The Detroit Lions arose from the Portsmouth Spartans, an independent football team in Ohio. The team joined the National Football League in 1930. The Spartan, named after the University of Michigan, had financial difficulties early on. George A. Richards purchased the team in 1934 and moved the franchise to Detroit the following year. With the location change came a name change; the Detroit Lions were born.
The Lions had some early success, playing for the NFL championship in 1932, and wining in 1935. The team was led by Dutch Clark, the last NFL dropkicker, and a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963 first class inductee). The title game was played in the University of Detroit Stadium, the capacity was 12,000 people
The Detroit franchise chose “Lions” as their nickname as a homage to the baseball team, the Detroit Tigers. As was customary of the day, football, the less popular game to America’s pastime, often took on the name, or in this case, was heavily influenced by the more financially successful sport in town, and tried to capitalized on its success.
Detroit Lions: Successful Decade
The 1950s was by far the most successful decade in the team’s history. The Lions reached a divisional title in 1950, and won three league championships in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Some of the key players from these teams included future Pro Football Hall of Famers quarterback Bobby Layne, running back Doak Walker. tackle-guard Lou Creekmur and Dick “Night Train” Lane. . Since 1990, the Doak Walker Award honors the top running back in college football. Walker played for the SMU Mustangs from 1945 – 1949 and the Lions from 1950 – 1955. Lane set an NFL record of 14 interceptions in 1952.
Despite having several tremendous players on their roster, the Lions entered a long period of futile football. They made the wild-card playoffs in 1970 and 1982, and finally won the NFC Central Division championship in 1983. Key players during this time span include defensive back Dick LeBeau (1959 – 1972), defensive tackle Alex Karras, (1958 – 1970) and Joe Schmidt (1953 – 1965). Schmidt would go on to coach the team starting in 1967 for several years.
The Detroit Lions have played in several stadiums: Universal Stadium (1930- 33), University of Detroit Stadium (1934 – 1937), Briggs Stadium (1938 – 1974) Pontiac Stadium (1975 – 2001) and since 2002 Ford Field.
William Clay Ford Sr, purchased the team in 1961 and was owner until his death in 2013. He was succeeded by his wife Martha Firestone Ford, and since 2020 Sheila Ford Hamp is the owner of the team.
NFL Policy Change
The Lions, led by running back Barry Sanders, the team’s all-time rushing leader, won divisional titles in 1991 and 1993. In 1997 Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry that season. He is one of only eight players to have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season. For his career, Sanders rushed for 15,269 yards on 3,962 carries (4.98 yards per carry) and scored 109 touchdowns. He won two Offensive Player of the Year awards, and one Most Valuable Player award. He was voted to 10 Pro Bowls in his 10-year career. Sanders is widely acclaimed as one of the top running backs of all time.
Barry Sanders was involved with the NFL in setting a major precedent. Sanders was selected third in the 1997 draft, even though he had only completed his junior year in college. The NFL ruling at the time stated that collegiate juniors could not declare for the draft. Because Sanders’ college team, Oklahoma State had been found guilty of numerous major NCAA rule violations and placed on five years of probation, Sanders was allowed to come out for the draft. The NFL altered their policy soon after.
The Detroit Lions currently play in the National Football Conference (NC) North Division along with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
Matthew Stafford, the team’s top draft choice, and first in the 2009 draft recently went on to win a Super Bowl with the Los Angels Rams. Some of the key current players on the Detroit Lion roster include quarterback Jared Goff and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
Barry Schustermann
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