A Brief History of the Detroit Lions

As with the entire NFL, "next year" is here for the Detroit Lions but before the season begins, let's take a brief look at the long history of the team. Hey, you might as well laugh as cry...

1934. Detroit radio executive George A. Richards purchases the four-year-old NFL franchise known as the Portsmouth Spartans, takes them out of Ohio, changes the team name, and installs them in Detroit. The Detroit Lions become the fourth professional football franchise in the Motor City, following the Heralds/Tigers (1920-1921), Panthers (1925-1926) and Wolverines (1928). The purchase price of just under $8,000 is thought to be a huge acquisition at the time; today, this amount would just about cover Shaun Rogers' lunch.

1935. The Clarks - coach "Potsy" and Hall of Fame QB "Dutch" lead the Detroit Lions to the title, defeating the New York Giants 26-7 after a running up a bizarre 7-3-2 record in the regular season. Potsy leaves the Detroit Lions for the Brooklyn football Dodgers in 1937, and Dutch takes over as player-coach.

1940. The NFL's leading rusher of two years previous, Bryon "Whizzer" White joins the Detroit Lions and leads the league in rushing attempts and yardage. In 1941, White leads the league in punting yards and retires from football after the season, going on to become a Supreme Court justice.

1942. Beginning a medium-term run of futility, the Detroit Lions go 0-11, score a total of 38 points and are shut out five times. The two-year record of 3-17-1 in 1942 and 1943 is the Detroit Lions' worst ever for two seasons and is not threatened until the Marty Mornhiweg era.

1948. A group of Detroit businessmen led by majority owner Edwin J. Anderson buy the Detroit Lions. This group owns the franchise until 1964.

1948. A harbinger of a coach, Alvin McMillin, is hired and leads the Detroit Lions to three seasons of a combined 12-24 record.

Roary the Lion: Mostly tame since 1957

Credit: Detroit Lions Football, Inc.

Copyright: Detroit Lions Football, Inc.