Detroit Lions

Current season: 2024 Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
Established July 12, 1930 Play in Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Helmet Logo
League/Conference affiliations
National Football League (1930–present) Western Division (1933-1949) National Conference (1950-1952) Western Conference (1953-1969) Central Division (1967-1969) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC Central (1970-2001) NFC North (2002-present)
Current uniform
Team colors	Honolulu Blue and Silver
Fight song	Gridiron Heroes
Mascot	Roary the Lion
Personnel
Owner(s):	Shelia Ford Hamp
Chairman (CEO):	Shelia Ford Hamp
Team President	Rod Wood
General Manager	Brad Holmes
Head Coach	Dan Campbell
Team history
Portsmouth Spartans (1930-1933) Detroit Lions (1934–present)
Championships
League Championships (4) NFL Championships (4): 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957
Conference Championships (4) NFL National: 1952 NFL Western: 1953, 1954, 1957
Division Championships (5) NFL West: 1935 NFC Central: 1983, 1991, 1993 NFC North: 2023
Playoff Appearances (22)
1932, 1935, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962,1970, 1982, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2023
Home fields
Universal Stadium (1930-1933) University of Detroit Stadium (1934-1937) Tiger Stadium (1935-1974) **a.k.a. Navin Field (1935-1937) **a.k.a. Briggs Stadium (1938-1960) Pontiac Silverdome (1975-2001) Ford Field (2002-present)

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL), and play their home games at Ford Field in downtown Detroit.

The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans, and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930. Amid financial struggles, the franchise was relocated to Detroit in 1934. The team were also renamed the Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Tigers.

The Lions won four NFL Championship Games between 1935 and 1957, all prior to the Super Bowl era. Since the 1957 championship, the franchise has won only a single playoff game during the 1991 season and holds the league's longest postseason win drought. While they share the distinction of never appearing in a Super Bowl with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, they are the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era to have never made it, as well as the only NFC team to have not done so.

Franchise history

• Main article: History of the Detroit Lions

Logos and uniforms

Image gallery

Aside from a brief change to maroon in 1948 instituted by then head coach Bo McMillin (influenced by his years as coach at Indiana), the Lions uniforms have basically remained the same since the team debuted in 1930. The design consists of silver helmets, silver pants, and either blue or white jerseys.

File:Lions2000.png

Lions logo (1970–2002)

A variation of this logo was used until the 2009 NFL season, when the new logo was implemented. There have been minor changes to the uniform design throughout the years, such as changing the silver stripe patterns on the jersey sleeves, and changing the colors of the jersey numbers. White trim was added to the logo in 1970. In 1998, the team wore blue pants with their white jerseys along with grey socks but dropped that combination after the season.

In 1999, the 'TV numbers' on the sleeves were moved to the shoulders. The shade of blue used for Lions uniforms and logos is officially known as "Honolulu blue," which is supposedly inspired by the color of the waves off the coast of Hawaii. The shade was chosen by Cy Huston, the Lions first vice president and general manager, and of the choice, he said: "They had me looking at so many blues I am blue in the face," Huston said about the selection. "But anyway, it's the kind of blue, I am told, that will match with silver." In 1994, every NFL team wore throwback jerseys, and the Lions' were similar to the jerseys used during their 1935 championship season. The helmets and pants were solid silver, the jerseys Honolulu blue with silver numbers and the jersey did not have 'TV numbers' on the sleeves. The team wore solid blue socks along with black shoes.

The helmets also did not have a logo, as helmets were simple leather back then. The Lions also wore '50s-style jerseys during their traditional Thanksgiving Day games from 2001 to 2004 as the NFL encouraged teams to wear throwback jerseys on Thanksgiving Day. In 2003, the team added black trim to their logo and the jerseys. The face masks on the helmet changed from blue to black with the introduction of the new color.

Additionally, an alternate home field jersey which makes black the dominant color (in place of Honolulu Blue) was introduced in 2005. For 2008, the team dropped the black alternate jerseys in favor of a throwback uniform to commemorate the franchise's 75th anniversary. The throwback uniform became the team's permanent alternate jersey in 2009, replacing the former black alternate. The Lions officially unveiled new logo designs and uniforms on April 20, 2009. The Lion on the helmet now has a flowing mane and fangs, and the font of "Lions" is more modern.

On February 1, 2017, the Lions announced a new typeface, logo, and the complete removal of the color black from the team identity. While the previous logo was retained, the border was changed from black to silver. The Lions then unveiled the new uniforms on April 13, 2017, which include the white jersey and blue pants combo for the first time since 1998. They introduced an alternate all-grey uniform, an alternate all-Honolulu blue uniform, and a helmet with a silver face mask. The Lions also added the initials "WCF" to the left sleeve as a permanent tribute to William Clay Ford, who owned the team from 1963 until his death in 2014. The sleeve addition replaces the black "WCF" patch on the left breast that was added after Ford's death.

On September 20, 2021, the Lions wore white pants with their road white uniforms against the Green Bay Packers. The white pants, which lacked striping, were previously worn during the "scarlet and black" era in the 1948 and 1949 seasons.

On April 12, 2023, the Lions announced they would celebrate their 90th season in franchise history during the 2023 season with a commemorative logo and jersey patch. The inspiration for the patch is an homage to their logo from 1961 to 1969, which is also honored in the WCF memorial logo and the 60th commemorative season logo. On June 21, 2023, the Lions unveiled an alternate blue helmet. The helmet, which features the 1960s logo, was paired with the grey uniform. This was the first time the Lions wore a blue helmet since 1955.

On April 18, 2024, the Lions unveiled a new uniform set. The home uniform remained Honolulu blue, but brought back the white block numbers trimmed in silver along with silver sleeve stripes. This set is paired with silver pants. The road white uniform featured Honolulu blue block numbers and stripes trimmed in silver, while also adding a new "Detroit" wordmark. This set is paired with either Honolulu blue or white pants. The primary silver helmet will be worn on both uniforms. The black alternate uniform, last worn in 2007, returned in this set, featuring Honolulu blue numbers and stripes trimmed in silver along with a "Lions" wordmark. An alternate blue helmet featuring black stripes and a black Lions decal is worn with this uniform along with black pants. The throwback Honolulu blue uniform is retained. However, the William Clay Ford (WCF) memorial decal is removed from the uniform stripes.

Notable players

• Main article: List of Detroit Lions players

Current roster

Detroit Lions current roster
Quarterbacks 16 Jared Goff  2 Hendon Hooker  8 Nate Sudfeld Running Backs 36 Jake Funk 26 Jahmyr Gibbs 28 Jermar Jefferson 27 Zonovan Knight  5 David Montgomery 13 Craig Reynolds 33 Sione Vaki Wide Receivers  1 Maurice Alexander 80 Jalon Calhoun 88 Kaden Davis 12 Daurice Fountain 18 Antoine Green 85 Tom Kennedy 19 Donovan Peoples-Jones 11 Kalif Raymond 10 Tre'Quan Smith 14 Amon-Ra St. Brown 83 Isaiah Williams  9 Jameson Williams Tight Ends 43 Parker Hesse 87 Sam LaPorta 86 Sean McKeon 82 James Mitchell 89 Brock Wright 84 Shane Zylstra		Offensive Linemen 74 Kayode Awosika G 63 Duke Clemens C 68 Taylor Decker T 65 Kingsley Eguakun C 66 Matt Farniok G 76 Connor Galvin T 60 Graham Glasgow G 64 Bryan Hudson C 73 Christian Mahogany G 59 Giovanni Manu T 52 Netane Muti G 62 Michael Niese G 77 Frank Ragnow C 58 Penei Sewell T 70 Dan Skipper T 75 Colby Sorsdal T 71 Kevin Zeitler G Defensive Linemen 79 John Cominsky DE 97 Aidan Hutchinson DE 99 Brodric Martin DT 54 Alim McNeill DT 91 Levi Onwuzurike DT 93 Josh Paschal DE 96 Kyle Peko DT 98 D. J. Reader DT 90 Chris Smith DT 94 Mekhi Wingo DT		Linebackers 50 Mitchell Agude OLB 34 Alex Anzalone ILB 55 Derrick Barnes ILB 95 Mathieu Betts OLB 46 Jack Campbell ILB 51 Steele Chambers ILB 92 Marcus Davenport OLB 53 DaRon Gilbert ILB 41 James Houston OLB 57 Nate Lynn OLB 45 Isaac Ukwu OLB 42 Jalen Reeves-Maybin ILB 44 Malcolm Rodriguez ILB Defensive Backs  0 Terrion Arnold CB 32 Brian Branch NB 23 Carlton Davis CB 30 Khalil Dorsey CB 35 Chelen Garnes S 24 Steven Gilmore Jr. CB 25 Craig James CB 40 Brandon Joseph FS 31 Kerby Joseph SS		Defensive Backs (cont'd)  6 Ifeatu Melifonwu S 38 C. J. Moore S  4 Emmanuel Moseley CB 39 Morice Norris Jr. CB 15 Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB 21 Amik Robertson CB 48 Loren Strickland S 29 Kindle Vildor CB Special Teams 17 Michael Badgley K 47 Scott Daly LS  3 Jack Fox P 49 Hogan Hatten LS 43 James Turner K		Reserve Lists currently vacant Unrestricted FAs currently vacant Restricted FAs currently vacant Exclusive-Rights FAs currently vacant Rookies in italics Roster updated May 31, 2024 Depth Chart • Transactions → More rosters

Pro Football Hall of Famers

• 20 Lem Barney DB (1992)
• 76 Lou Creekmur G/T (1996)
• 14 Jack Christiansen DB (1970)
• 7 Dutch Clark QB (1963)
• 35 Bill Dudley HB (1966)
• 72 Frank Gatski C (1985)
• 35 John Henry Johnson FB (1987)
• 81 Dick "Night Train" Lane DB (1974)
• 28 Yale Lary DB/P (1979)
• 22 Bobby Layne QB (1967)
• 44 Dick LeBeau DB (2010)
• 20 Barry Sanders RB (2004)
• 88 Charlie Sanders TE (2007)
• 56 Joe Schmidt LB (1973)
• 37 Doak Walker HB (1986)
• 50 Alex Wojciechowicz C/LB (1968)

Retired numbers

• Dutch Clark (7)
• Barry Sanders (20) ** Note: The #20 was retired specifically for Sanders, even though the retired number was also worn by RB Billy Sims and DB Lem Barney, both of whom are also among the top all-time Lions at their positions.
• Bobby Layne (22)
• Doak Walker (37)
• Joe Schmidt (56)
  • Note: The #56 was unretired with Schmidt's blessing when the Lions acquired linebacker Pat Swilling from the Saints. No player has worn it since Swilling left.
• Chuck Hughes (85) ** Note: Hughes died of a heart attack during a game on October 24, 1971, and his #85 was withdrawn from circulation. However, WR Kevin Johnson wore #85 during his stint in Detroit after asking permission from the Hughes family as he had worn that number throughout his professional career.

Temporary

• Corey Smith (93) - The Lions retired #93 for the 2009 season after Smith went missing, presumed dead, when a boat he was fishing in with friends capsized off the Florida coast."Lions to retire Smith's No. 93 in '09", ESPN, 2009-03-21. Retrieved on 2009-03-21.  The Lions also wore 93 stickers on their helmets that season. Number 93 was assigned to Kyle Vanden Bosch in 2010.

Lions Legends

The Lions have a special program called "Lions Legends" that honors noteworthy former players. The current list of legends includes not only the hall of famers listed above, but also the following players, who according to the Lions, "...Created special moments and added to the lore of football in the Motor City.":

• Charley Ane C/T
• Al Baker DE
• Jerry Ball DT
• Terry Barr WR/DB
• Les Bingaman DT
• Bennie Blades S
• Cloyce Box RB/TE/QB
• Lomas Brown T
• Dexter Bussey RB
• Gail Cogdill E
• James David DB
• Keith Dorney T/G
• Doug English DT
• Jim Gibbons TE
• Kevin Glover C/G
• Mel Gray WR/KR
• Robert Hoernschemeyer RB
• James Hunter DB
• Alex Karras DT
• Greg Landry QB
• Dick LeBeau DB
• Mike Lucci LB
• Darris McCord DE
• Scott Mitchell QB
• Herman Moore WR
• Eddie Murray K
• Brett Perriman WR
• Rodney Peete QB
• Tobin Rote QB
• Barry Sanders RB
• Harley Sewell G
• Billy Sims RB
• Chris Spielman LB
• Wayne Walker LB

Coaches

• Main article: List of Detroit Lions head coaches

Current staff

Detroit Lions current staff
	Front office Owner – Sheila Ford Hamp Vice chairpeople – William Clay Ford Jr., Martha Ford Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp, and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis Team president – Rod Wood Executive vice president and general manager – Bob Quinn Vice president of football administration – Mike Disner Special Assistant / Chairperson - Chris Spielman Assistant General Manager – Ray Agnew Director of College Scouting – Brian Hudspeth Director of pro scouting – Rob Lohman Senior personnel executive – John Dorsey Head coaches Head coach – Matt Campbell Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs – Scottie Montgomery Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Ben Johnson Passing game coordinator – Tanner Engstrand Quarterbacks – Mark Brunell Assistant Quarterbacks – J.T. Barrett Wide Receivers – Antwaan Randle El Asst. Wide Receivers – Seth Ryan Tight ends – Steve Heiden Offensive line – Hank Fraley Assistant offensive line – Steve Oliver			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Aaron Glenn Run Game Coordinator / Defensive line – Terrell Williams Asst. Defensive Line - Cameron Davis Linebackers – Kelvin Sheppard Assistant Linebackers – Shaun Dion Hamilton Passing game coordinator / Defensive backs – Deshea Townsend Defensive assistant - Jim O'Neil WCF minority coaching assistant / Defensive quality control – Dré Thompson Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Dave Fipp Assistant special teams – Jett Modkins Strength and conditioning Director of sports performance – Mike Clark Director of sports science – Jill Costanza Head Strength & Conditioning – Josh Schuler Assistant strength & conditioning – Morris Henry → Coaching staff → Management → More NFL staffs

According to USA Today, the Lions have added two new directors of scouting evaluation. Naveed Carim and Brett Jaksim were discovered by Martin Mayhew to work under Sheldon White in all scouting capacities. They have brought on their own system of player evaluation called the "PANDIAN" system, which they developed while attending the University of Michigan and the University of Oregon respectively.

Radio and television

• Main article: List of Detroit Lions broadcasters

Radio

• Main article: Detroit Lions Radio Network

The Lions' flagship radio stations are WXYT-FM, 97.1 FM, and WXYT-AM, 1270 AM. Dan Miller does play-by-play, Jim Brandstatter does color commentary, and Tony Ortiz provides sideline reports.Detroit Lions Official Site: Detroit Lions Radio Network Affiliates If a conflict with Detroit Tigers or Detroit Red Wings coverage arises, only WXYT-FM serves as the Lions' flagship. The Lions and WXYT AM/FM renewed their partnership for three more seasons on October 9, 2009.Lions staying with WXYT as flagship station Detroit News October 9, 2009

TV

Preseason

• Main article: Detroit Lions Television Network

From 2008 to 2010, WWJ-TV has been the flagship television station for Lions pre-season games.WWJ-TV, CBS Detroit and the Detroit Lions Announce 2010 Lions Pre-Season Broadcast Plans Detroit Lions Official Site May 13, 2010 The announcers were Matt Shepard on play-by-play and Rob Rubick with color commentary. Steve Courtney and Lions Hall of Famer Charlie Sanders hosted the pre-game show and halftime show and provide sideline reports. WXYZ-TV will assume the role as flagship station beginning in the 2011 season.WXYZ: "Detroit Lions and WXYZ partner for 2011 season", February 8, 2011.

Regular season

Regular season games are broadcast regionally on Fox, except when the Lions play an AFC team in Detroit, in which case the game airs regionally on CBS. The Thanksgiving Classic game in Detroit is always televised nationally on either Fox or CBS, depending on who the visiting team is. The Detroit Lions are the only NFC team that hasn't yet played on NBC (the Houston Texans hold that distinction for the AFC) when they got the NFL back in 2006. The Lions' official regular season show of record is The Ford Lions Report. For regular season games versus NFC opponents when Fox doesn't have a double header, WJBK produces a live postgame show.

Blackouts

The Lions' winless performance in 2008 and 2–14 season in 2009, coupled with the effects of the Late-2000s recession in Michigan, led to several local broadcast blackouts, as local fans did not purchase enough tickets by the 72-hour blackout deadline. In 2008, five of the Lions' final six home games of the season did not sell out, with the Thanksgiving game being the exception. The first blackout in the seven-year history of Ford Field was on October 26, 2008, against the Washington Redskins. The previous 50 regular season home games had been sellouts. The second home game of the 2009 season in which the Lions broke the losing streak (also against the Washington Redskins) was blacked out locally, as well as the comeback victory over the Cleveland Browns. The Lions had only one blackout in 2010, the Washington Redskins game,Kowalski, Tom (October 28, 2010). Detroit Lions' game on Sunday will be blacked out locally. MLive.com. Retrieved on October 29, 2010. which the Lions won 37–25. Games were also often blacked out at the Lions' previous home, the (perhaps over-sized) 80,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome, despite winning seasons and the success and popularity of Barry Sanders.

External links

• Detroit Lions Official Website
• Detroit Lions article at Wikipedia