63 Detroit Lions Facts Every Football Fan Should Know

Sridevi Tolety
Dec 22, 2022 By Sridevi Tolety
Originally Published on Dec 31, 2021
Edited by Rhea Nischal
Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit
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One of the interesting Detroit Lion facts is that The Lions won over the New York Giants by 26-7 in the 1935 NFL Championship game.

Detroit is a large city in Michigan, and downtown Detroit is a famous business district.

The neoclassical institute, the Detroit Institute of Arts, is famous for the Detroit Industry Mural, painted by Diego Rivera. Detroit is also called 'Motor City.'

Detroit got the nickname because of the city's relations with the auto industry. Detroit City also has its own football team. 

American football has evolved from soccer and rugby games. The most famous American professional football league is the National Football League. The five most popular NFL teams are the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions.

If you enjoyed this article, then you must also read about basketball facts or disc golf facts here at Kidadl.

Fun Facts About Detroit Lions

In 1929, the Detroit Lions football team started as the Portsmouth Spartans. The Detroit Lions are the American professional football team in Detroit. In the National Football League, the Lions participate as a North Division member of the National Football Conference.

The Detroit Lions team plays at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit during its home games. The Detroit Lions have not won since winning the old NFL Championship.

In the last 53 years, the Detroit Lions have only been to the playoffs nine times. Detroit won only in 1991 against Dallas and never went beyond the NFC Championship Game. Since 1980, they have been drafted in the top five nine times.

Since 1957, they have only had double-digit wins in football games. They have never played in a Super Bowl. The Detroit Lions have no historical advantage over any NFL teams except the Giants, Falcons, Cardinals, Buccaneers, and Browns.

The 1991 playoff game was the only game the Lions won. Since 1972, they haven't had a good coach.

History Of Detroit Lions

The history of the Detroit Lions shows that they had 14 dynamic personalities in the franchise who were selected for the Hall of Fame. The Portsmouth Spartans were a franchise founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, which joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.

When the team was in trouble, a group from Michigan agreed to buy the franchise in 1934 and relocated the team to Detroit. Inspired by the city's baseball club, the new owner renamed it the Lions.

He said that the team would be the king of the league just like the lion is of the jungle.

The Detroit team is a member of the National Football Conference North division, in which the Detroit Lions' biggest rivals are the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.

The Lions' uniforms remained the same when they moved to Detroit, with silver pants, silver helmets, and jerseys in blue or white. When the Portsmouth Spartans relocated to Detroit, team owner George A. Richards suggested choosing red and white, silver and blue, and orange and black for the Lions' jerseys.

Glenn Presnell, then the last surviving member of the 1934 Portsmouth Spartans, selected blue and silver, officially known as 'Honolulu blue,' which is Hawai's coastal wave. They have played at Ford Field, Tiger Stadium, and the Pontiac Silverdome.

Initially, the Lions played at the University of Detroit stadium.

Famous Detroit Lions Players

Throughout the Detroit Lions' history, the Lions had several good players like Bobby Layne, who was the reason Detroit went for three National Football Championships.

The leader of the nation's championship in 1935 was Earl Dutch Clark. Doak Walker set many records as a kicker and running back from 1950-1955. Barry Sanders set many records between 1989 and 1998.

The Lions' career record is still held by Calvin Johnson for most receptions and receiving yards. Dick 'Night Train' Lane only played for six seasons with Detroit, but he can make fans feel his presence on the field. He was one of the most significant cornerbacks ever seen on the Detroit Lions team.

Since 1972, they haven't had a good coach. The reason for the inability of the Lions to win is believed to be the retirement of legendary player R.B.

Barry Sanders. The NFL Network's NFL TOP 10 series ranked Barry Sanders as the most elusive runner in NFL Championship history.

Barry Sanders was voted by the Detroit Lions' fans as the most outstanding short player of all time and was placed at number one on the list of players in the Super Bowl. Lions fans started a protest movement to fire Matt Millen, the worst general manager of the 2002-2005 draft stretch.

Since 1934, the Detroit Lions have played on Thanksgiving as a tradition.

Facts About Detroit Lions' Record

The motto that the Detroit Lions football education division believes in and ultimately lives by is 'today's preparation determines tomorrow's success'. This belief is applicable on the field and off the field.

In addition to the motto, the Detroit Lions organization lives by core values like determination, noble, courage, unity, and ferociousness. In 2021, the Detroit Lions will play their 92nd season as one of the oldest franchises in the NFL.

In 1991, the 62nd season of the NFL Championship was the Detroit Lions team's best season. The Detroit Lions have had their best season since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

The Lions have a regular-season record of four pre- Super Bowl league titles and a playoff record of 7-13. The Lions have not won in a Super Bowl league. The Lions played in Tiger Stadium (1938-1939, 1941-74), University of Detroit Stadium (1934-1940), Pontiac Silverdome (1975-2001), Universal Stadium (1930-1933), and Ford Field (2002-present).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 63 Detroit Lions facts, every football fan should know, then why not look at basketball facts or disc golf facts.

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Written by Sridevi Tolety

Bachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

Sridevi Tolety picture

Sridevi ToletyBachelor of Science specializing in Botany, Master of Science specializing in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs

With a Master's degree in clinical research from Manipal University and a PG Diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sridevi has cultivated her passion for writing across various domains. She has authored a wide range of articles, blogs, travelogues, creative content, and short stories that have been published in leading magazines, newspapers, and websites. Sridevi is fluent in four languages and enjoys spending her spare time with loved ones. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, cooking, painting, and listening to music.

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Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

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Nishtha DixitBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Nishtha is an experienced SEO writer and editor, with a passion for writing and self-expression. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate major in Literature and Communication and a minor in Political Science from the University of Delhi. Nishtha has completed a certificate master course in English from the British Council and has been appointed as the editor for the bi-monthly magazine of the University of Delhi.

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