Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The team plays their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.

Detroit Lions
Current season
Established July 12, 1930 (July 12, 1930)[1]
First season: 1930
Play in Ford Field
Detroit, Michigan
Headquartered in Allen Park, Michigan
Detroit Lions logo
Detroit Lions logo
Detroit Lions wordmark
Detroit Lions wordmark
LogoWordmark
League/conference affiliations

National Football League (1930–present)

Current uniform
Team colorsHonolulu blue, silver, dark steel grey, white[2][3][4]
       
Fight songGridiron Heroes
MascotRoary the Lion
Personnel
Owner(s)Sheila Ford Hamp[5]
ChairmanSheila Ford Hamp
PresidentRod Wood
General managerBrad Holmes
Head coachDan Campbell
Team history
Championships
League championships (4)
Conference championships (4)
Division championships (4)
Playoff appearances (18)
Home fields

The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[1] Amid financial struggles, the franchise was relocated to Detroit in 1934 and renamed the Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Detroit Tigers.[6][7]

The Lions won four NFL Championship Games between 1935 and 1957, all prior to the Super Bowl era. Since the 1957 championship, the franchise has won only a single playoff game during the 1991 season and holds the league's longest postseason win drought.[8] They are the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era to not appear in the Super Bowl.[9][10][11]

Franchise history
Main article: History of the Detroit Lions
See also: List of Detroit Lions seasons

Logos and uniforms

Aside from a brief change to scarlet and black from 1948 to 1950 instituted by then head coach Bo McMillin, which was influenced by his years as coach at Indiana, the Lions' uniforms have basically remained the same since they moved to Detroit in 1934–silver helmets, silver pants, and either blue or white jerseys.[12][13]

Billy Sims (No. 20) rushing the ball against the Los Angeles Rams on September 7, 1980

Glenn Presnell, the then last surviving member of the 1934 Lions, recalled that after the Portsmouth Spartans relocated to Detroit, team owner George A. Richards asked him and his wife to pick the Lions' colors from combinations that included red and white, orange and black, and blue and silver. The Presnells liked blue and silver the best, so Richards selected it. The blue used by the Lions is officially known as "Honolulu blue", which is inspired by the color of the waves off the coast of Hawaii.[13][14]

There have been minor changes to the uniform design throughout the years, such as changing the silver stripe patterns on the jersey sleeves, and changing the colors of the jersey numbers. "TV numbers", which are auxiliary uniform numbers to help TV broadcasters identify players from the line of scrimmage, were added to the jersey sleeves in 1956.[13] White trim was added to the logo in 1970, with outlines (white on the blue jersey, silver on the white jersey) added to the numbers in 1972; the color arrangement on the numbers on the blue jerseys was reversed in 1982.[12] The silver facemasks became blue in 1984. In 1998, the team wore blue pants with their white jerseys along with grey socks but dropped that combination after the season.[12][15] In 1999, the "TV numbers" on the sleeves were moved to the shoulders.[16]

In 1994, every NFL team wore throwback jerseys,[17] and the Lions' were similar to the jerseys wore during their 1935 championship season. The helmets and pants were solid silver, the jerseys Honolulu blue with silver numbers and the jersey did not have "TV numbers" on the sleeves. The team wore solid blue socks and black cleats. The helmets also did not have logos, as helmets were simple leather back then.[12] The Lions also wore 1950s-style jerseys during their traditional Thanksgiving Day games from 2001 to 2004 as the NFL encouraged teams to wear throwback jerseys on Thanksgiving Day.[18][19][20][21][22]

In 2003, the team added black trim to their logo and jerseys. The facemasks on the helmet changed from blue to black with the introduction of the new color. In 2005, the team introduced an alternate, black, jersey.[12][23]

For 2008, the team dropped the black jersey in favor of a throwback uniform to commemorate the franchise's 75th anniversary. The throwback uniform became the team's permanent alternate jersey in 2009, replacing the former black alternate.[24] The Lions officially unveiled a new logo and uniforms on April 20, 2009. The logo was given a flowing mane and fangs, while the typeface featured a modern font.[25]

On February 1, 2017, the Lions announced a new typeface, logo, and the complete removal of the color black from the team identity. While the previous logo was retained, the border was changed from black to silver.[2][23] The Lions then unveiled the new uniforms on April 13, 2017, which include the white jersey and blue pants combo for the first time since 1998. They introduced an alternate all-grey uniform, an alternate all-Honolulu blue uniform, and a helmet with a silver face mask.[26][27] The Lions also added the initials "WCF" to the left sleeve as a permanent tribute to William Clay Ford, who owned the team from 1963 until his death in 2014. The sleeve addition replaces the black "WCF" patch on the left breast that was added after Ford's death.[28]

On September 20, 2021, the Lions wore white pants with their road white uniforms against the Green Bay Packers. The white pants, which lacked striping, were previously worn during the "scarlet and black" era in the 1948 and 1949 seasons.[29]

On April 12, 2023, the Lions announced they will celebrate their 90th season in franchise history during the 2023 season with a commemorative logo and jersey patch. The inspiration for the patch is an homage to their logo from 1961 to 1969, which is also honored in the WCF memorial logo and the 60th commemorative season logo.[30] On June 21, 2023, the Lions unveiled an alternate blue helmet. The helmet, which features the 1960s logo, will be paired with the grey uniform. This will be the first time the Lions will wear a blue helmet since 1955.[31][32]

Thanksgiving Day tradition
The Lions, seen here during the 2007 Thanksgiving game against their division rival Green Bay Packers, have played on Thanksgiving since 1934.

In 1934, then team owner George A. Richards, who also was the owner of a major radio affiliate of the NBC Blue Network, WJR in Detroit, the forerunner to today's ABC, negotiated an agreement with NBC to carry his Thanksgiving games live across all of the network's stations.[33] Since then, the tradition of the Lions playing on Thanksgiving has continued uninterrupted.[34]

Players of note
Main article: List of Detroit Lions players

Current roster
Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists

Practice squad


Rookies in italics

Roster updated October 25, 2023

52 active, 9 inactive, 16 practice squad (+2 exempt)

→ AFC rosters → NFC rosters
Calvin Johnson
Bobby Layne
Barry Sanders
Charlie Sanders
Joe Schmidt
Doak Walker

Retired numbers
Detroit Lions retired numbers
No. Player Position Tenure Retired
7Dutch ClarkQB1931–1932
1934–1938		October 15, 1939[1][35][36]
20Lem BarneyCB1967–1977November 25, 2004[37]
Billy SimsRB1980–1984
Barry SandersRB1989–1998
22Bobby LayneQB, K1950–1958[1]
37Doak WalkerHB, K, P1950–1955December 11, 1955[1][38][39]
56Joe Schmidt 1LB1953–1965[1]
85Chuck Hughes 2WR1970–1971[1]

Notes:

  • 1 The No. 56 was temporarily unretired with Schmidt's blessing when the Lions acquired linebacker Pat Swilling from the New Orleans Saints. No player has worn it since Swilling left.[40]
  • 2 Posthumous. Hughes died of a heart attack during a game on October 24, 1971, and his No. 85 was withdrawn from circulation.[1][41][42][43] Over the years, however, the number would return to circulation.[44]

Special cases

  • The Lions retired No. 93 for the 2009 season after Corey Smith disappeared, presumed dead, when a boat he was fishing in with friends capsized off the Florida coast.[45] The Lions also wore 93 decals on their helmets that season.[46] The number was assigned to Kyle Vanden Bosch in 2010.[47]

Pro Football Hall of Fame members
Main article: List of Detroit Lions in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Detroit Lions Hall of Fame members
Players
No. Name Positions Seasons Inducted No. Name Positions Seasons Inducted
20Lem BarneyCB1967–19771992[48]28Yale LaryDB, P1952–1953
1956–1964		1979[49]
19, 24Jack ChristiansenDB1951–19581970[50]22Bobby LayneQB1950–19581967[51]
7, 12, 19Dutch ClarkQB1931–1932
1934–1938		1963[52]24, 44Dick LeBeauDB1959–19722010[53]
Coach1937–1938
76Lou CreekmurG/OT1950–19591996[54]30Ollie MatsonRB19631972[55]
77Curley CulpDT1980–19812013[56]39Hugh McElhennyHB19641970[57]
35, 44Bill DudleyHB1947–19491966[58]20Barry SandersRB1989–19982004[59]
72Frank GatskiC19571985[60]88Charlie SandersTE1968–19772007[61]
81Calvin JohnsonWR2007–20152021[62]56Joe SchmidtLB
Coach		1953–1965
1967–1972		1973[63]
35John Henry JohnsonFB1957–19591987[64]63Dick StanfelG1952–19552016[65]
71Alex KarrasDT1958–1962
1964–1970		2020[66]37Doak WalkerHB1950–19551986[67]
81Dick "Night Train" LaneCB1960–19651974[68]30, 50Alex WojciechowiczC, LB1938–19461968[69]

Pride of the Lions

In 2009, the Pride of the Lions was established. The Pride of the Lions is the ring of honor for the franchise's greatest players.[70][71]

Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pride of the Lions
No. Player Position Tenure Inducted
20Lem BarneyCB1967–19772009[72]
76Roger BrownDT1960–19662018[70]
24Jack ChristiansenDB1951–19582009[72]
7, 12, 19Dutch ClarkQB1931–1932
1934–1938		2009[72]
76Lou CreekmurG/T1950–19592009[72]
4Jason HansonK1992–20122013[73]
71Alex KarrasDT1958–1962
1964–1970		2018[70]
81Dick "Night Train" LaneCB1960–19652009[72]
28Yale LaryDB, P1952–1953
1956–1964		2009[72]
22Bobby LayneQB1950–19582009[72]
24, 44Dick LeBeauDB1959–19722010[74]
84Herman MooreWR1991–20012018[70]
20Barry SandersRB1989–19982009[72]
88Charlie SandersTE1968–19772009[72]
56Joe SchmidtLB1953–19652009[72]
54Chris SpielmanLB1988–19952021[71]
63Dick StanfelOG1952–19552016[75]
37Doak WalkerHB1950–19552009[72]
30, 50Alex WojciechowiczC, LB1938–19462009[72]

75th Season All-Time Team

On November 9, 2008, the Lions honored the 75th Season All-Time Team during halftime against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[76][77] The team was chosen via an online fan poll and selection committee.[76] Bold indicates those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

75th Season All-Time Team
No. Player Position Tenure
6Jim ArnoldP1986–1993
60Al BakerDE1978–1982
20Lem BarneyCB1967–1977
36Bennie BladesDB1988–1996
75Lomas BrownT1985–1995
76Roger BrownDT1960–1966
19, 24Jack ChristiansenDB1951–1958
7, 12, 19Dutch ClarkQB1931–1932
1934–1938
89Gail CogdillWR1960–1968
76Lou CreekmurG/T1950–1959
25Jim DavidDB1952–1959
44Don DollDB1949–1952
78Doug EnglishDT1975–1985
54Ed FlanaganC1965–1974
53Kevin GloverC1985–1997
75John GordyOG1957–1967
23Mel GrayKR/PR1989–1994
4Jason Hanson 1K1992–2012
71Alex KarrasDT1958–1962
1964–1970
81Dick "Night Train" LaneCB1960–1965
28Yale LaryDB, P1952–1953
1956–1964
22Bobby LayneQB1950–1958
24, 44Dick LeBeauDB1959–1972
84Herman MooreWR1991–2001
3Eddie MurrayK1980–1991
91Robert PorcherDE1992–2003
20Barry SandersRB1989–1998
88Charlie SandersTE1968–1977
30Cory SchlesingerFB1995–2006
56Joe SchmidtLB1953–1965
66Harley SewellOG1953–1962
20Billy SimsRB1980–1984
54Chris SpielmanLB1988–1995
37Doak WalkerHB1950–1955
55Wayne WalkerLB1958–1972
30, 50Alex WojciechowiczC, LB1938–1946

Note:

  • 1 Hanson was active at the time of the selection.[77]

Lions All-Time Team

On September 29, 2019, the Lions honored their All-Time Team in celebration of the NFL's centennial during halftime against the Kansas City Chiefs. The team was chosen via fan voting, contributions from the Detroit Lions Legends Community, team executives, and select members of the media.[78] Bold indicates those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Lions All-Time Team
No. Player Position Tenure
60Al BakerDE1978–1982
20Lem BarneyCB1967–1977
36Bennie BladesDB1988–1996
75Lomas BrownT1985–1995
76Roger BrownDT1960–1966
19, 24Jack ChristiansenDB1951–1958
7, 12, 19Dutch ClarkQB1931–1932
1934–1938
89Gail CogdillWR1960–1968
76Lou CreekmurG/T1950–1959
25Jim DavidDB1952–1959
44Don DollDB1949–1952
7, 20, 56Ox EmersonG, C, LB1931–1937
78Doug EnglishDT1975–1985
54Ed FlanaganC1965–1974
53Kevin GloverC1985–1997
23Mel GrayKR/PR1989–1994
4Jason HansonK1992–2012
81Calvin JohnsonWR2007–2015
71Alex KarrasDT1958–1962
1964–1970
81Dick "Night Train" LaneCB1960–1965
28Yale LaryDB, P1952–1953
1956–1964
22Bobby LayneQB1950–1958
24, 44Dick LeBeauDB1959–1972
53Mike LucciLB1965–1973
84Herman MooreWR1991–2001
48Don Muhlbach 1LS2004–2020
33Nick PietrosanteFB1959–1965
91Robert PorcherDE1992–2003
20Barry SandersRB1989–1998
88Charlie SandersTE1968–1977
30Cory SchlesingerFB1995–2006
56Joe SchmidtLB1953–1965
66Harley SewellOG1953–1962
20Billy SimsRB1980–1984
54Chris SpielmanLB1988–1995
9Matthew Stafford 1QB2009–2020
63Dick StanfelOG1952–1955
37Doak WalkerHB1950–1955
30, 50Alex WojciechowiczC, LB1938–1946

Note:

  • 1 Stafford and Muhlbach were active at the time of the selection.[78]

Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Main article: Michigan Sports Hall of Fame

Staff

Current staff
Detroit Lions staff
Front office
  • Owner – Sheila Ford Hamp
  • Vice chairpeople – William Clay Ford Jr., Martha Ford Morse and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis
  • Team president & CEO – Rod Wood
  • Executive vice president & general manager – Brad Holmes
  • Chief operating officer – Mike Disner
  • Special assistant to chairman and president & CEO – Chris Spielman
  • Assistant general manager – Ray Agnew
  • Director of player personnel – Lance Newmark
  • Director of pro scouting – Rob Lohman
  • Director of scouting advancement – Mike Martin
  • Senior personnel executive – John Dorsey
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
  
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Aaron Glenn
  • Defensive line – John Scott Jr.
  • Assistant defensive line – Cameron Davis
  • Linebackers – Kelvin Sheppard
  • Assistant linebackers – Shaun Dion Hamilton
  • Defensive backs – Brian Duker
  • Cornerbacks – Dré Bly
  • Defensive assistant/outside linebackers – David Corrao
  • Defensive quality control – Wayne Blair
  • Senior defensive assistant – John Fox
  • WCF minority coaching assistant/defensive quality control – Dré Thompson
Special teams coaches
  • Special teams coordinator – Dave Fipp
  • Assistant special teams – Jett Modkins
Strength and conditioning
  • Director of sports performance – Mike Clark
  • Director of sports science – Jill Costanza
  • Head strength & conditioning – Josh Schuler
  • Assistant strength & conditioning – Morris Henry

→ Coaching staff
→ Management
→ More NFL staffs

Head coaches
Main article: List of Detroit Lions head coaches
Dan Campbell is the current head coach of the Detroit Lions.

The Lions have had 30 head coaches throughout their franchise history. Their first head coach was Hal Griffen, who compiled a 5–6–3 (.464) overall record with the team of 1930. Wayne Fontes was the longest-tenured head coach in Lions history, serving from 1988 to 1996.[79] The current head coach of the Lions is Dan Campbell, who was hired on January 20, 2021.[80]

Offensive coordinators
NameTenure
No Offensive Coordinator between1934–1966
Bill McPeak1967–1972
No Offensive Coordinator between1973–1975
Ken Shipp1976
Ed Hughes1977
Bob Schnelker1978–1981
Ted Marchibroda1982–1983
Bill Nelsen1984
Bob Baker1985–1988
Dave Levy1991
Dan Henning1992–1993
Dave Levy1994
Tom Moore1994–1996
Sylvester Croom1997–2000
Gary Moeller2000
Maurice Carthon2001–2002
Sherman Lewis2003–2004
Ted Tollner2005
Mike Martz2006–2007
Jim Colletto2008
Scott Linehan2009–2013
Joe Lombardi2014–2015
Jim Bob Cooter2015–2018
Darrell Bevell2019–2020
Anthony Lynn2021
Ben Johnson2022–present

Defensive coordinators
NameTenure
No Defensive Coordinator between1934–1951
Buster Ramsey1952–1959
Don Shula1960–1962
No Defensive Coordinator between1963–1974
Jimmy Carr (American football)1975–1976
Fritz Shurmur1977
No Defensive Coordinator between1978–1979
Maxie Baughan1980–1982
Ed Beard1983–1984
Wayne Fontes1985–1988
Woody Widenhofer1989–1992
Hank Bullough1993
Herb Paterra1994–1995
Jim Eddy1996
Larry Peccatiello1997–2000
Vince Tobin2001
Kurt Schottenheimer2002–2003
Dick Jauron2004–2005
Donnie Henderson2006
Joe Barry2007–2008
Gunther Cunningham2009–2013
Teryl Austin2014–2017
Paul Pasqualoni2018–2019
Cory Undlin2020
Aaron Glenn2021–present

Special Teams coordinators
NameTenure
John Bonamego2019
Brayden Coombs2020
Dave Fipp2021–present

Rivalries

The Lions have had several division rivals in their existence. Their oldest rivals are the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, whom they have faced since 1930.[81][82] The Minnesota Vikings have been in a division with Detroit since their inaugural season in 1961.[83][84] Another notable long-time division opponent was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25 seasons from 1977 to 2001).[85]

The Lions also had a preseason rivalry with the Cleveland Browns, dubbed the Great Lakes Classic.[86] The two teams played for The Barge Trophy.[87] The Lions and Browns had a solid rivalry in the 1950s, when they met four times for the NFL championship, with Detroit winning three of the matchups; they have met much less frequently during the regular season since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger due to the Browns' move to the American Football Conference (AFC).[88]

Radio and television
Main article: List of Detroit Lions broadcasters
Map of radio affiliates

Radio
Main article: Detroit Lions Radio Network

The Lions' flagship radio station is WXYT-FM.[89] Dan Miller does play-by-play, Lomas Brown does color commentary, and T. J. Lang is the sideline reporter.[90][91]

In 2015, the team announced that they were moving from WXYT-FM to WJR for the 2016 NFL season, ending a 20-year relationship with CBS Radio.[92] The decision to part with WXYT was reportedly instigated by a demand by the team for the station to fire on-air personality Mike Valenti, who has had a history of making critical comments about the Lions during his drivetime show, as a condition of any future renewal. A CBS Radio spokesperson stated that their refusal was meant to maintain the station's integrity.[92][93]

The Lions' flagship station returned to WXYT-FM starting with the 2021 season.[94]

Preseason
Main article: Detroit Lions Television Network

In 2015, WJBK took over from WXYZ-TV as the flagship station for Lions preseason games.[95] In 2023, the announcers were Jason Ross Jr. with play-by-play, Devin Gardner with color commentary, and Dannie Rogers with sideline reports.[96] Games are produced by Bally Sports Detroit.[97][98]

Regular season

Regular season games are broadcast regionally on Fox, except when the Lions play an AFC team in Detroit, in which case the game airs regionally on CBS; however, since 2014, with the institution of the NFL's "cross flex" broadcast rules, any Lions game slated to air on Fox can be moved to CBS.[99][100] The Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit is always televised nationally.[34] In 2011, the Lions became the last NFC team to play on NBC's Sunday Night Football since the network began airing Sunday night games in 2006.[101]

Blackouts
Main article: National Football League television blackout policies

The Lions' winless performance in 2008 and 2–14 season in 2009, coupled with the effects of the Great Recession in Michigan, led to several local broadcast blackouts, as local fans did not purchase enough tickets by the 72-hour blackout deadline. The first blackout in the then seven-year history of Ford Field was on October 26, 2008, against the Washington Redskins. The previous 50 regular season home games had been sellouts.[102] The second home game of the 2009 season in which the Lions broke the losing streak, also against the Redskins, was blacked out locally, as well as the comeback victory over the Cleveland Browns.[103][104][105] The Lions had only one blackout in 2010, yet another Redskins game, which the Lions won 37–25.[106] However, in 2015, the NFL suspended its blackout policies, meaning that all Lions games will be shown on local TV, regardless of tickets sold.[107]

Games were also often blacked out at the Lions' previous home, the 80,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome, despite winning seasons and the success and popularity of star players such as Barry Sanders.[108][109]

Lions cheerleaders
Main article: Detroit Lions Cheerleaders

On June 13, 2016, the Lions announced the addition of cheerleaders to the organization.[110] The team also announced that Rebecca Girard-Smoker, formerly the director of the Detroit Pistons dance team, would be the coach of the cheerleading squad. It marked the first time in over 40 years the team had an official cheerleading squad. The cheerleading squad is a part of the entertainment during football games, and active at community events.[111]

See also

References

Notes

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  4. "Detroit Lions Team Capsule" (PDF). 2021 Official National Football League Record and Fact Book (PDF). NFL Enterprises. August 11, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
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