Some facts about the Detroit Lions

There's going to come a time when we don't celebrate going to the playoffs or getting into the playoffs, but that's not going to be tonight. It's been a long time coming and obviously it's something that we haven't done as an organization for a long time. Especially to do it at home in front of a great home crowd on Christmas Eve.
~Jim Schwartz, Lions Head Coach

In 1934 the then Portsmouth Spartans (of Ohio) were purchased by Dick Richardson and moved to Detroit. The cost of the team was just under $8K. The team was renamed the Detroit Lions. The first game the Lions ever played was on September 23, 1934 when they beat the New York Giants 9-0.

In 1935 the Lions won the NFL Championship. The 1935 season was 7-3-2. They won the Championship game against the New York Giants 26-7. The quarterback on that winning team was Earl Clark.

It has been up and down for Lions fans ever since.



Teams that have never played in a Super Bowl:

• Cleveland Browns
• Houston Texans
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Detroit Lions

There is a longer list of teams that have never won a Super Bowl, and obviously, the Lions are on that list too. The Lions have had only 1 playoff victory since the year 1957 when they kicked the sh ...beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-6.

The Lions have played on Thanksgiving day since 1934 (except during WWII).  The 1934 Thanksgiving game was played against the Chicago Bears. Dick Richards arranged for the game to be televised nationally. The Lions lost the first ever Thanksgiving Day game. The now traditional game was played against the Bears for the first 5 years. In the 50s and 60s, the Lions played Green Bay. As time has gone on, most teams have challenged the Lions on Thanksgiving. It is thanks to the Lions and Dick Richards that football has become a part of our Thanksgiving tradition.

 In 2008 was the bottom of the barrel for the Lions. It was a perfect season at 0-16. An NFL record.

Note: The Dallas Cowboys were granted the privilege to play on Thanksgiving in 1966.

Something else I learned: The Detroit Lions have no official cheerleaders. There is Detroit Pride - I hope the Lions do not continue to ignore them.