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AmericanFootball current event 2023 Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
Established July 12, 1930
Play in Ford Field,
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Detroit Lions helmet
Detroit Lions logo
Helmet Logo
League/Conference affiliations

National Football League (1930–present)

Current uniform
NFL-NFC-DET 2017 Jerseys
Team colors Honolulu Blue and Silver[1][2]
         
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)
Detroit Lions Historical Teams
1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939
1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Championships
League Championships (4)
Conference Championships (4)
Division Championships (5)
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

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: Portsmouth Spartans

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.Kowalski, Tom (9 February 2009). Tom Lewand: Lions' black uniforms discarded MLive.com. Retrieved on 9 February 2009. {C} 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.

Notable players[]

Current roster[]

Detroit Lions current roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

  • 45 Jason Cabinda FB
  • 35 Godwin Igwebuike
  • 28 Jermar Jefferson
  • 40 Javon Leake
  • 46 Craig Reynolds
  • 32 D'Andre Swift
  • 30 Jamaal Williams

Wide Receivers

  • 17 Trinity Benson
  • 87 Quintez Cephus
  • 18 D.J. Chark
  • 85 Tom Kennedy
  • 83 Javon McKinley
  • 11 Kaliff Raymond
  • 8 Josh Reynolds
  • 14 Amon-Ra St. Brown

Tight Ends

  • 86 Hunter Bryant
  • -- Garrett Griffin
  • 88 T.J. Hockenson
Tight Ends (cont'd)
  • 80 Jared Pinkney
  • -- Matt Sokol
  • 89 Brock Wright
  • 84 Shane Zylstra

Offensive Linemen

  • 63 Evan Brown C
  • 68 Taylor Decker T
  • 73 Jonah Jackson G
  • 78 Tommy Kraemer G
  • 67 Matt Nelson G
  • 77 Frank Ragnow C
  • 58 Penei Sewell G
  • 70 Dan Skipper T
  • 61 Logan Stenberg G
  • 72 Halapoulivatti Vaitai G/T

Defensive Linemen

  • 94 Eric Banks DE
  • 95 Romeo Okwara DE
  • 93 Da'Shawn Hand DE
  • 69 Jonathan Wynn DE
  • 96 Jashon Cornell DE
  • 76 Bruce Hector DE
  • 54 Alim McNeil NT
  • 75 Levi Onwuzurike DE
  • 98 John Penisini DT
Linebackers
  • 34 Alex Anzalone ILB
  • 59 Tavante Beckett OLB
  • 55 Derrick Barnes ILB
  • -- Jarrad Davis MLB
  • 43 Rashod Berry OLB
  • -- Chris Board OLB
  • 50 Shaun Dion Hamilton ILB
  • 53 Charles Harris OLB
  • 52Jessie Lemonier OLB
  • 99 Julian Okwara DE
  • 95 Romeo Okwara DE
  • 57 Anthony Pittman OLB
  • 51 Josh Woods ILB

Defensive Backs

  • 15 Brady Breeze SS
  • 42 Jalen Elliott SS
  • 40 Mark Elliott CB
  • 25 Will Harris SS
  • -- JuJu Hughes FS
  • -- Mike Hughes CB
  • 39 Jerry Jacobs CB
  • 26 Ifeatu Melifonwu CB
Defensive Backs (cont'd)
  • 38 C.J. Moore FS
  • 29 Parnell Motley CB
  • 1 Jeff Okudah CB
  • 24 Amani Oruwariye CB
  • 41 A.J. Parker CB
  • 27 Bobby Price CB
  • 19 Saivion Smith CB
  • 21 Tracy Walker FS

Special Teams

  • 47 Scott Daly LS
  • 3 Jack Fox P
  • 8 Riley Patterson K
  • 5 Aldrick Rosas K
  • - Austin Siebert K
Reserve Lists
  • currently vacant

Unrestricted FAs

  • 65 Tyrell Crosby OT
  • 79 Joel Heath DE
  • 69 Will Holden OT
  • 97 Nick Williams DE

Restricted FAs

  • currently vacant

Exclusive-Rights FAs

  • currently vacant


Rookies in italics
Roster updated April 1, 2022
Depth ChartTransactions

More rosters

Pro Football Hall of Famers[]

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
  • Vice president of player personnel – Kyle O'Brien
  • Director of player personnel – Lance Newmark
  • Director of pro scouting – Rob Lohman
  • Senior personnel executive – Jimmy Raye III
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
  • Offensive coordinator – Darrell Bevell
  • Quarterbacks – Sean Ryan
  • Running backs – Kyle Caskey
  • Wide receivers – Robert Prince
  • Tight ends – Ben Johnson
  • Offensive line – Hank Fraley
  • Assistant offensive line – Billy Yates
 
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Cory Undlin
  • Defensive line – Bo Davis
  • Linebackers – Tyrone McKenzie
  • Defensive backs – Steve Gregory
  • Defensive assistant - Tony Carter
  • Defensive quality control – Stephen Thomas
Special teams coaches
  • Special teams coordinator – Brayden Coombs
  • Assistant special teams – Marquice Williams
WCF Minority Coaching Assistantship
  • WCF Minority Coaching Assistantship/Offense - Leon Washington
  • WCF Minority Coaching Assistantship/Defense- Ty Warren
Strength and conditioning
  • Strength & power coordinator – Josh Schuler

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.

Notes and references[]

  1. "Detroit Lions statement regarding rebranding", NFL Enterprises, LLC, February 1, 2017. 
  2. Lions Visual Identity. 2019 Detroit Lions Media Guide. NFL Enterprises, LLC (August 8, 2019).

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