When was the last time the Detroit Lions made the playoffs?
The Detroit Lions last made the playoffs in 2016, when they lost the Wild Card Round. They've been in the playoffs a total of 12 times in their 60 seasons. When was the last time the Lions missed the playoffs? The Detroit Lions last missed the playoffs in 2019.
How many championships have the Detroit Lions won in the NFL?
The Lions have won four NFL championships, tied for 9th overall in total championships amongst all 32 NFL franchises; however, their last was in 1957, which gives the club the second-longest NFL championship drought behind the Arizona Cardinals.
Are the Detroit Lions still known as the Lions?
No, the Detroit Lions have been known by that name since 1960. When was the last time the Lions were in the playoffs? The Detroit Lions last made the playoffs in 2016, when they lost the Wild Card Round. They've been in the playoffs a total of 12 times in their 61 seasons.
When did the Detroit Lions win the World Series?
The game was played on December 15, 1935 in front of 15,000 fans in Detroit. The Lions won the game 26–7 to secure the franchise's first World Championship, which was also a part of Detroit's City of Champions for the 1935–36 sports season. The Detroit Tigers won the 1935 World Series, while the Detroit Red Wings captured the 1936 Stanley Cup.
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Has the Detroit Lions ever won a Super Bowl?
The Detroit Lions are the oldest NFL team to have never appeared in a Super Bowl and the only franchise from the NFC to have never played for the trophy.
When was the Detroit Lions last winning season?
Additionally, the Lions have won only a single post-season game since 1957, and have the NFL's longest active drought between playoff wins, with the Lions last post-season victory coming in 1991. Since then, the Lions have lost 9 consecutive playoff games.
When was the last time the Lions made it to the Super Bowl?
Not only have the Lions never won a Super Bowl, they have never even appeared in one. They are one of four current teams to never appear in the Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean the franchise has been unsuccessful forever. Read on below to learn about the history of the Lions and their championship resume.
When were the Detroit Lions last in the playoffs?
The (lack of) wins. As noted earlier, the Lions haven't won a playoff game since their Jan. 5, 1992, win over the Cowboys at the Pontiac Silverdome. It's not for lack of chances, though: The Lions have made eight playoff appearances — 1993 (their most recent division title), 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2014 and 2016.
What was the best year for the Detroit Lions?
The 1991 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 62nd season in the National Football League, their 58th as the Detroit Lions. It stands as the team's best season since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
What season did the Lions not win a game?
The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 79th season in the National Football League (NFL), and their 75th as the Detroit Lions. The Lions made history by becoming the first team since the schedule was expanded to 16 games to finish winless. William Clay Ford Sr.
How many times have the Lions gone to the Super Bowl?
Now that the number of NFL franchises to never appear in a Super Bowl has been reduced by another team, this leaves only two storied franchises without an appearance—the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions.
How many times has the Detroit Lions been in the Super Bowl?
Four current NFL teams have never appeared in a Super Bowl, including franchises that have relocated or been renamed: the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans, though both the Browns (1950, 1954, 1955, 1964) and Lions (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957) had won NFL Championship Games prior to ...
Who has the most Super Bowl ring?
Tom BradyWhich NFL player has the most Super Bowl rings? Tom Brady. There's a reason Brady is so often billed as the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T., if you will). He has reached the Super Bowl 10 times (9 with New England and one with Tampa Bay) and has won a record seven Super Bowls.
Which NFL team has longest playoff drought?
Two teams have gone 25 straight seasons without making a postseason appearance. Washington's drought went from 1946 through 1970, while the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals' drought went from 1949 through 1973.
Which NFL team has gone the longest without a playoff win?
The longest all time NFL playoff game win drought belongs to the Arizona Cardinals, who went 38 years without winning a playoff game between 1960 and 1998.
Who has longest playoff drought?
Longest Active Playoff Appearance DroughtT-1. Detroit Tigers, 8 Seasons (2015-Present)T-1. Los Angeles Angels, 8 Seasons (2015-Present)T-1. ... T-1. ... T-1. ... Cincinnati Reds, 27 Seasons (1996-Present)Minnesota Twins, 20 Seasons (2003-Present)Pittsburgh Pirates, 29 Seasons (1993-Present)More items...•
Who has never won a Super Bowl?
Which 12 NFL teams have never won a Super Bowl in franchise...Cleveland Browns. ... Detroit Lions. ... Houston Texans. ... Jacksonville Jaguars. ... Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22) ... Atlanta Falcons (2016-17) ... Carolina Panthers (2015-16) ... Arizona Cardinals (2008-09)More items...•
What NFL team has never won a Super Bowl?
Four NFL teams — the Browns, Lions, Jaguars, and Texans — have never appeared in the Super Bowl. The Lions and Browns both won championships prior to the NFL merger in 1966. Jacksonville and Houston have only been around since 1995 and 2002, respectively, and are the league's two newest expansion teams.
How many times did the Detroit Lions and the Browns meet?
The Lions and Browns had a solid rivalry in the 1950s, when they met four times for the NFL championship (Detroit won three of the matchups); they have met much less frequently during the regular season since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger due to the Browns' move to the AFC.
What year did the Detroit Lions blackout?
Main article: National Football League television blackout policies. The Lions' winless performance in 2008 and 2–14 season in 2009, coupled with the effects of the Great Recession in Michigan, led to several local broadcast blackouts, as local fans did not purchase enough tickets by the 72-hour blackout deadline.
How many head coaches have the Detroit Lions had?
Main article: List of Detroit Lions head coaches. The Lions have had 30 head coaches throughout their franchise history. Their first head coach was Hal Griffin, who compiled a 5-6-3 (.464) overall record with the team of 1930. Wayne Fontes was the longest-tenured head coach in Lions history, serving from 1988 to 1996.
What did the Lions wear on Thanksgiving Day?
The Lions also wore 1950s-style jerseys during their traditional Thanksgiving Day games from 2001 to 2004 as the NFL encouraged teams to wear throwback jerseys on Thanksgiving Day.
Why do the Lions wear WCF?
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.
When did the Lions change their jersey?
For 2008, the team dropped the black jersey 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 a new logo and uniforms on April 20, 2009.
When did the Detroit Lions move to Detroit?
Amid financial struggles, the team was relocated to Detroit in 1934. The team was 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 their 1957 championship, ...
What number did the Detroit Lions wear in 1972?
In 1972, the Lions improved to 8–5–1. In the following season, they regressed to 6–7–1.
How many fans watched the Lions win the Cowboys?
Despite there not being much hype or any playoff implications to the game, 77,512 fans came out to watch the Lions defeat the Cowboys 15–10. During the offseason, the NFL realigned to eight divisions of four teams thanks to the addition of the expansion Houston Texans. As such, the NFC Central became the NFC North.
What was the longest field goal in NFL history in 1970?
Despite the loss, the 1970 Lions remains one of the best teams in franchise history and one of the most underrated teams in NFL history. Also in 1970, the Lions were the opponent on the day Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints kicked what was then the longest field goal in NFL history.
How many games did the Lions play in 1982?
The Lions entered 1982 with hope for a possible playoff run. However, after a 2–0 start, a player's strike cancelled seven games, cutting the season to nine games. After the strike ended, the Lions finished 2–5. Despite this, a 4–5 record was good enough to qualify for the playoffs. They became the second team to qualify for the playoffs with a losing record. In the Wild Card Round, the Lions were routed 31–7 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins. In the following season, the Lions won 9 games in to capture the NFL Central division championship.
What division is the Lions in?
With the AFL–NFL merger, the Lions were placed in the new NFC Central division with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. Motown soul singer Marvin Gaye made plans, after the death of duet partner Tammi Terrell, to join the Lions and go into football. He gained weight and trained for his tryout in 1970, but was cut early on. He remained friends with a number of the players, particularly Mel Farr and Lem Barney, who appear as background vocalists on his 1971 classic single " What's Going On ." Finishing with a 10–4 record, they were the first team to qualify for the NFL's newly created wild card playoff position. However, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 5–0 after a long, grinding defensive struggle and did not see the postseason again for the rest of the decade.
How many fans were there at the Detroit Lions game?
The game was played on December 15, 1935 in front of 15,000 fans in Detroit. The Lions won the game 26–7 to secure the franchise's first World Championship, which was also a part of Detroit's City of Champions for the 1935–36 sports season.
What was the Lions record in 1939?
In 1939, the Lions' first year without their superstar players, they only managed a disappointing record of 6–5. This season would set the tone for the next decade. The 1940s saw the Lions only win 35 games. The low point was when they went 0–11 in 1942. The 1942 team was so bad that they only scored five touchdowns all season, were shut out five times, and never scored more than seven points in a single game. With the first overall pick in the 1943 NFL Draft, the Lions drafted Frank Sinkwich from Georgia. The Lions would finish the 1943 season with a 3–6–1 record. A notable occurrence during the season happened on November 7 when the Lions and the New York Giants played to a scoreless tie. To date, this is the last time an NFL game has ended in a scoreless tie. In 1944, Sinkwich won the NFL Most Valuable Player award after leading the Lions from a 1–3–1 start to a 6–3–1 finish. This was the team's first winning record since 1939.
How many championships have the Lions won?
The Lions have won four NFL championships, tied for 9th overall in total championships amongst all 32 NFL franchises; although the last was in 1957, which gives the club the second-longest NFL championship drought behind the Arizona Cardinals.
Where are the Detroit Lions?
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division.
How many times have the Lions appeared in the playoffs?
It has not been the best time for Lions fans in recent years as the team has not won a playoff game. When the Lions made the playoffs in 2016, that was their 17 th time in franchise history making the playoffs. The first time they advanced to the playoffs, you have to go all the way back to 1935. Detroit did have success in the early years as they won four NFL championships before the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
What was the Lions' record in 2016?
The Lions entered the 2016 NFL season looking to improve on their previous season record where they finished 7-9. Under head coach Jim Caldwell, the Lions made improvements during the 2016 season. The Lions started the season with a 39-35 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. After winning their first game of the season, the Lions struggled. They went on a three-game losing streak.
How many games did the Lions lose in Week 5?
They went on a three-game losing streak. Heading into Week 5, the Lions had a 1-3 record, and they needed to turn their season around. The Lions went on to win their next four out of five games, and they also went on a five-game winning streak.
When was the last time the Detroit Lions made the playoffs?
Now the Lions have had some seasons where they have advanced to the playoffs. In fact, the last time the Lions made the playoffs was in 2016. But, the Lions have not won a playoff game in over 25 years. The Detroit Lions last playoff appearance came in 2016.
Did Detroit advance to the NFC Championship?
Detroit advanced to the NFC Championship game and took on the Washington Redskins (now known as the Washington Football Team). The Lions had no answer against Washington as they lost 41-10. Since then, the Lions have not made it that far in the playoffs, nor have they won a playoff game.
Has the Lions ever made the playoffs?
The Lions have not made the playoffs since. How many times have the Lions appeared in the playoffs? It has not been the best time for Lions fans in recent years as the team has not won a playoff game. When the Lions made the playoffs in 2016, that was their 17th time in franchise history making the playoffs.
Why did the Saints defense take off?
The Saints defense overperformed much of the season, playing a bend-don't-break style and really took off because of Drew Brees.
Why did the Trojans split?
a split champion,it is because the Trojans split with an undefeated Oklahoma team that was the only undefeated team in the country.
How many points did the Bullets score in 1977?
NBA. The 1977–78 Washington Bullets. They were 44–38 during the season, which was somehow good enough for the #3 seed in an Eastern Conference that must have been trash. They really had to claw their way through the playoffs, and Game 6 of the NBA Finals was their only victory by more than 9 points.
How many times have the Tigers won the World Series?
The Detroit Tigers have appeared in the World Series 11 times, winning 4.
Why was USC a split champion in 1974?
1974 USC Football. a split champion,it is because the Trojans split with an undefeated Oklahoma team that was the only undefeated team in the country. Had the two played, Oklahoma's wishbone offense and nearly 74 rushing attempts a game would have beaten up USC. 2006 Italy National Soccer Team.
Which team won the NBA championship twice in a row?
The correct answer is probably 2003 or 2004. The Detroit Pistons won the NBA championship in 1989 and 1990, and then the Houston Rockets won it twice in a row in 1991 and 1992. Have a good day.
Which team won the World Series in 2006?
MLB. The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals. They were not only the worst team to win the World Series, but the worst team to ever make the MLB playoffs in a full season (the 1981 Royals were worse, but it was a strike-shortened season). They weren’t a team that started slow, either — they did worse in the second half of the season than in the first. They came into the World Series against the heavily
How long have the Lions been in the Super Bowl?
The Lions have not appeared in an NFL championship game (including the Super Bowl) since this title 64 years ago . It was their last postseason appearance until 1970 and their last postseason home game and victory until 1991.
How many yards did Jim Brown run for in the first quarter?
Taking full advantage of a pass interception and a fumble, Detroit ran up a 17–0 lead in the first quarter. Rookie running back Jim Brown gave the Cleveland rooters some hope with a 29-yard touchdown run at the start of the second period.
How many NFL officials were there in 1957?
The NFL had five game officials in 1957; the line judge was added in 1965 and the side judge in 1978 .
What is the history of the NFL championship?
History of the NFL Championship. 1 – Dates in the list denote the season, not necessarily the calendar year in which the championship game was played. For instance, Super Bowl LIV was played in 2020, but was the championship for the 2019 season.
Where was the 1957 NFL Championship game held?
The 1957 National Football League Championship Game was the 25th annual championship game, held on December 29 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit Lions (8–4), winners of the Western Conference, hosted the Cleveland Browns (9–2–1), champions of the Eastern Conference. Detroit had won the regular season game ...
Where was the last Super Bowl game played in 2020?
As of 2020, this was the last NFL playoff game played in the city of Detroit other than Super Bowl XL in February 2006. The Lions' other two home playoff games since ( 1991 and 1993) were at the Silverdome in suburban Pontiac .
When did the Super Bowl become the NFL championship?
2 – From 1966 to 1969, the first four Super Bowls were "World Championship" games played between two independent professional football leagues, AFL and NFL, and when the league merged in 1970 the Super Bowl became the NFL Championship Game. 3 – Italics indicate future games. v.
Overview
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 play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.
The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans, a…
Logos and uniforms
Aside from a brief change to scarlet and black from 1948 to 1950 instituted by then head coach Bo McMillin, which was influenced by his years as coach at Indiana, the Lions' uniforms have basically remained the same since they moved to Detroit in 1934–silver helmets, silver pants, and either blue or white jerseys.
Glenn Presnell, the then last surviving member of the 1934 Lions, recalled that …
Thanksgiving Day tradition
In 1934, then team owner George A. Richards, who also was the owner of a major radio affiliate of the NBC Blue Network, WJR in Detroit, the forerunner to today's ABC, negotiated an agreement with NBC to carry his Thanksgiving games live across all of the network's stations. Since then, the tradition of the Lions playing on Thanksgiving has continued uninterrupted.
Rivalries
The Lions have had several division rivals in their existence. Their oldest rivals are the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers, whom they have faced since 1930. The Minnesota Vikings have been in a division with Detroit ever since their inaugural season in 1961. Another notable longtime division opponent was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (25 seasons from 1977 to 2001).
The Lions also have a preseason rivalry with the Cleveland Browns, dubbed the Great Lakes Clas…
Radio and television
The Lions' flagship radio station is WXYT-FM. Dan Miller does play-by-play, Lomas Brown does color commentary, and T. J. Lang is the sideline reporter.
In 2015, the team announced that they were moving from WXYT-FM to WJR for the 2016 NFL season, ending a 20-year relationship with CBS Radio. The decision to part with WXYT was reportedly instigated by a demand by the team for the s…
Lions cheerleaders
On June 13, 2016, the Lions announced their decision to add official cheerleaders to the organization. The team also announced that Rebecca Girard-Smoker, formerly the director of the Detroit Pistons dance team, would be the coach of the cheerleading squad. It marked the first time in over 40 years the team had an official cheerleading squad. The cheerleading squad is a part of the entertainment during football games, and active at community events.
See also
• NFL on Thanksgiving Day
• History of the Portsmouth Spartans
External links
• Official website
• Detroit Lions at the National Football League official website
Overview
The history of the Detroit Lions, a professional American football franchise based in Detroit, dates back to 1928 when they played in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Spartans. In 2022, they will play their 93rd season, continuing to be one of the National Football League's oldest franchises.
Adjusting to life without Bobby Layne and committing to defense (1959–1969)
A 3–8–1 season in 1959 meant the Lions closed out their most successful decade in disappointing fashion. Going into the 1960s, the Lions decided to go with a new rebuild, this time centered around defense. The team started by trading defensive end Gerry Perry to the St. Louis Cardinals for cornerback Dick "Night Train" Lane. Joe Schmidt later called it "one of the best trades that will ever be made in any sport". Lane made three Pro Bowls and four All Pro selections as a Lion. Detroit …
Move to Detroit and early success (1934–1938)
In 1934, George A. Richards, a radio executive who owned WJR, a radio affiliate of the NBC Blue Network (the forerunner to today's ABC), purchased the Portsmouth Spartans for $8,000 and moved the team to Detroit, renaming them the Detroit Lions. Richards picked the name because he intended to put together a team that would be the "king of the NFL," much like the lion was the king of the jungle. He also wanted a tie-in to baseball's Detroit Tigers.
Struggling (1939–1949)
In 1939, the Lions' first year without their superstar players, they only managed a disappointing record of 6–5. This season would set the tone for the next decade. The 1940s saw the Lions win only 35 games. The low point was when they went 0–11 in 1942. The 1942 team was so bad that they only scored five touchdowns all season, were shut out five times, and never scored more than seven points in a single game. With the first overall pick in the 1943 NFL Draft, the Lions dra…
Team of the 1950s (1950–1958)
At the start of the 1950s, the Lions had a roster to compete for championships, but were still in need of a franchise quarterback. To solve this, they traded fullback Camp Wilson to the New York Yanks in exchange for quarterback Bobby Layne. After finishing a disappointing 6–6 in 1950, head coach Bo McMillin resigned. He was replaced by Buddy Parker, who had previously played for the Lions in the mid-1930s, including being a part of the 1935 championship team. The following sea…
Decade of mediocrity (1970–1981)
With the AFL–NFL merger, the Lions were placed in the new NFC Central division with the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. Motown soul singer Marvin Gaye made plans, after the death of duet partner Tammi Terrell, to join the Lions and go into football. He gained weight and trained for his tryout in 1970, but was cut early on. He remained friends with a number of the players, particularly Mel Farr and Lem Barney, who appear as background vocalists on his 1971 …
NFC Central Division champions and Billy Sims retires (1982–1988)
The Lions entered 1982 with hope for a possible playoff run. However, after a 2–0 start, a player's strike cancelled seven games, cutting the season to nine games. After the strike ended, the Lions finished 2–5. Despite this, a 4–5 record was good enough to qualify for the playoffs. They became the second team to qualify for the playoffs with a losing record. In the Wild Card Round, the Lions were routed 31–7 by the eventual Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins. In the following se…
Barry Sanders era (1989–1998)
With the third overall draft pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, the Lions selected another Heisman Trophy-winning running back, Barry Sanders from Oklahoma State. He played on offense with another rookie at quarterback, Rodney Peete. While the Lions showed improvement, they still finished a distant third in the NFC Central with a 7–9 record. However, the winds of change were blowing in Motown, because during his rookie season, Sanders rushed for 1,470 yards on 280 carries, and f…