Detroit Football Company

The Detroit Football Company was an American syndicate which owned the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1948 to 1963.

Detroit Football Company
FoundedDecember 26, 1947[1]
DefunctJanuary 10, 1964
FateDissolved
Key people
D. Lyle Fife
Edwin J. Anderson
William Clay Ford Sr.

On January 15, 1948, the NFL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Lions from Fred L. Mandel Jr. to a seven-person syndicate. The original members were

Attorney Philip Hart helped negotiate the sale and was given the title of assistant secretary-treasurer, but held no stock.[2]

Fife became team president and pledged that the syndicate would invest around $300,000 in the team, which had been in debt under Mandel's ownership. He also stated that the group planned to add more members and hoped to operate like Green Bay Packers, Inc.[2] C. Ray Davisson, George Cavanaugh, William Clay Ford Sr., and Ralph Wilson were among the stockholders who later joined the company.[3][4]

During the 1949 season, Fife left his wife of 33 years for his secretary. The resulting scandal saw Fife resign and Anderson take over as president. Over the next seven seasons, the Lions won three NFL championships and four division titles.[5]

In 1961, a group of stockholders led by Fife attempted to remove 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.[6]

On November 22, 1963, 135 of the team's 144 stockholders voted to sell the team to Ford for $6 million. The deal was closed on January 10, 1964, and the Detroit Football Company was dissolved.[7]

References
  1. "New Gridiron Group Formed in Detroit". The New York Times. December 27, 1947.
  2. Sheehan, Joseph M. (January 16, 1948). "Syndicate of Business Men Acquires Detroit Lions Football Club". The New York Times.
  3. "'Lions No Social Group'". The New York Times. January 15, 1961.
  4. Moldea, Dan E. (2014). Interference How Organized Crime Influences Professional Football. New York City: Open Road Media. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  5. Maule, Tex (February 6, 1961). "New Masters in the Den of Lions". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  6. "Pro Lions Name Auto Executive". The New York Times. January 24, 1961.
  7. "Ford Buys Lions in $6 Million Deal". The New York Times. November 23, 1963.
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