Detroit Lions | Detroit Historical Society (2024)

FAQs

What were the Detroit Lions originally called? ›

The Detroit franchise started as the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans in 1930. Detroit radio executive George A. Richards purchased the Spartans in 1934 and moved them to Detroit where they were renamed the Lions.

The color of the Lions jerseys started when former owner George Richards went to Hawaii on vacation and loved the shade of the Pacific Ocean. The Lions recently announced new uniforms, which are similar to the jerseys the team wore in the 1990s.

The Lions have won four National Football League championships. They secured victory against the New York Giants in 1935, and defeated the Cleveland Browns in 1952, 1953, and 1957. The team has struggled since its last championship, only winning one playoff game since then, which occurred in 1991.

The Cardinals are the oldest continuously run professional football franchise in the United States, and, along with the Chicago Bears, are the only NFL charter member franchises still in operation. In 1960, the team moved to St.

The England national football team are called 'The Three Lions' because of their iconic crest, which features three lions. The crest they sport is the official emblem of the English Football Association, which was founded in 1863.

(CBS DETROIT) - Detroit Lions unveiled new uniforms on Thursday, including a black alternate uniform. Officials say the uniforms are a combination of "the team's modern era and a legacy of the historic franchise," according to a news release.

Sheila Ford Hamp, 72, is the current Lions principal owner. She is one of four children of William Clay Ford Sr. and Martha Firestone Ford, born in 1951. She has three sons and resides in Ann Arbor with her husband, Steve.

Along with the traditional Honolulu blue and white jerseys, the team also introduced a black uniform to go as their alternate. With the initial hype in the rearview mirror, here are grades for each of the Lions' three new jerseys and their respective combinations.

The 1953 Detroit Lions were a dominant force in the NFL and one of the league's powerhouse teams during that era.

What are some cool facts about the Detroit Lions? ›

The Lions won four NFL Championship Games between 1935 and 1957. Following the 1957 championship, the franchise did not win a playoff game until the 1991 season and did not win another until the 2023 season. They are the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era to not appear in the Super Bowl.

Since the charter induction class of 1963, 24 individuals who have played, coached, or held an administrative position for the Lions have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Living in Detroit means coney islands, square pizza, slow roasted shawarma, sliders, and corned beef egg rolls. It's lamb chops and baklava. Vernor's and Faygo, Better Made, and Boston Coolers. In other words, Detroit is filled with iconic dishes that speak to its global influence.

Corktown is the oldest existing neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, though it is only half as old as the city itself. In the 1820s and 30s, with the opening of the Erie Canal and the decreased cost of steamboat travel on the Great Lakes, immigrants began arriving in Detroit in significant numbers and settling downtown.

The decline of the automotive industry, which was once the backbone of Detroit's economy, resulted in significant job losses and economic instability. Many factors contributed to this decline, including increased competition from foreign automakers, changing consumer preferences, and economic recessions.

The league began play in 1920 and comprised five teams from Ohio (Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, Columbus Panhandlers, and Dayton Triangles), four teams from Illinois (Chicago Tigers, Decatur Staleys, Racine Cardinals [the Cardinals were based in Chicago but took the name of a local street], and Rock ...

Born in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans, financial difficulties led them to move to Detroit and change their name to the Lions starting in 1934. The change was a success, and in 1935, they won the first of the four NFL Championships that appear in their showcases, beating the New York Giants 26-7.

The first owner was George Richards, who purchased the fledgling Portsmouth Spartans and moved the team to Detroit. Richards owned the powerful WJR radio station and bought the team in the spring of 1934.

Four of them -- the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars -- have never reached the big game, while five others have fallen short despite multiple title appearances. Here is a look at all 12 teams who have never won a title, along with their number of Super Bowl appearances.