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 in1932. 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]
Following the 1933 season, the team relocated to Detroit, where they were renamed the Lions
In 1934,George A. Richards, a radio executive who ownedWJR, a radio affiliate of the NBCBlue Network (the forerunner to today'sABC), 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'sDetroit Tigers.[4]
In theirinaugural season 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 theGreen Bay Packers andChicago Bears and finished in second place behind the Bears in the Western Division, once again coming up short to their rivals.[1][2][3][5] That same year, Richards negotiatedan 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 with the exception of the years duringWorld War II.[7][8] In1935,Dutch Clark led the NFL with 55 points, whileErnie 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 the1935 NFL Championship Game against theNew York Giants.[9][10] The game was played on December 15, 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 1935–36 sports season, during which theDetroit Tigers won the1935 World Series and theDetroit Red Wings captured the1936 Stanley Cup.[10][11]
After the season ended, the Lions played a team of NFL All-Stars in an exhibition game on January 1, 1936, winning 33–0.[12][13] They played four additional exhibition games: a 67–14 win over the Westwood Cubs on January 13, a 42–7 win over the Los Angeles All-Stars on January 20, a 10–3 victory over the Green Bay Packers on January 26, and a 30–6 victory over the Hawaii All-Stars on February 9.[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 thePackers in1938, both Dutch Clark and Ernie Caddel decided to retire.[16][17][18]
In1939, 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 inBeverly Hills and in poor health, sold the team toFred L. Mandel Jr., a 31-year-old member of the family that owned the Mandel Brothers Department Store ofChicago.[21]
The 1940s saw the Lions win only 35 games.[20] The low point was when they went 0–11 in1942, 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 the1943 NFL draft, the Lions draftedFrank Sinkwich fromGeorgia.[24] The Lions finishedthe 1943 season with a 3–6–1 record.[25] A notable occurrence during the season happened on November 7 when the Lions and theNew York Giants played to a scoreless tie. As of 2024[update], this was the last time an NFL game has ended in a scoreless tie.[26] In1944, Sinkwich won theNFL 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 in1945, finishing 7–3. They were second in the Western Division behind theCleveland Rams.[29] The Lions were less successful in the latter half of the decade; in1946, they only managed one win all year, while in1947, they won only three games.[30][31] With the sixth overall pick in the1948 NFL draft, the Lions drafted quarterbackY. A. Tittle. However, he never signed with the team, instead joining theBaltimore Colts of theAll-America Football Conference.[32]
On January 15, 1948, the NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Lions from Fred J. Mandel to theDetroit Football Company, a seven-person syndicate led by D. Lyle Fife.[33] The Lions won only two gamesthat year, but they kept building up their roster by trading quarterbackJohnny Rauch's draft rights to the New York Bulldogs in exchange for the draft rights toDoak Walker.[34][35] In1949, 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 andEdwin J. Anderson take over as president.[37]
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 fullbackCamp Wilson to theNew York Yanks in exchange for quarterbackBobby Layne.[38] After finishing a disappointing 6–6 in1950, head coachBo McMillin resigned.[39] He was replaced byBuddy 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] In1952, the Lions finished with a 9–3 record, tied with theLos 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 atBriggs Stadium in Detroit, playing in fog.[42] The win sent the Lions back to theNFL Championship Game against theCleveland 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 linebackerJoe Schmidt in the seventh round of the1953 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 theBrowns in the1953 NFL Championship Game, in which Layne foundJim 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 theBrowns in theNFL 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 in1955.[53] In the following season, the team finished in second place to theChicago Bears with a 9–3 record.[54] During the1957 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 theSan Francisco 49ers for first in the Western Conference.[56][57] As a result, the two teams faced each other in a playoff game inSan 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 inKezar Stadium were so thin and the locker rooms were right next to each other, the Lions heard it.[56]
Primary Logo, 1952–1960.
George Wilson stood up and said, "I was going to say something, but that's what they think of you".[56] On the first play of the second half, 49ers running backHugh McElhenny broke off a 71-yard run to the Detroit 9 yard line, but the Lions held the 49ers to a field goal, which was San Francisco's last points of the day. Bobby Layne had been lost to injury three weeks prior, but Lions backup quarterbackTobin Rote led the team to 24 unanswered points and a 31–27 come from behind win.[56] The next week, in theNFL Championship Game, Rote threw for four touchdowns and ran in another as the Lions routed theBrowns 59–14, claiming their third championship in six years. To date, this is the last championship they have won.[56]
In1958, the Lions traded Bobby Layne to thePittsburgh Steelers in exchange forEarl Morrall and two future draft picks. According to legend, as he was leaving forPittsburgh, 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 has 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 in1959 meant the Lions closed out their most successful decade in disappointing fashion.[61] Going into the 1960s, the Lions decided to go with a new rebuild, this time centered around defense. The team started by trading defensive endGerry Perry to theSt. Louis Cardinals for cornerbackDick "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 tackleRoger Brown to pair withAlex Karras,Sam Williams andDarris McCord, forming one of the most fierce defensive lines in pro football history.[65]
The Lions also still had '50s stars Joe Schmidt andYale Lary as well as cornerbackDick LeBeau, who the team signed in 1959.[45][66][67] Despite a 0–3 start in1960, 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 thePlayoff Bowl against their rivals theCleveland Browns, who finished second in the Eastern Conference.[69][70] The game was played on January 7, 1961, at theMiami Orange Bowl inMiami, 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 thePhiladelphia Eagles 38–10.[70][72] The peak of the Lions' early '60s defense came in1962 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 thePackers 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 the1962 NFL Championship.[73][75] The Lions went to the Playoff Bowl for the third year in a row, defeating thePittsburgh Steelers 17–10.[70][76]
Detroit's luck came to an end in1963 as the team fell apart, finishing 5–8–1.[77] A betting scandal involving Alex Karras and Packers running backPaul Hornung, which led to both players being suspended for the 1963 season, also played a part in the Lions' collapse.[78]
On November 22, 1963, William Clay Ford Sr. purchased a controlling interest in the team for $6 million.[79][80] The sale was completed on January 10, 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 improvethe 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 ofGeorge Plimpton, who spent time in the Lions training camp masquerading as a player.[85] This was the basic material for his bookPaper Lion, later made intoa movie starringAlan Alda plus a number of actual Lions players, including Alex Karras.[86][87]
The Lions struggled through the mid to late '60s, but used the time to rebuild their roster eventually draftingLem Barney to replace Lane,Bob Kowalkowski andEd Flanagan to build up the offensive line and running backMel Farr.[88] Despite said players being Pro Bowlers, the Lions still needed a franchise player which they found in the 3rd round of the1968 NFL/AFL Draft when they drafted Hall of Fame tight endCharlie Sanders, a 7-time Pro Bowler who is considered one of the best players to ever play the position.[89][90]
With theAFL–NFL merger, the Lions were placed in the new NFC Central division with theChicago Bears,Green Bay Packers, andMinnesota Vikings.[91]Motownsoul singerMarvin Gaye made plans, after the death of duet partnerTammi 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 NFL's newly created wild card playoff position.[93][94] However, they lost to theDallas 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, the1970 Lions remains one of the best teams in franchise history and one of the most underrated teams in NFL history.[94] Also in 1970, the Lions were the opponent on the dayTom Dempsey of theNew 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 against theBears on October 24, 1971, tragedy struck when wide receiverChuck 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]
In1972, 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 coachDon McCafferty died shortly before training camp in 1974.[102]That season saw the Lions finish at 7–7.[103] On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974, after over 35 years, the Lions played their final game atTiger Stadium, where they lost to theDenver Broncos 31–27 in front of 51,157, amidst snow flurries and a 21–point Broncos third quarter.[104] The Lions moved toa newly constructed, domed stadium in suburbanPontiac.[105] Another 7–7 record was produced in1975, the Lions' first year indoors.[106] This was followed by a 6–8 showing in1976.[107] The team finished with an identical 6–8 record in1977, struggling the whole season with an anemic offense that only put up 183 points.[108] More mediocrity followed in1978 with seven wins in the newly expanded 16-game season.[109][110] The bottom fell out in1979 with a 2–14 record.[111]
This gave the Lions the first overall pick in1980 NFL draft, which they used to draftHeisman Trophy winnerBilly Sims fromOklahoma.[112] Detroit also drafted quarterbackEric Hipple in the fourth round of the draft, who became the Lions starting quarterback for most of the decade.[113] Detroit improved immediately in1980, 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 entered1982 with hope for a possible playoff run. However, after a 2–0 start, aplayer's strike cancelled 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 eventualSuper Bowl championWashington Redskins.[120][121]In the following season, the Lions won 9 games in to capture the NFL Central division championship.[122]
On December 31, 1983, the Lions faced theSan Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. After the 49ers took a 14–3 in the first quarter, the Lions were able to trim the deficit to 14–9 by halftime on couple of field goals by kickerEddie 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 toFreddie Solomon, which gave the 49ers a 24–23 lead with 1:23 left. The Lions were not done. Even though backup quarterbackGary 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 21, 1984, during a game against theMinnesota 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 inDarryl 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 the record of 18–40 and was 2–9 in 1988 before he was fired.[127][128] He was replaced by interim head coachWayne 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]
With the third overall draft pick in the1989 NFL draft, the Lions selected another Heisman Trophy-winning running back,Barry Sanders fromOklahoma 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 late 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 following the season.[136]
With such a young core, which included eventual Pro BowlersJerry Ball,Bennie Blades andChris Spielman, things were once again looking up for the Lions.[137][138] However, they took a step back when they finished 6–10 inthe 1990 season.[139] Sanders won the first of his four NFL rushing titles that season with 1,304 yards, beating outBuffalo Bills running backThurman Thomas by seven yards.[140] In1991, the Lions started the season by being shut out onnational television, 45–0, by theWashington Redskins.[141][142] However, they rebounded, winning their next five games.[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 ChampionBills.[142] They were inspired late in the season by the loss of guardMike Utley, who sustained a career ending paralysis injury against theLos Angeles Rams on November 17, 1991. As Utley was carted off the field, he flashed a thumbs up to his teammates and theSilverdome 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 theDallas 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 in1993 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 theGreen Bay Packers.[147] In1994, 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 thePackers in Wild Card Round, this time by the score of 16–12.[149] In1995, the Lions started the season 0–3. However, they recovered to finish 10–6.[150] They actually had an opportunity to win the division title if thePittsburgh Steelers defeated thePackers 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 thePhiladelphia Eagles.[150][151] In the Wild Card Round, the Eagles embarrassed the Lions by the score of 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 byBobby 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 the2,000-yard club.[157] In the Wild Card Round, theTampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Lions 20–10.[158] In1998, 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 theWashington Redskins 27–13 in the Wild Card Round.[161] Nine games intothe 2000 season, Bobby Ross resigned as head coach following an embarrassing loss to theMiami Dolphins. He was replaced by assistant head coachGary Moeller.[162] The Lions had an opportunity to clinch a playoff berth in the final game of the season if they defeated theChicago 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 hiredMatt 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 withMarty Mornhinweg.[165] The Lions fell apart in2001, 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 16 by defeating their rivals, theMinnesota Vikings.[169][170] After two more losses, the Lions played their final game of the season on January 6, 2002. In what was to be the final game played at the Pontiac Silverdome, the 1–14 Lions hosted the 5–10Dallas 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 expansionHouston Texans. As such, the NFC Central became theNFC North.[173] In the2002 NFL draft, the Lions selectedOregon quarterbackJoey Harrington with the third overall pick.[174]2002 served as the inaugural season where the Lions played at the newFord Field inDowntown 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 andSteve Mariucci was hired as the new head coach.[176][177]
With the second overall pick in the2003 NFL draft, the Lions selected local favoriteCharles Rogers.[178] The team finished2003 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 receiverRoy Williams seventh overall in the2004 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 12, 2004, when they defeated theBears 20–16 atSoldier Field inChicago.[182][183] The Lions finishedthe 2004 season with a 6–10 record.[184] Prior to the start ofthe 2005 season, Millen received a five-year contract extension.[185] On November 28, Steve Mariucci was fired as head coach, while defensive coordinatorDick Jauron was promoted as interim coach.[186] Ultimately, the Lions went 5–11.[187]
On January 19, 2006, the Lions hiredRod Marinelli to be the new head coach.[188] Prior to the start of the 2006 season, the Lions traded Joey Harrington to theMiami 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 the2007 NFL draft, the Lions selectedGeorgia Tech wide receiverCalvin Johnson.[192] The Lions beganthe 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 a final record of 7–9.[193]
Hoping to rebound from the disappointing finish to the 2007 season, things appeared to be looking up for the Lions heading into the 2008 season as they went 4–0 during the preseason.[194] Once the regular season started, however, they would hit rock bottom. After starting 0–3, Matt Millen was fired as team president and CEO.[195] Over seven seasons under his leadership as team president, the Lions owned the NFL's worst winning percentage (31–84, .270), never had a winning season, never finished higher than third place in the NFC North, and did not play in any postseason games.[195][196]Tom Lewand was appointed team president, while assistant general managerMartin Mayhew was promoted to general manager.[195]
The Lions never recovered as they finished 0–16, becoming the first team in NFL history to go winless in a 16-game season.[197] This was later matched by the2017 Cleveland Browns.[198] The Lions were the first team to go winless since the1982 Baltimore Colts went 0–8–1 in the strike-shortened season and the first in a non-strike season since the1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[199] The Lions' 16 straight losses in 2008 also broke the record for most consecutive losses in a single season, previously held by the2001 Carolina Panthers, who lost 15 straight games after winning their opener.[197][200] Following the season, Rod Marinelli was fired as head coach.[201]
Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson era (2009–2015)
On January 15, 2009, the Lions hiredJim Schwartz as head coach.[202] Schwartz spent ten seasons with theTennessee Titans, eight of them as defensive coordinator.[203] The Lions also hired a new defensive coordinator (Gunther Cunningham) and a new offensive coordinator (Scott Linehan).[204][205] In April, they adopted a new logo, which was a more fierce version of their previous logo.[206][207]
The Lions selected Georgia quarterbackMatthew Stafford with the first overall pick in the2009 NFL draft. They agreed on a six-year, $72 million contract, with $41.7 million in guaranteed money.[208]
In the first two games of 2009, the Lions lost to theNew Orleans Saints andMinnesota Vikings.[209][210] On September 27, 2009, the team broke their 19-game losing streak with a 19–14 win at Ford Field against theWashington Redskins.[211][212] Losses resumed after that, which included handing the winlessSt. Louis Rams their only victory of the season.[213][214] The Lions' only other win of the season was against theCleveland Browns, a surprise 38–37 thriller that saw Matthew Stafford throw the game winning touchdown pass as time expired.[215] The Lions then hosted theGreen Bay Packers on their annual Thanksgiving game and lost 34–12.[216] The Lions ultimately finished the season at 2–14.[217]
In the2010 NFL draft, the Lions used the second overall pick to selectNebraska defensive tackleNdamukong Suh.[218] The Lions began their 2010 season in Chicago. Despite having the lead for most of the game, the Lions suffered a heartbreaking 19–14 loss to theChicago Bears when an apparent go-ahead touchdown catch by Calvin Johnson was ruled incomplete in an extremely controversial decision.[219] Week 2 saw the Lions lose in a close game to thePhiladelphia Eagles.[220] After this, they headed to Minnesota to take on the strugglingMinnesota Vikings. However, they were once again denied a victory, as they lost 24–10.[221]
Following this, the Lions came close to securing their first win inWisconsin since 1991, but ultimately lost 28–26.[222] The Lions finally gained their first victory of the season when theSt. Louis Rams returned to Ford Field in Week 5 and lost 44–6.[223] Following a loss to theNew York Giants, the Lions defeated theWashington Redskins for their second straight victory over that team.[224][225] Then came five losses in a row, including a Thanksgiving Day match with theNew England Patriots where the Lions blew an early lead to lose 45–24.[226]
However, Week 14 brought a considerable turn of events when the Packers arrived in Detroit andAaron Rodgers was taken out with a concussion in the second quarter.Matt Flynn failed to score any touchdowns, and the Lions won their first divisional game since 2007.[227] After this, the team suddenly entered a late season hot streak. They ended an NFL record 26-game road losing streak by beating theTampa Bay Buccaneers 23–20 in overtime.[228] Another road victory followed when the Lions knocked off theMiami Dolphins in Week 16.[229] They returned home to beat the Vikings 20–13 to end the 2010 season 6–10.[230]
In the2011 NFL draft, the Lions bolstered their defense when they selectedAuburn defensive tackleNick Fairley.[231] The Lions opened the 2011 season with a 27–20 road win against theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[232] In Week 2, the Lions played their first home game against theKansas City Chiefs. They torched the Chiefs 48–3 to set a franchise record for both the largest margin of victory and the most points scored in a regular season game.[233] The team continued to improve in Week 3 as they climbed back from a 20-point deficit to win 26–23 in overtime to beat theMinnesota Vikings in Minnesota for the first time since 1997. This game marked the Lions' first 3–0 start since 1980.[234] The next week, they defeated theDallas Cowboys in a come from behind 34–30 win, moving to 4–0.[235]
In Week 5, the Lions hosted theChicago Bears in their first appearance onMonday Night Football since 2001.[236] In front of a record setting crowd at Ford Field, the Lions defeated the Bears 24–13 to begin the season 5–0 for the first time since 1956.[237]
The Lions took their first loss after being beaten by theSan Francisco 49ers 25–19, but the game was more notable for Jim Schwartz getting into an altercation with 49ers coachJim Harbaugh afterwards.[238] The NFL decided not to punish either coach for the scuffle after deliberating on the matter.[239] A second straight home loss followed as the Lions fell to theAtlanta Falcons 23–16.[240] The following week, the Lions defeated theDenver Broncos on the road 45–10. The game included a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown byChris Houston.[241] In Week 10, the Lions failed to carry out a season sweep of the Bears as they lost 37–13.[242]
On Thanksgiving, the Lions hosted the defendingSuper Bowl championGreen Bay Packers. The Packers won 27–15.[243] Ndamukong Suh was ejected from the game after stomping on the arm of Packers offensive linemanEvan Dietrich-Smith, which enhanced his reputation as a dirty player.[244] This earned him a two-game suspension as the Lions headed toNew Orleans to take on theNew Orleans Saints in Week 13.[245] The game against the Saints was flexed intoSunday Night Football.[246] The Saints defeated the Lions 31–17.[247] Heading back home, the Lions edged past the struggling Vikings 34–28.[248] The next week, the Lions went toOakland to take on theOakland Raiders. At the end of a close game, Matthew Stafford drove the team downfield and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson. After the Raiders got the ball back, they attempted to kick a game-winning field goal, but Suh blocked the attempt to secure a 28–27 win for the Lions.[249] In Week 16, the Lions defeated theSan Diego Chargers at home 38–10. With the win, the Lions clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1999.[250] With only seeding still in question, they went toGreen Bay to take on the Packers. Matt Flynn threw six touchdown passes, which was good enough to help the Packers defeat the Lions 45–41. As such, the Lions were relegated to facing the Saints on the road as the #6 seed with a 10–6 record.[251] In the Wild Card Round, the Saints defeated the Lions 45–28.[252]
The 2012 season saw the Lions try to improve over their impressive 2011 season. They started 4–4, then lost their last eight games to finish 4–12.[253] Following the season, long time kickerJason Hanson retired.[254]
The 2013 season saw the team improve. By Week 10, following their first season series sweep of theChicago Bears since 2007, the team was in first place in the NFC North.[255] However, the Lions went on to lose their next two games. In Week 13, the team won their first Thanksgiving game since 2003 in a 40–10 whipping of theGreen Bay Packers.[256] The Lions then lost the final four games of the season to finish 7–9.[257][258] This resulted in the firing of head coach Jim Schwartz on December 30.[259]
On January 14, 2014, the Lions hiredJim Caldwell as their new head coach. He is the firstAfrican American head coach in the franchise's history.[260]
On March 9, 2014, long time owner William Clay Ford Sr. died at the age of 88.[261] On March 10, it was announced that controlling interest of the franchise would be passed down to Ford's widow,Martha.[262]
Duringthe 2014 season, the influence of Jim Caldwell improved the Lions drastically from the previous two seasons. Touting the league's second-best defense, the Lions posted an 11–5 record and qualified for the playoffs.[263][264] However, the Lions suffered a controversial 24–20 loss to theDallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round.[265][266]
On November 5, 2015, the Lions fired general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand, following a 1–7 start tothe season. During Mayhew's tenure as general manager, the Lions were 41–63, and made the playoffs twice, losing both times in the Wild Card Round.[267] On November 19, the Lions hiredRod Wood as team president.[268] The Lions played better down the stretch to finish with a 7–9 record.[269] This season marked the end of an era as Calvin Johnson retired after the season.[270]
On January 8, 2016, the Lions hired formerNew England Patriots executiveBob Quinn as general manager.[271] During the season, the Lions put together an NFL record eight fourth quarter comeback wins to set themselves up for a division title at 9–4.[272] However, during a Week 14 win over theChicago Bears, Matthew Stafford suffered an injury in the middle finger of his throwing hand.[273] The injury derailed the season as the Lions finished 9–7, which was still good enough to make the playoffs as a wild card.[274][275][276] In the Wild Card Round, they were defeated by theSeattle Seahawks 26–6.[277]
The Lions started the season with a 2–0 record. However, in Week 3, they suffered a controversial 30–26 loss at home to theAtlanta Falcons.[278] This was followed up by them losing three of their next four games.[279] The Lions bounced back by winning five of their next seven games to put themselves in the playoff race.[280] In Week 16, the Lions went on the road to face the strugglingCincinnati Bengals. However, they lost the game 26–17, which eliminated them from playoff contention.[281] In the final week of the season, the Lions defeated theGreen Bay Packers 35–11 to finish 9–7.[282] Jim Caldwell was fired as head coach the day after the season ended.[283]
On February 5, 2018, the Lions hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinatorMatt Patricia as head coach.[284] A glaring need for the franchise over the past few years had been running back. To finally fix the issue, they signedLeGarrette Blount from thePhiladelphia Eagles and drafted Auburn running backKerryon Johnson in the2018 NFL draft.[285][286] After losing the first two games of the season, the Lions would surprisingly defeat thePatriots 26–10 onSunday Night Football.[287] On October 24, the Lions acquired defensive tackleDamon Harrison from theNew York Giants.[288] A few days after losing to theSeattle Seahawks, they tradedGolden Tate to the Eagles.[289][290] The Lions struggled for the rest of the season as they posted a 6–10 record, finishing last in the NFC North.[291] Following the season,Jim Bob Cooter was fired as offensive coordinator.[292]
On January 16, 2019, the Lions hiredDarrell Bevell as offensive coordinator.[293] They then released safetyGlover Quin,T. J. Lang, and cornerbackNevin Lawson.[294][295][296] They signed ex-Patriots wide receiverDanny Amendola to fill the hole left by Golden Tate and handed big contracts to ex-PatriotsJustin Coleman andTrey Flowers.[297][298][299] The team also signed tight endJesse James from the Pittsburgh Steelers.[300] In the2019 NFL draft, they selected Iowa tight endT. J. Hockenson with the eighth overall pick.[301] The Lions started the season 2–0–1. However, a series of devastating injuries and close losses broke the team, resulting in a 1–12 run the rest of the way, which included a stretch where they lost their last nine games to finish 3–12–1.[302]
On June 23, 2020, majority owner and chairperson Martha Firestone Ford stepped down. She was succeeded by her daughterSheila Ford Hamp.[303] On November 28, 2020, general manager Bob Quinn along with head coach Matt Patricia were fired by the Lions following a 4–7 start to the season; Patricia's overall record with the team was 13–29–1.[304] Patricia was succeeded by the Lions' offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, who served as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[305] The Lions ultimately finished the season with a 5–11 record.[306]
The biggest off-season move was made on March 18, 2021, when the Lions traded longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford to theLos Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterbackJared Goff, a third round pick in the2021 draft, and first round picks in the2022 and2023 drafts.[312] The Lions would get fortunate in the draft, managing to selectoffensive tacklePenei Sewell seventh overall and acquiringAmon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round.[313] Despite promising rookie seasons from the pair, the Lions finished the season at 3–13–1.[314]
The Lions opened the season with a victory over thereigning Super Bowl championKansas City Chiefs.[319] The win set the tone for the rest of the season, as the Lions finished 12–5, tying a franchise record for wins, and they won their first division title since 1993 and first since the NFC North was formed in 2002.[320][321] As a result, they hosted their first playoff game since 1993, which was against former quarterback Matthew Stafford and theLos Angeles Rams.[322][323] The Lions won the game 24–23, securing their first playoff win since 1991.[324] In the divisional round, the Lions were able to host a second playoff game, a first for the franchise, as theGreen Bay Packers eliminated the second-seededDallas Cowboys in the first round.[325][326] The Lions played the NFC South championTampa Bay Buccaneers and won 31–23 to advance to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991.[327] In the NFC Championship Game, the Lions lost to theSan Francisco 49ers 34–31, despite holding a 24–7 lead at halftime.[328]
Despite being decimated by injuries,[329][330] the Lions finished the 2024 season with the best record in franchise history at 15–2. As a result, they secured their second consecutive NFC North title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time, and a first-round bye for the first time since 1991.[331] This included a franchise record eleven consecutive victories.[332] In the Divisional Round, the Lions were defeated by theWashington Commanders 45–31.[333]
^abcBarnett, C. Robert (1980)."THE PORTSMOUTH SPARTANS"(PDF).Professional Football Researchers Association.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 21, 2020. RetrievedOctober 9, 2023.
^Hogrogian, John (2000)."The NFL in 1939"(PDF).Professional Football Researchers Association. p. 2.Archived(PDF) from the original on July 11, 2019. RetrievedApril 15, 2019.
^"Sinkwich Voted Most Valuable".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. April 3, 1945.Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. RetrievedApril 17, 2019.
^"McMillin Quits Detroit Lions".St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. December 20, 1950.Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. RetrievedApril 17, 2019.
^Strother, Shelby (January 1, 2005)."1953 NFL Championship Game".Pro Football Hall of Fame.Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. RetrievedApril 17, 2019.
^Shapiro, Leonard; Maske, Mark (July 28, 1999)."Lions' Sanders Retires From NFL".The Washington Post.Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. RetrievedApril 25, 2019.
^Hackenberg, Dave (September 10, 2004)."Lions' draft deals a steal".Toledo Blade.Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. RetrievedApril 26, 2019.
^Lage, Larry (September 20, 2009)."Favre, Vikings beat Lions 27-13".The Oakland Press. Associated Press.Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. RetrievedApril 29, 2019.
^Smith, Michael David (November 21, 2011)."Lions-Saints on NBC Week 13".Pro Football Talk.Archived from the original on May 1, 2019. RetrievedMay 1, 2019.
.png)
.png)
