryl Rogers, considered to be an offensive guru who previously coached at the college level(126). However, his tenure was marked with much disappointment. From 1985 to mid-season in 1988, he had acquired a record of 18 – 40 and was 2 – 9 in 1988 before he was fired(127)(128). He was replaced by interim head coach Wayne Fontes, who by the end of his coaching career, was considered to be one of the best coaches in franchise history and had the distinction of having the most wins and losses of any head coach in franchise history.(128)(129)
Barry Sanders era (1989 – 1998)
With the third overall draft pick in the 1989 NFL draft, the Lions selected another Heisman Trophy-winning running back, Barry Sanders from Oklahoma State(130). He played on offense with another rookie at quarterback, Rodney Peete(131). While the Lions showed improvement, they still finished a distant third in the NFC Central with a 7 – 9 record(132). During his rookie season, Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards on 280 carries and finished second in rushing just 10 yards behind the leader, Christian Okoye. He had an opportunity to win the rushing title by going back in back in the final game of the season(133)(134)(135). However, with the Lions leading by the score of 31 – 24 with less than a minute to go, he took a pass, which became a trademark of his career(135). Sanders earned the Offensive Rookie of the Year award the following season. (136)
With such a young core, which included eventual Pro Bowlers Jerry Ball, Bennie Blades, and Chris Spielman, things were once again looking up for the Lions(137)(138). However, they took a step back when they finished 6 – 10 in the 1990 season(139). Sanders won the first of his four NFL rushing titles that season with 1,304 yards, beating out Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas by seven yards(140). In 1991, the Lions started the season by being shut out on national television, 45 – 0, by the Washington Redskins(141)(142). They went 12 – 4 for the season, and won their first division title in eight years, capping the regular season with a win over the defending AFC Champion Bills(142). They were inspired late in the season by the loss of guard Mike Utley, who sustained a career-ending paralysis injury against the Los Angeles Rams on November 17th, 1991. As Utley was carted off the field, he flashed a thumbs-up to his teammates and the Silverdome crowd. It became a rallying symbol for the remainder of the season.(142)(143)
In the Divisional Round, the Lions played their first home playoff game since the 1957 championship season. They dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 38 – 6 for the franchise’s first playoff win since 1957(142)(144). However, in the NFC Championship Game, they were once again completely overpowered by the Redskins, this time by the score of 41 – 10. (142)
In the following season, the Lions were unable to sustain their success, as they finished in last place in the NFC Central with a disappointing 5 – 11 record(145). They rebounded in 1993 to secure the division title with a 10 – 6 record(146). In the Wild Card round, the Lions suffered a heartbreaking 28 – 24 loss to the Green Bay Packers(147). In 1994, the Lions went 9 – 7, clinching a playoff berth for the third time in four years(148)(149). However, they once again suffered another heartbreaking loss to the Packers in the Wild Card round, this time by the score of 16 – 12(149). In 1995, the Lions started the season 0 – 3. However, they recovered to finish the season 10 – 6(150). They actually had the opportunity to win the division title if the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Packers in the final game of the season. It was not meant to be as the Packers won 24 – 19. As a result, the Lions went on the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles(150)(151). In the Wild Card round, the Eagles embarrassed the Lions 58 – 37(150)(152). In the following season, the Lions regressed with a 5 – 11 record to finish last in the division(153). After the season, Wayne Fontes was fired as head coach(154). He was succeeded by Bobby Ross. (155)
The 1997 season saw the Lions go 9 – 7 to clinch a playoff berth(156). During the season, Sanders ran for 2,053 rushing yards, becoming the third running back to join the 2,000-yard club(157). In the Wild Card round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Lions 20 – 10(158). In 1998, the Lions finished fourth in the NFC Central with a disappointing 5 – 11 record(159). Following the season, Sanders announced his retirement. (160)
Post–Barry Sanders retirement and the Matt Millen era (1999 – 2008)
After Barry Sanders retired, the 1999 season shockingly saw the Lions make the playoffs with an 8 – 8 record, before being dispatched by the Washington Redskins 27 – 13 in the Wild Card round(161). Nine games into the 2000 season, Bobby Ross resigned as head coach following an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins. He was replaced by assistant head coach Gary Moeller(162). The Lions had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth in the final game of the season if they defeated the Chicago Bears. However, Paul Edinger kicked a 54–yard field goal with two seconds left to give the Bears a stunning 23 – 20 win. As a result, the Lions missed the playoffs, finishing at 9 – 7. (163)
Following the season, the Lions hired Matt Millen, a former player and broadcaster, as team president and CEO(164). With his first act as team president, Millen fired Gary Moeller as head coach, replacing him with Marty Mornhinweg(165). The Lions fell apart in 2001, leading many to believe that they might become the first team to go 0 – 16 in a season(166)(167)(168). After starting 0 – 12, the Lions finally managed to win a game on December 16th, by defeating their rivals, the Minnesota Vikings(169)(170). After two more losses, the Lions played their final game on January 6th, 2002. In what was to be the final game played at the Pontiac Silverdome, the 1 – 14 Lins hosted the 5 – 10 Dallas Cowboys. Despite there not being much hype or any playoff implications to the game, 77,512 fans came out to watch the Lions defeat the Cowboys 15 – 10. (171)(172)
During the offseason, the NFL realigned to eight divisions of four teams thanks to the addition of the expansion Houston Texans. As such, the NFC Central became the NFC North(173). In the 2002 NFL draft, the Lions selected Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington with the third pick(174). 2002 served as the inaugural season where the Lions played at the new Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. This also was the first time the franchise had played in the city since 1974(175). Despite this, the Lions had little success as they went 3 – 13. Following the season, Marty Mornhinweg was fired and Steve Mariucci was hired as the new head coach.(176)(177)
With the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, the Lions selected local favorite Charles Rodgers(178). The team finished 2003 with a 5 – 11 record(179). Rogers got off to a hot start but was injured in the middle of the season, and because of this, the Lions drafted wide receiver Roy Williams seventh overall in the 2004 NFL draft(180)(181).
The Lions went the entire 2001, 2002, and 2003 seasons without a road victory. This streak, encompassing of a then NFL record 24 games, came to an end on September 12th, 2004, when they defeated the Bears 20 – 16 at Soldier Field in Chicago(182)(183). The Lions finished the 2004 season with a 6 – 10 record(184). Before the start of the 2005 season, Millen received a five–year contract extension(185). On November 28th, Steve Mariucci was fired as head coach, while defensive coordinator Dick Jauron was promoted as interim coach(186). Ultimately, the Lions went 5 – 11. (187)
On January 19th, 2006, the Lions hired Rod Marinelli to be the new head coach(188). Before the start of the 2006 season, the Lions traded Joey Harrington to the Miami Dolphins(189). Several months later, they released Charles Rogers(190). Despite the changes, the team finished 3 – 13(191). with the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Lions selected Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson(192). The Lions began the 2007 season with a promising 6 – 2 record. The optimism was short-lived, however, as the team recorded only a single victory in the next eight games, for the final record of 7 – 9.(193).
3. Tiger Stadium: 1938 – 1939, 1941 – 1974
4. Pontiac Silverdome: 1975 – 2001
5. Ford Field: 2002 – Present
Team Owner(s):
1. Harry N. Snyder 1930 – 1934
2. George A. Richards 1934 – 1940
3. Fred L. Mandel Jr. 1940 – 1948
4. Detroit Football Company: 1948 – 1964
5. William Clay Ford Sr. 1964 – 2014
6. Martha Firestone Ford 2014 – 2020
7. Sheila Ford Hamp 2020 – Present
The history of the Detroit Lions, a professional American football franchise based in Detroit, Michigan, dates back to 1928 when they played in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans. They joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1930 before George A. Richards, a radio executive, bought them, and moved to Detroit. They changed their name to the Lions in 1934 and won their first NFL Championship the following season. The Lions had their most success in the 1950s, winning the NFL Championship three times in 1952, 1953, and 1957, and made several playoff appearances in the 1990s. in 2024, they began their 95th season, continuing to be one of the NFL’s oldest franchises.
Portsmouth Spartans
The Lions franchise was originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans(1)(2). Originally an independent team, they joined the National Football League in 1930, after which they compiled a 28 – 16 – 7 record by the end of the 1933 season, including a berth in the first-ever game with the league title at stake in 1932. However, while they were successful on the field, they lived a hand-to-mouth existence off of it. At one point, players were given stock in the team in lieu of their salaries. By this time, it was apparent that mid-size cities like Portsmouth could no longer support an NFL team(1)(2)(3)(4).
Move to Detroit and early success (1934 – 1938)
In 1934, George A. Richards, a radio executive who owned WJR, a radio affiliate of the NBC Blue Network (the forerunner to today’s ABC), purchased the Portsmouth Spartans for $8,000 and moved the team to Detroit, renaming them the Detroit Lions(1). Richards picked the name because he intended to put together a team that would be the “king of the NFL,” much like the lion was the king of the jungle. He also wanted a tie-in to baseball’s Detroit Tigers. (4)
In their inaugural season (1934) in Detroit several months later, the Lions started off with a 10-game win streak that included seven shutouts. However, they lost the last three games of the season to the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears and finished in second place behind the Bears in the Western Division, once again coming up short of their rivals(1)(2)(3)(5). That same year, Richards negotiated an agreement with NBC to carry his Thanksgiving games live across all of the network’s affiliated stations(6). Since then, the Lions have played on Thanksgiving every season except the years during World War II(7)(8). In 1935, Dutch Clark led the NFL with 55 points, while Ernie Caddel led the league with 621 yards as they carried the Lions to a 7 – 3 – 2 record, which was first in the Western Division. As a result, they advanced to the 1935 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants(9)(10). The game was played on December 15th, 1935, in front of 15,000 fans in Detroit. The Lions won the game 26 – 7 to secure the franchise’s first World Championship, contributing to Detroit’s City of Champions for the 1935 – 1936 sports season, during which the Detroit Tigers won the 1935 World Series and the Detroit Red Wings captured the 1936 Stanley Cup. (10)(11)
After the season ended, the Lions played a team of NFL All-Stars in an exhibition game on January 1st, 1936, winning 33 – 0(12)(13). They played four additional exhibition games: a 67 – 14 win over the Westwood Cubs on January 13th, a 42 – 7 win over the Los Angeles All-Stars on January 20th, a 10 – 3 victory over the Green Bay Packers on January 26th, and a 30 – 6 victory over the Hawaii All-Stars on February 9th(13). Over the next two years, the Lions had records of 8 – 4 and 7 – 4 but finished third in the Western Division both years, again behind the Bears and Packers(14)(15). After falling one game short of the Packers in 1938, both Dutch Clark and Ernie Caddel decided to retire.(16)(17)(18)
Struggling (1939 – 1949)
In 1939, the Lions’ first year without their superstar players, they managed a disappointing record of 6 – 5(19). This season would set the tone for the next decade(20). Before the 1940 season, Richards, then living in Beverly Hills, and in poor health, sold the team to Fred L. Mandel Jr., a 31-year-old member of the family that owned the Mandel Brothers Department Store of Chicago.(21)
The 1940’s saw the Lions win only 35 games(20). The low point was when they went 0 – 11 in 1942, scoring only five touchdowns all season, getting shut out five times, and never scoring more than seven points in a single game(20)(22)(23). With the first overall pick in the 1943 NFL draft, the Lions drafted Frank Sinkwich from Georgia(24). The Lions finished the 1943 season with a 3 – 6 – 1 record(25). A notable occurrence during the season happened on November 7th when the Lions and the New York Giants played to a scoreless tie. As of 2024, this was the last time an NFL game has ended in a scoreless tie(26). In 1944, Sinkwich won the NFL Most Valuable Player award after leading the Lions from a 1 – 3 – 1 start to a 6 – 3 – 1 finish(27)(28). It was the team’s first winning record since 1939. (27)
Detroit improved on that record in 1945, finishing at 7 – 3. They were second in the Western Division behind the Cleveland Rams(29). The Lions were less successful in the latter half of the decade; in 1946, they only managed one win all year, while in 1947, they won only three games(30)(31). With the sixth overall pick in the 1948 NFL draft, the Lions drafted quarterback Y.A. Tittle. However, he never signed with the team, instead joining the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference. (32)
On January 15th, 1948, the NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Lions from Fred J. Mandel to the Detroit Football Company, a seven-person syndicate led by D. Lyle Fife(33). The Lions only won two games that year, but they kept building up their roster by trading quarterback Johnny Rauch’s draft rights to the New York Bulldogs in exchange for the draft rights to Doak Walker(34)(35). In 1949, the Lions improved to 4 – 8, missing the playoffs for a fourteenth consecutive season(36). During the season, team president D. Lyle Fife left his wife of 33 years for his secretary. The resulting scandal saw Fife resign and Edwin J. Anderson take over as president. (37)
Team of the 1950s (1950 – 1958)
At the start of the 1950s, the Lions had a roster to compete for championships but were still in need of a franchise quarterback. To solve this, they traded fullback Camp Wilson to the New York Yanks in exchange for quarterback Bobby Layne(38). After finishing a disappointing 6 – 6 in 1950, head coach Bo McMillin resigned(39). He was replaced by Buddy Parker, who had previously played for the Lions in the mid-1930s, including being a part of the 1935 championship team(40)(41)(42). The following season saw the Lions improve with a 7 – 4 – 1 record(43). In 1952, the Lions finished with a 9 – 3 record, tied with the Los Angeles Rams for first in the NFL’s National Conference. Thus, for the first time in 17 years, the team returned to the playoffs. (42)
In the National Conference Playoff, the Lions defeated the Rams 31 – 21 in front of nearly 50,000 spectators at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, playing in fog(42). The win sent the Lions back to the NFL Championship Game against the Cleveland Browns, which was the first of four championship games the two teams would play against each other during the decade(44). The Lions defeated the Browns by a score of 17 – 7 to win the second title in franchise history(42). The next year saw the Lions enjoy one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. They would draft future Hall of Fame linebacker Joe Schmidt in the seventh round of the 1953 NFL draft(45). The Lions went 10 – 2, which was good for first place in the renamed Western Conference(46). In addition, the team had seven Pro Bowlers, eight All-Pros, and swept their division rivals Chicago and Green Bay in four consecutive weeks(47)(48)(49) the Lions faced the Browns in the 1953 NFL Championship Game, in which Layne found Jim Doran for a 33 – yard game-winning touchdown in the final minutes to win 17 – 16(50)(51). In 1954, the Lions would finish with a 9 – 2 – 1 record(52). They faced the Browns in the NFL Championship Game for a third consecutive season. This time, however, the Browns destroyed the Lions 56 – 10, ruining their shot at a three-peat. (44)
Despite the Lions’ success early in the decade, the mid-1950s looked like a falling-off point for the team. The Lions won only three games in 1955(53). In the following season, the team finished in second place to the Chicago Bears with a 9 – 3 record(54). During the 1957 preseason, Buddy Parker stunned the football world by announcing his resignation from the organization(55)(56). George Wilson took over as head coach(55)(56). Despite the turmoil, the Lions finished 8 – 4, tied with the San Francisco 49ers for first in the Western Conference(56)(57). As a result, the two teams faced each other in a playoff game in San Francisco(56). During the game, the 49ers took a 24 – 7 lead into halftime behind three touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle. During halftime, the 49ers, who assumed they had the game locked up, celebrated in their locker room. Because the walls in Kezar Stadium were so thin and the locker rooms were right next to each other, the Lions heard it. (56)
In 1958, the Lions traded Bobby Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Earl Morrall and two future draft picks. According to legend, as he was leaving for Pittsburgh, Layne said that the Lions would not win another championship for 50 years. Since this time, the Lions have not won another championship and the franchise’s subsequent years of (mostly) futility have been labeled “The Curse of Bobby Layne.”(58)(59) Without Layne, the Lions finished with a 4 – 7 – 1 record. (60)
Adjusting to life without Bobby Layne and committing to defense (1959 – 1969)
A 3 – 8 – 1 season in 1959 meant the Lions closed out their most successful decade in disappointing fashion(61). Going into the 1960’s, the Lions decided to go with a new rebuild, this time centered around defense. The team started by trading defensive end Gerry Perry to the St. Louis Cardinals for cornerback Dick “Night Train” Lane(62). Joe Schmidt later called it “one of the best trades that will ever be made in any sport”(63). Lane made three Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections as a Lion(63)(64). Detroit also drafted star defensive tackle Roger Brown to pair with Alex Karras, Sam Williams, and Darris McCord, forming one of the most fierce defensive lines in pro football history.(65)
The Lions also still had ‘50’s stars Joe Schmidt and Yale Lary as well as cornerback Dick LeBeau, who the team signed in 1959(45)(66)(67). Despite a 0 – 3 start in 1960, the Lions put together a 7 – 2 record to end the year at 7 – 5 overall(68). The Lions finished second in the Western Conference and earned a trip to the Playoff Bowl against their rivals the Cleveland Browns, who finished second in the Eastern Conference(69)(70). The game was played on January 7th, 1961, at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, and was the fifth (and to date last) playoff game between the teams. The Lions defeated the Browns 17 – 16.(70)
In 1961, a group of stockholders led by former president D. Lyle Fife attempted to remove Edwin J. Anderson as team president. Anderson resigned and one of his supporters, William Clay Ford Sr., was chosen to succeed him. Anderson was allowed to stay on as general manager(71). That year, the Lions improved slightly, finishing 8 – 5 – 1, and returned to the Playoff Bowl where they destroyed the Philadelphia Eagles 38 – 10(70)(72). The peak of the Lions’ early ’60s defense came in 1962 when they put together an 11 – 3 record and became only the third team in NFL history to never trail by more than 7 points in a game(73)(74). While the Lions finished behind the Packers again, they managed to defeat them on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit 26 – 14 in a game that became known as the “Thanksgiving Day Massacre”(75). This was the Packers’ only loss of the season, as they eventually won the 1962 NFL Championship(73)(75). The Lions went to the Playoff Bowl for the third year in a row, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 17 – 10. (70)(76)
Detroit’s luck came to an end in 1963 as the team fell apart, finishing 5 – 8 – 1(77). A betting scandal involving Alex Karras and Packers running back Paul Hornung, which led to both players being suspended for the 1963 season, also played a part in the Lions’ collapse. (78)
On November 22nd, 1963, William Clay Ford Sr. purchased a controlling interest in the team for 6 million dollars (79)(80). The sale was completed on January 10th, 1964(80). During Ford’s ownership tenure, which extended to his death in 2014, the Lions won just a single playoff game. (81)
The team would improve the next year, finishing 7 – 5 – 2. Despite this, they missed the playoffs(82). The Lions began losing its defense when Yale Lary retired following the 1964 season, while both Schmidt and Lane would retire a year later(66)(83)(84). In the mid–1960s, the Lions served as the backdrop for the sports literature of George Plimpton, who spent time in the Lions training camp masquerading as a player(85). This was the basic material for his book Paper Lion, later made into a movie starring Alan Alda plus many actual Lions players, including Alex Karras. (86)(87).
The Lions struggled through the mid to late 1960s but used the time to rebuild their roster eventually drafting Lem Barney to replace Lane, Bob Kowalkowski, and Ed Flanagan to build up the offensive line and running back Mel Farr(88). Despite said players being Pro Bowlers, the Lions still needed a franchise player which they found in the third round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft when they drafted Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders, a 7 – time Pro Bowler who is considered one of the best players to ever play the position.(89)(90)
Decade of mediocrity (1970 – 1981)
With the AFL – NFL merger, the Lions were placed in the new NFC Central division with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings(91). Motown soul singer Marvin Gaye made plans, after the death of partner Tammi Terrell, to join the Lions and go into football. He gained weight and trained for his tryout in 1970, but was cut early on. He remained friends with a number of the players, particularly Mel Farr and Lem Barney, who appear as background vocalists on his 1971 classic single “What’s Going On”(92). Finishing with a 10 – 4 record, they were the first team to qualify for the newly created wild card playoff position(93)(94). However, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 5 – 0 after a long, grinding defensive struggle and did not see the postseason again for the rest of the decade.(94)(95)
Despite the loss, the 1970 Lions remain one of the best teams in franchise history and one of the most underrated teams in NFL history(94). Also in 1970, the Lions we the opponent on the day Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicked what was then the longest field goal in NFL history. Dempsey’s 63–yard effort on the game’s final play lifted the Saints to a 19 – 17 victory over the Lions(94)(96). While playing at home with the Bears on October 24th, 1971, tragedy struck when wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and died of a massive heart attack. He remains the only NFL player to ever die on the field(97)(98). To honor his memory, the team wore black armbands for the rest of the season and retired his #85,(99) although the number eventually returned to circulation. (100)
In 1972, the Lions improved to 8 – 5 – 1(101). In the following season, they regressed to 6 – 7 – 1(102). Heart disease claimed another member of the franchise when head coach Don McCafferty died shortly before training camp in 1974(102). That season saw the Lions finish at 7 – 7(103). On Thanksgiving Day, November 28th, 1974, after over 35 years, the Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium, where they lost to the Denver Broncos 31 – 27 in front of 51,157 spectators, amidst snow flurries and a 21–point Broncos third quarter(104). The Lions moved to a newly constructed, domed stadium in suburban Pontiac(105). Another 7 – 7 record was produced in 1975, the Lions’ first year indoors(106). This was followed by a 6 – 8 showing in 1976(107). The team finished with an identical 6 – 8 record in 1977, struggling the whole season with an anemic offense that only put up 183 points(108). More mediocrity followed in 1978 with seven wins in the newly expanded 16–game season(109)(110). The bottom fell out in 1979 with a 2 – 14 record. (111)
This gave the Lions the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft, which they used to draft Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims from Oklahoma(112). Detroit also drafted quarterback Eric Hipple in the fourth round of the draft, who became the Lions starting quarterback for most of the decade(113). Detroit improved immediately in 1980, jumping out to a 4 – 0 start, before finishing with a 9 – 7 record, tied for first place in the Central Division with the Vikings, but failing to qualify for the playoffs due to Minnesota winning more games within the conference(114). The next year, the Lions had a chance to win the division on the final week of the season by defeating the Buccaneers at home; however, they would lose that game, once again failing to qualify for the playoffs, as they finished 8 – 8. (115)(116)
NFC Central Division champions and Billy Sims retires (1982 – 1988)
The Lions entered 1982 with hope for a possible playoff run. However, after a 2 – 0 start, a player's strike canceled seven games, cutting the season to nine games(117)(118)(119). After the strike ended, the Lions finished 2 – 5(117). Despite this, a 4 – 5 record was good enough to qualify for the playoffs(120). They became the second team to qualify for the playoffs with a losing record(120). In the Wild Card Round, the Lions were routed 31 – 7 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins(120)(121). In the following season, the Lions won 9 games to capture the NFL Central division championship. (122)
On December 31st, 1983, the Lions faced the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. After the 49ers took a 14 – 3 lead in the first quarter, the Lions were able to trim the deficit to 14 – 9 by halftime on a couple of field goals by kicker Eddie Murray, who made a then–postseason–record 54–yard kick in the closing seconds of the first half. Thanks to two touchdown runs by Billy Sims, the Lions led for the first time by the score of 23 – 17 with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter. Joe Montana then made one of his signature fourth-quarter drives by completing six passes, the last of which was the go-ahead touchdown to Freddie Solomon, which gave the 49ers a 24 – 23 lead with 1:23 left. The Lions were not done. Even though backup quarterback Gary Danielson, who had replaced an injured Eric Hipple, threw five interceptions, he pieced together a closing drive to put the team within field goal range with 11 seconds left. Murray, who had previously made three of four field goals, missed for the second time from 43 yards on a kick that went wide right, which secured the victory for the 49ers.(123)
On October 21st, 1984, during a game against the Minnesota Vikings, Billy Sims suffered a career-ending knee injury. He spent two years trying to rehab his injury before retiring in 1986(124). Sims’ injury would set the tone for the rest of the season as the Lions finished with a 4 – 11 – 1 record(125). Monte Clark was fired after the season(126). The Lions brought in Darryl Rogers, considered to be an offensive guru who previously coached at the college level(126). However, his tenure was marked with much disappointment. From 1985 to mid-season in 1988, he had acquired a record of 18 – 40 and was 2 – 9 in 1988 before he was fired(127)(128). He was replaced by interim head coach Wayne Fontes, who by the end of his coaching career, was considered to be one of the best coaches in franchise history and had the distinction of having the most wins and losses of any head coach in franchise history.(128)(129)
Barry Sanders era (1989 – 1998)
With the third overall draft pick in the 1989 NFL draft, the Lions selected another Heisman Trophy-winning running back, Barry Sanders from Oklahoma State(130). He played on offense with another rookie at quarterback, Rodney Peete(131). While the Lions showed improvement, they still finished a distant third in the NFC Central with a 7 – 9 record(132). During his rookie season, Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards on 280 carries and finished second in rushing just 10 yards behind the leader, Christian Okoye. He had an opportunity to win the rushing title by going back in back in the final game of the season(133)(134)(135). However, with the Lions leading by the score of 31 – 24 with less than a minute to go, he took a pass, which became a trademark of his career(135). Sanders earned the Offensive Rookie of the Year award the following season. (136)
With such a young core, which included eventual Pro Bowlers Jerry Ball, Bennie Blades, and Chris Spielman, things were once again looking up for the Lions(137)(138). However, they took a step back when they finished 6 – 10 in the 1990 season(139). Sanders won the first of his four NFL rushing titles that season with 1,304 yards, beating out Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas by seven yards(140). In 1991, the Lions started the season by being shut out on national television, 45 – 0, by the Washington Redskins(141)(142). They went 12 – 4 for the season, and won their first division title in eight years, capping the regular season with a win over the defending AFC Champion Bills(142). They were inspired late in the season by the loss of guard Mike Utley, who sustained a career-ending paralysis injury against the Los Angeles Rams on November 17th, 1991. As Utley was carted off the field, he flashed a thumbs-up to his teammates and the Silverdome crowd. It became a rallying symbol for the remainder of the season.(142)(143)
In the Divisional Round, the Lions played their first home playoff game since the 1957 championship season. They dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 38 – 6 for the franchise’s first playoff win since 1957(142)(144). However, in the NFC Championship Game, they were once again completely overpowered by the Redskins, this time by the score of 41 – 10. (142)
In the following season, the Lions were unable to sustain their success, as they finished in last place in the NFC Central with a disappointing 5 – 11 record(145). They rebounded in 1993 to secure the division title with a 10 – 6 record(146). In the Wild Card round, the Lions suffered a heartbreaking 28 – 24 loss to the Green Bay Packers(147). In 1994, the Lions went 9 – 7, clinching a playoff berth for the third time in four years(148)(149). However, they once again suffered another heartbreaking loss to the Packers in the Wild Card round, this time by the score of 16 – 12(149). In 1995, the Lions started the season 0 – 3. However, they recovered to finish the season 10 – 6(150). They actually had the opportunity to win the division title if the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Packers in the final game of the season. It was not meant to be as the Packers won 24 – 19. As a result, the Lions went on the road to face the Philadelphia Eagles(150)(151). In the Wild Card round, the Eagles embarrassed the Lions 58 – 37(150)(152). In the following season, the Lions regressed with a 5 – 11 record to finish last in the division(153). After the season, Wayne Fontes was fired as head coach(154). He was succeeded by Bobby Ross. (155)
The 1997 season saw the Lions go 9 – 7 to clinch a playoff berth(156). During the season, Sanders ran for 2,053 rushing yards, becoming the third running back to join the 2,000-yard club(157). In the Wild Card round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Lions 20 – 10(158). In 1998, the Lions finished fourth in the NFC Central with a disappointing 5 – 11 record(159). Following the season, Sanders announced his retirement. (160)
Post–Barry Sanders retirement and the Matt Millen era (1999 – 2008)
After Barry Sanders retired, the 1999 season shockingly saw the Lions make the playoffs with an 8 – 8 record, before being dispatched by the Washington Redskins 27 – 13 in the Wild Card round(161). Nine games into the 2000 season, Bobby Ross resigned as head coach following an embarrassing loss to the Miami Dolphins. He was replaced by assistant head coach Gary Moeller(162). The Lions had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth in the final game of the season if they defeated the Chicago Bears. However, Paul Edinger kicked a 54–yard field goal with two seconds left to give the Bears a stunning 23 – 20 win. As a result, the Lions missed the playoffs, finishing at 9 – 7. (163)
Following the season, the Lions hired Matt Millen, a former player and broadcaster, as team president and CEO(164). With his first act as team president, Millen fired Gary Moeller as head coach, replacing him with Marty Mornhinweg(165). The Lions fell apart in 2001, leading many to believe that they might become the first team to go 0 – 16 in a season(166)(167)(168). After starting 0 – 12, the Lions finally managed to win a game on December 16th, by defeating their rivals, the Minnesota Vikings(169)(170). After two more losses, the Lions played their final game on January 6th, 2002. In what was to be the final game played at the Pontiac Silverdome, the 1 – 14 Lins hosted the 5 – 10 Dallas Cowboys. Despite there not being much hype or any playoff implications to the game, 77,512 fans came out to watch the Lions defeat the Cowboys 15 – 10. (171)(172)
During the offseason, the NFL realigned to eight divisions of four teams thanks to the addition of the expansion Houston Texans. As such, the NFC Central became the NFC North(173). In the 2002 NFL draft, the Lions selected Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington with the third pick(174). 2002 served as the inaugural season where the Lions played at the new Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. This also was the first time the franchise had played in the city since 1974(175). Despite this, the Lions had little success as they went 3 – 13. Following the season, Marty Mornhinweg was fired and Steve Mariucci was hired as the new head coach.(176)(177)
With the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, the Lions selected local favorite Charles Rodgers(178). The team finished 2003 with a 5 – 11 record(179). Rogers got off to a hot start but was injured in the middle of the season, and because of this, the Lions drafted wide receiver Roy Williams seventh overall in the 2004 NFL draft(180)(181).
The Lions went the entire 2001, 2002, and 2003 seasons without a road victory. This streak, encompassing of a then NFL record 24 games, came to an end on September 12th, 2004, when they defeated the Bears 20 – 16 at Soldier Field in Chicago(182)(183). The Lions finished the 2004 season with a 6 – 10 record(184). Before the start of the 2005 season, Millen received a five–year contract extension(185). On November 28th, Steve Mariucci was fired as head coach, while defensive coordinator Dick Jauron was promoted as interim coach(186). Ultimately, the Lions went 5 – 11. (187)
On January 19th, 2006, the Lions hired Rod Marinelli to be the new head coach(188). Before the start of the 2006 season, the Lions traded Joey Harrington to the Miami Dolphins(189). Several months later, they released Charles Rogers(190). Despite the changes, the team finished 3 – 13(191). with the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft, the Lions selected Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson(192). The Lions began the 2007 season with a promising 6 – 2 record. The optimism was short-lived, however, as the team recorded only a single victory in the next eight games, for the final record of 7 – 9.(193).
Part 2 of this article will be posted on April 4, 2025
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