DETROIT LIONS HISTORY

1920s

In the 1920s, the city of Detroit made three failed efforts to establish a professional football team. The Detroit Heralds team became an original member of the American Professional Football Association, later to be known as the National Football League, in 1920 but lasted only two seasons. The Detroit Panthers, not to be confused with the Michigan Panthers of the defunct USFL, similarly lasted two seasons after being established in 1925. Even worse, the Detroit Wolverines lasted but a single year in 1928.

1930s

Team Record: 81-39-9

Championships: 1935 (26-7 vs. New York Giants)

On July 12, 1930, the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans, the predecessor to the current Detroit Lions, were granted a franchise by the now named NFL. In 1932, the Spartans played in the championship game against the Chicago Bears. The game was held indoors in Chicago and pushed the league to change its structure by dividing into two divisions and holding an annual NFL championship game. Significant rule changes also resulted that would impact the game for years to come.

On June 30, 1934, the team was purchased by a group lead by Detroit radio executive George Richards and moved to Detroit. After spending a then staggering $7,952 on the team, Detroit finally had its Lions, and football was here to stay in the Motor City. The Lions established their tradition of the annual Thanksgiving Day game in their inaugural season, a tradition that continues to this day. The only seasons the Lions did not play on Thanksgiving were during the war-torn era of 1939-1944.

One year after moving to Detroit, the talented team won its first championship in franchise history under Coach George Clark, who lead the team to a 24-9-2 record. The team players featured charter Hall of Fame member "Dutch Clark", the last NFL dropkicker and triple-threat superstar who lead the team in passing, rushing and scoring in their first season. Other stars on the team included Glenn Presnell, Ernie Caddel, "Ox" Emerson and "Ace" Gutowsky.

1940s

Team Record: 35-71-4

Fred Mandel of Chicago purchased the Lions in 1940. In 1948, he sold the club to Edwin Anderson and a group of Detroit businessmen who would own the club for the next 16 years. George Clark returned as coach in 1940 but lasted only one season after posting a 5-5-1 record. Three other coaches were brought in during the era, but failed to amass a winning record during their tenures.

In 1942, the club suffered its only non-win season going 0-11 while scoring a mere 38 points during the entire year. Star players of the time included "Camp" Wilson, John Green and Hall of Famers Alex Wojciechowicz and Bill Dudley. Another star of the team and future United States Supreme Court Justice Byron White lead the league in rushing in 1940 and also lead the team in passing and scoring.

1950s

Team Record: 68-42-4

Championships: 1952 (17-7 vs. Cleveland Browns), 1953 (17-16 vs. Cleveland Browns), 1957 (59-14 vs. Cleveland Browns)

The Lions franchise enjoyed its greatest success in the 1950s by winning three of the teams four league championships and being one of the most dominant teams of the decade. Head Coach Buddy Parker led the team to titles in 1952 and 1953 over the Cleveland Browns before losing to the Browns the following year in the title game. In 1957, new Head Coach George Wilson lead the Lions to their last title once again over the rival and favored Browns at Briggs Stadium by 45 points.

Five Hall of Famers lead the team: quarterback Bobby Lane, running back Doak Walker, full back John Henry Johnson, tackle/guard Lou Creekmur and safety Jack Christiansen. Other stars of the team included Joe Schmidt, Leon Hart, Les Bingaman and Cloyce Box.

The 1950s will always be remembered for being the first, and to this day, last dynasty era in franchise history. The club along with their bitter rival Cleveland Browns (1950, 1954, 1955) and Baltimore Colts (1958, 1959) dominated the league winning eight of the ten championships.

1960s

Team Record: 66-61-11

In 1964, William Clay Ford of the Ford Motor Company purchased the Lions for $4,500,000. Stars of the Lions teams in the 1960's included tight end Jim Gibbons, defensive tackle and future actor Alex Karras, and Hall of Fame cornerback Dick "Night Train" Lane.

The decade will perhaps be best remembered by the book Paper Lion by George Plimpton. The book was based on a true story in which Plimpton wants to write a story for Sports Illustrated on what it's like to be a quarterback for an NFL team. After several teams turn him down, the Detroit Lions allow him to go to training camp as a 36-year-old rookie where he attempts to keep his identity secret from the rest of the team. This work remains one of the most comical and insightful books ever written about the game of football. In 1968, Paper Lion was made into a movie staring Alan Alda as George Plimpton and including many real players from the team.

1970s

Team Record: 66-75-3

In 1970, the Lions received a wildcard birth after winning their final five games to finish 10-4. Quarterback Greg Landry, running back Mel Farr and tight end Charlie Sanders led Head Coach Joe Schmidt's offense. It was the defense, however, that kept them in the game during their 5-0 loss to the Dallas Cowboys through the efforts of lineman Alex Karras, and defensive backs Dick LeBeau and Hall of Famer Lem Barney.

In 1975, the team moved to the Pontiac Silverdome, the largest air-supported dome structure in the world, located in a suburb of Detroit about 30 minutes north of the city. The Lions would call this stadium, with the highest capacity in the NFL, their home for the next 37 years.

1980s

Team Record: 61-90-1

In 1980, the Lions managed their first winning season in eight years powered by the legs of former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draft pick Billy Sims out of Oklahoma. Sims won the NFL Rookie of the Year award for his efforts. Fans in Detroit became excited about their football team again as the Silverdome rocked to the sounds of "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. Head Coach Monte Clark lead the team to the playoffs in 1982 and the team won its first NFC Central Division title the following year. The defense was lead by defensive line stars Doug English and Al "Bubba" Baker.

While Billy Sims exciting career was cut short by knee injuries, another Heisman Trophy winning running back from the state of Oklahoma would soon emerge as the franchise's biggest star. In 1989, the Lions selected Barry Sanders out of Oklahoma State with the third overall pick. Barry would go on to be the face of the Lions for the next 10 years.

1990s

Team Record: 79-81-0

In 1991, Wayne Fontes guided the Lions to their second NFC Central Division crown. The team was inspired by Mike Utley, an offensive lineman who gave the "thumbs up" sign after suffering a severe neck injury during a game. The Lions faced the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs and won their first playoff game since their last championship in 1957. The team failed in their attempt to reach the Super Bowl by losing to the Washington Redskins in the NFC Championship game.

Fontes became Detroit's winningest coach and lead the team to the playoffs three more times in 1993, 1994 and 1995, but lost in the first round each time. Barry Sanders went on become the first player in NFL history to reach the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first 10 seasons and lead the NFC in rushing in 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996 and 1997. In 1997, Sanders became only the third back in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard mark finishing with 1,053 yards. Other stars during the decade included offensive tackle Lomas Brown and wide receivers Herman Moore, Brett Perriman, and Johnny Morton.

2000s

Team Record: 19-45-0 (through 2003)

Head Coach Bobby Ross, formerly of the San Diego Chargers, retired from the team during the 2000 season. In 2001, newly-appointed General Manager Matt Millen hired Marty Mornhinweg who lasted only two seasons posting a dreadful 5-27 record. The Lions moved back to the city in 2002 into their current home Ford Field.

In 2003, Millen hired former San Francisco Head Coach and Michigan native Steve Mariucci as the 22nd coach in franchise history. Mariucci's West Coast offense is now lead by first round picks: quarterback Joey Harrington (2002), running back Kevin Jones (2004), and wide receivers Charles Rogers (2003) and Roy Williams (2004). Long time suffering Lions fans hope the new coach and young stars can help "restore the roar" in Motown and lead the Lions to their first championship in nearly a half a century.