Detroit Lions

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.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Coliseum was thick with anticipation, smelling faintly of grass and popcorn as the Rams prepared for another clash against Detroit. The blue and yellow uniforms stood in sharp contrast to the silver and Honolulu blue across the line of scrimmage. It wasn't just a game; it was a continuation of a story written decades prior on muddy fields in Chicago and Los Angeles. As the quarterback dropped back, scanning the field, he knew that every yard gained against this opponent echoed the footsteps of legends like Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin.

Reader's Guide

The Lions' uniforms have remained largely unchanged since 1934, featuring silver helmets, silver pants, and either blue or white jerseys. The blue is officially known as 'Honolulu blue,' inspired by the color of waves off the coast of Hawaii. The team has worn various alternate uniforms over the years, including black jerseys and throwback designs. The Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934, except during World War II (1939–1944).

Did You Know?

• The Lions' colors were chosen by team owner George A. Richards after Glenn Presnell and his wife selected blue and silver from options that included red and white, orange and black, and blue and silver.
• The Lions are the only franchise that has been in the NFL for the entire Super Bowl era without ever appearing in a Super Bowl.
• The Lions' 1957 NFL Championship was their fourth and most recent league title.