The team was originally established as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1928 and became part of the NFL in 1930. They relocated from Portsmouth, Ohio, to Detroit in 1934 after having financial issues and changed their name to the Detroit Lions.
Sheila Ford Hamp assumed the role of principal owner and chairman of the Detroit Lions in June 2020, succeeding her mother, Martha Firestone Ford. Sheila Ford Hamp is the daughter of William Clay Ford Sr., who acquired the team for $4.5 million in 1963 and served as the sole owner until his passing in 2014. Prior to William Clay Ford Sr.'s ownership, the Detroit Lions had three previous owners. The initial owner was George A. Richards, a radio executive who acquired the team in 1934 when they were known as the Portsmouth Spartans and subsequently relocated them to Detroit. Richards later sold the team in 1940 to Fred Mandel, a prominent Chicago department store tycoon, who retained ownership until 1948. Subsequently, Mandel sold the team to a consortium of investors led by D. Lyle Fife and Edwin Anderson, who managed the team until 1961, when William Clay Ford Sr. became a minority shareholder and team president.
Dan Campbell, who assumed the role of head coach for the Detroit Lions on January 20, 2021, has had a rich 25-year career in the NFL, comprising 11 years as a player and 14 years as a coach. Prior to his arrival at the Lions, Campbell served as both the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020. Additionally, he held the dual role of interim head coach and tight ends coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Notably, during his time as a player, Campbell showcased his skills as a tight end for various teams, including the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and New Orleans Saints. His crowning achievement came in 2010 when he secured a Super Bowl XLIV victory with the Saints.
The team has never won a Super Bowl in their history and are one of four teams who have never played in the championship game. Prior to the Super Bowl era, they did win four NFL championships, their first one in 1935 as the Portsmouth Spartans, and then three more in 1952, 1953, and 1957 as the Detroit Lions. They also have the longest postseason win drought in the NFL, with their last playoff victory coming in 1991.
The team has won four divisional championships in their history. They won their first division title in 1935 as the NFL Western champions. They then won three more division titles as members of the NFC Central in 1983, 1991, and 1993. However, they have not won a division title since the NFC Central was renamed the NFC North in 2002. They also have the longest active drought of division titles among all 32 NFL teams.
The team has enjoyed some successful seasons, but none more than in 1953. That year, they had a 10-2 record in the regular season, and then they won their second straight NFL championship by beating the Cleveland Browns 17-16 in the final game. This was also their third title in four years. Their team was led by future Hall of Famers Bobby Layne at quarterback, Doak Walker at running back, and Jack Christiansen at defensive end. Although the Lions’ best record came in a 11-3 1962 campaign, the 1953 season is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the Lions’ golden era.
The team has an overall franchise record of 580-702-34 in the regular season and 7-13 in the playoffs as of the start of the 2023 season. This means that they have a winning percentage of 0.453 in the regular season and 0.350 in the playoffs.
The team’s most famous players are:
Yes, the Detroit Lions have retired six jersey numbers of players who made significant contributions to the team’s success. The retired numbers are:
Ford Field, a dome with a capacity of 65,000 for football games (expandable to 70,000), is where the team play their home games. The stadium, located in Downtown Detroit, opened in 2002 and is not only for football, but also for college sports, concerts, and other events. Ford Field is near Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena, the homes of the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Pistons respectively. Before playing here, the team used to have their home games at several other stadiums throughout their history. They called the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, home from 1975 to 2001. Prior to that, from 1938 to 1974, they played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. Before their time at Tiger Stadium, the team used the University of Detroit Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, from 1934 to 1939. In their earliest years, when they were known as the Portsmouth Spartans, the Lions played their games at Universal Stadium in Portsmouth, Ohio, from 1930 to 1933.
Their biggest rivals are the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears, and the Minnesota Vikings. These three teams are also in the same division as the Lions, the NFC North. The Lions have a long history of playing against these teams, dating back to 1930 for the Packers and the Bears, and 1961 for the Vikings. However, the Lions have not been very successful against their rivals, as they have losing records against all of them. The Lions have also never faced any of their rivals in the playoffs, except for the Packers twice in 1993 and 1994.
Roary is a lion who wears the Lions’ colors of blue and silver on his jersey and pants. He is the mascot of the Detroit Lions, a cheerful and fun-loving lion who cheers for his team and makes people smile. He also cares about the community and teaches kids about fitness and character. Roary has been the mascot of the Lions since the late 1990s. Before him, the Lions had two other mascots: Brutus, a live lion cub in the 1960s, and Theo, a costumed character in the 1980s. Roary is the most beloved and longest-serving mascot of the Lions so far.
Their team colors are Honolulu blue, silver, dark steel grey, and white. These colors have different meanings and origins:
Support the Lions by getting your tickets here at Event Tickets Center!