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Detroit Lions

Detroit welcomed the Lions in 1934, but it was not the area's first look at professional football. In the 1920's, there were three separate attempts to establish a pro football team in Detroit. Each of them failed. In 1934, the "new" game took hold in the city when Detroit radio executive George A. Richards purchased the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans for the then-astounding sum of $8,000 and moved the franchise to the Motor City.

The Spartans joined the NFL in 1930. In 1932, they played in one of history's most pivotal games, a hastily scheduled championship game against the Chicago Bears. As a result of that game, three major rules were changed, the league was divided into two divisions and an annual NFL title showdown was established.

Unlike previous Detroit teams, the Lions were loaded with some of the finest players of the day. The team leader was Dutch Clark, a triple-threat star (and the last NFL drop kicker) who became a charter member of the Hall of Fame. Playing in the University of Detroit Stadium, the Lions won the NFL championship in 1935, their second year. Those early successes firmly established pro football in Detroit and for more than 60 years the sport has been an integral part of the Michigan sports scene.

The Lions enjoyed their finest years in the 1950's, when they won four division titles and three league championships (in 1952, 1953 and 1957). Among the stars on those teams were such future Hall of Famers as quarterback Bobby Layne, running back Doak Walker, tackle-guard Lou Creekmur and safety Jack Christiansen.

The Lions have been looking for their fourth title for more than 40 years. While they've had great players—such as Joe Schmidt, Yale Lary, Lem Barney and Dick "Night Train" Lane, each of whom has been elected to the Hall of Fame—the best the Lions could do was squeek into the playoffs as a wildcard team in 1970 and 1982.

The Lions finally ended their drought by winning the NFC Central in 1983. Paced by superstar running back Barry Sanders, the Lions's all-time rushing leader, Detroit also won division titles in 1991 and 1993. In 1991, the Lions won their first playoff games since 1957 and made their way to the NFC championship game for the first time in franchise history.

Detroit Lions Facts

• · Franchise Granted July 12, 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans
• · First Season 1930
• · Moved to Detroit June 30, 1934
• · Stadium Pontiac Silverdome (80,368)
• · President William Clay Ford
• · Executive Vice President Chuck Schmidt
• · NFL Championships 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957
• · NFL Western Division Championships 1935, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957
• · NFC Central Division Championships 1983, 1991, 1993
• · Retired Uniform Numbers#7 Dutch Clark, #22 Bobby Layne, #37 Doak Walker, #56 Joe Schmidt, #85 Chuck Hughes, #88 Charlie Sanders

• · First Draft choices Wagner, G, Michigan State, 1936.
• · First Regular-Season Game as the Portsmouth Spartans 13-6 win over the Newark Tornadoes, 9/14/30.
• · First Regular-Season Game as the Detroit lions 9-0 victory over the New York Giants, 9/23/34.
• · First Thanksgiving Day Game A 19-16 loss to the Chicago Bears, 11/29/34.
• · First NFL Title
  The Lions defeated the New York Giants 26-7 in the 1935 NFL Championship game, 12/15/35.
• · First All-League Selections George Christensen and Dutch Clark, 1934.
• · First Player Elected to the Hall of Fame
  QB Dutch Clark, charter member, 1963.
• · First to Rush 200 Yards in a Game  Barry Sanders, 220 yards vs. the Minnesota Vikings, 11/24/91.
• · First 1,000-Yard Rusher Steve Owens, 1,035 yards (1971).
• · Longest Run From Scrimmage 96 yards by Bob Hoernschemeyer vs. the New York Yanks, 11/23/50.
• · First 3,000-Yard Passer Gary Danielson, 3,223 yards (1980).
• · Longest Passing Play A 99-yard pass from Karl Sweetan to Pat Studstill vs. the Baltimore Colts, 10/16/66.
• · Most Career Rushing Yards Barry Sanders, 11,725 yards (1989-96).
• · Most Career Passing Yards Bobby Layne, 15,710 yards (1950-58).
• · Most Career Receptions Brett Perriman, 428 receptions (1991-96).
• · All-Time Leading Scorer Eddie Murray, 1,113 points (1980-91).
• · Fewest Yards Gained By An Opponent 14 yards vs. the Chicago Cardinals, 9/15/40.
   

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