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Detroit Lions Facts

Detroit Lions Facts
The Detroit Lions are a professional football team playing in the North Division of the NFC (National Football Conference) of the NFL. The Detroit Lions were originally called the Portsmouth Spartans, and were based in Portsmouth, Ohio, but after joining the NFL in 1930, it wasn't possible to remain in Portsmouth. The Great Depression and poor revenues threatened the team's survival. In 1934 the team was purchased by George Richards and a group of other investors, and moved to Detroit. The team was renamed the Detroit Lions, because Richards wanted his team to be the 'monarch of the NFL'. In 1935 the Detroit Lions won their first NFL championship.
Interesting Detroit Lions Facts:
The Detroit Lions' team colors are Honolulu blue, silver, black, and white.
The Detroit Lions' fight song is Gridiron Heroes. Theo 'Gridiron' Spight is the fight song singer.
The mascot of the Detroit Lions' is Roary the Lion.
The Detroit Lions have won four NFL (pre-1970s AFL-NFL merger) league championships including the years 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957.
The Detroit Lions have won 4 division championships including the NFL West in 1935, and the NFC Central in 1983, 1991, and 1993.
The Detroit Lions have won conference championships including the NFL National in 1952, and the NFL Western in 1953, 1954, and 1957.
The Detroit Lions have made 17 NFL Playoff appearances (as of 2014) in the years 1932, 1935, 1952-1954, 1957, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1991, 1993-1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, and 2014.
From 1930 to 1933 the Detroit Lions (then the Portsmouth Spartans) home field was Universal Stadium.
From 1934 to 1937 the Detroit Lions' home field was University of Detroit Stadium.
From 1938 to 1939, and from 1941 to 1974, the Detroit Lions; home field was Tiger Stadium.
Tiger Stadium was known as 'Briggs Stadium' from 1938 to 1960.
From 1975 to 2001 the Detroit Lions' home field was Pontiac Silverdome, and from 2002 on their home field has been Ford Field, located in Detroit, Michigan.
The Detroit Lions' Hall of Fame includes Lem Barney, Jack Christiansen, Dutch Clark, Lou Creekmur, Dick Lane, Yale Lary, Bobby Layne, Barry Sanders, Charlie Sanders, Joe Schmidt, Doak Walker, and Alex Wojciechowicz.
Former Detroit Lions players with retired numbers include #7 Dutch Clark, #20 Barry Sanders, #22 Bobby Layne, #37 Doak Walker, #56 Joe Schmidt, and #85 Chuck Hughes.
Former Detroit Lions' members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Lem Barney (1992), Jack Christiansen (1970), Dutch Clark (1963), Lou Creemur (1996), Curley Culp (2013), Bill Dudley (1966), Frank Gatski (1985), John Henry Johnson (1987), Dick 'Night Train' Lane (1974), Yale Lary (1979), Bobby Layne (1967), Dick LeBeau (2010), Ollie Matson (1972), Barry Sanders (2004), Charlie Sanders (2007), Joe Schmidt (1973), Doak Walker (1986), and Alex Wojciechowicz (1968).
The Detroit Lions are the only NFC team to have not yet made an appearance in the NFL Super Bowl.
The current head coach is Jim Caldwell; the president is Tom Lewand, and the general manager is Martin Mayhew..
The current owner of the Detroit Lions is Martha Firestone Ford, the widow of William Clay Ford Sr. She is also the chairman.


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