Detroit Lions
Franchise Overview 1928-2021 (94 seasons)

Teams Detroit Lions History Franchise Overview

The Detroit Lions franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930. 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, the team has won only a single playoff game in 1992 and never advanced beyond the NFC Championship Game. They are the oldest NFL team to not appear in the Super Bowl, as well as the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era and the only NFC team not to appear.

The Detroit Lions franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930. 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, the team has won only a single playoff game in 1992 and never advanced beyond the NFC Championship Game. They are the oldest NFL team to not appear in the Super Bowl, as well as the only franchise operational for the entirety of the Super Bowl era and the only NFC team not to appear.

1958 Detroit Lions

1928-2021 (94 seasons)

Detroit Lions Team History

All-time franchise record

583-695 (.456)

4 championships in 6 appearances

Franchise History

1934-2021

Detroit Lions (NFL)

1930-1933

Portsmouth Spartans (NFL)

1929

Portsmouth Spartans (indep)

1928

Portsmouth Spartans (indep.)

Top Seasons

Year Record Result

1957 8-4 Won NFL Championship

1954 9-2 Lost NFL Championship

1953 11-2 Won NFL Championship

1952 9-3 Won NFL Championship

1935 7-3 Won NFL Championship

View More Lions Seasons

Last 5 Seasons

Year Record Result

2021 3-13 Missed Playoffs

2020 5-11 Missed Playoffs

2019 3-12 Missed Playoffs

2018 6-10 Missed Playoffs

2017 9-7 Missed Playoffs

View All Lions Seasons

1st Round Draft Picks

Year Rd/Pick Player

2021 1 / 7 Penei Sewell OL

2020 1 / 3 Jeff Okudah CB

2019 1 / 8 T. J. Hockenson TE

2018 1 / 20 Frank Ragnow C

2017 1 / 21 Jarrad Davis LB

View All Lions Draft Picks

Longest Serving GM's

Tenure Years General Manager

1967-88 22 Russ Thomas

1989-00 12 Chuck Schmidt

1958-66 9 Edwin Anderson

2008-15 8 Martin Mayhew

1951-57 7 Nick Kerbawy

View All Lions General Managers

Team Owners

Tenure Years Owner

2020-21 2 Sheila Ford Hamp

2014-19 6 Martha Firestone Ford

1961-13 53 William Clay Ford Sr.

1948-60 13 Edwin Anderson

1948-60 13 Lyle Fife

1940-47 8 Fred Mandel

1934-39 6 George Richards

1932-33 2 Homer Selby

1928-31 4 City of Portsmouth, Ohio

View All Lions Owners

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F i l t e r & S o r t

Detroit Lions Media Guidepublication

Detroit Lions Media Guide

98 issues 1928-2025

This media guide is a comprehensive resource created by the team to provide detailed information about its players, coaches, history,...