The Lions Den
The Lions have played on Thanksgiving since 1934, except 1939–1944.
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The team plays their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1929 (as Portsmouth Spartans; moved to Detroit in 1934)
Lore & Background
The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1928 and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930. Amid financial struggles, the franchise was relocated to Detroit in 1934 and renamed the Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Detroit Tigers. 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 a Super Bowl.
Reader's Guide
The Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day since 1934, with the exception of the years 1939–1944 due to World War II.
Did You Know?
- The Lions' blue color is officially known as 'Honolulu blue', inspired by the color of the waves off the coast of Hawaii.
- The team's black alternate jersey, referred to as 'Motor City Muscle', was a favorite of head coach Dan Campbell, who wore the original version during his playing days.
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