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 of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the NFC North division. The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit. The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[2] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Detroit Tigers.[3][4]
![View of Ford field from the stands.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Ford-Field-September-10-2006.jpg/400px-Ford-Field-September-10-2006.jpg)
The Lions have won four NFL championships, all of which pre-date the existence of the Super Bowl. The Lions' four championships are tied for the tenth most total championships amongst all 32 NFL franchises;[5] the last of these was in 1957, which gives the club the second-longest NFL championship drought behind the Arizona Cardinals.[6] They are one of four current teams, and the only one in the NFC, to have never played in the Super Bowl.[7] Two of these teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans, are expansion teams in the AFC that began play in 1995 and 2002 respectively.[8] Additionally, the Lions have won only three post-season games since 1957.[9][10][11] The Lions lost an NFL-record nine consecutive playoff games from 1991 to 2023, for which they hold the NFL record for worst playoff winning percentage.[12][5]
As of the end of the 2023 regular season, the Lions have an all-time record of 591 wins, 707 losses, and 34 ties in the regular season, with an additional 9 wins and 14 losses in the playoffs. The team has had 39 winning seasons, 49 losing seasons, and 6 seasons with as many wins as losses.[13][2][3] The Lions were the first franchise to finish a full (non-strike shortened) regular season with no wins or ties, since the move to sixteen regular season games in 1978, going 0–16 during the 2008 NFL season.[14]
Seasons edit
Legend | |
---|---|
(#) | The order of league championship won by the franchise |
Finish | Final position in league, division, or conference |
T-# | Finished tied in that position with one or more teams |
Pct | The team's winning percentage for the season |
† | NFL champions (1920–1969) |
‡ | Super Bowl champions (1970–present) |
* | Conference champions |
^ | Division champions |
§ | Wild Card berth |
° | One-game playoff berth |
Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coach | Refs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | W | L | T | Pct | |||||||||
1930 | 1930 | NFL | 8th | 5 | 6 | 3 | .464 | The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932[16] | Hal Griffen | [17] | |||
1931 | 1931 | NFL | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | George "Potsy" Clark | [18] | ||||
1932 | 1932 | NFL | 3rd°[A] | 6 | 2 | 4 | .667 | Lost Playoff Game (at Bears) 0–9 | [20] | ||||
1933 | 1933 | NFL | Western[B] | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | [23] | ||||
1934 | 1934 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | George "Potsy" Clark | [24] | |||
1935 | 1935 | NFL† | Western^ | 1st^ | 7 | 3 | 2 | .667 | Won NFL Championship (1) (Giants) 26–7 | [25][C] | |||
1936 | 1936 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | [27] | ||||
1937 | 1937 | NFL | Western | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Dutch Clark | [28][D] | |||
1938 | 1938 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | [29] | ||||
1939 | 1939 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Gus Henderson | [30] | |||
1940 | 1940 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | George "Potsy" Clark | [31] | |||
1941 | 1941 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Bill Edwards | [32] | |||
1942 | 1942 | NFL | Western | 5th | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | Bill Edwards (0–3) John Karcis (0–8) |
[33] | |||
1943 | 1943 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Gus Dorais | [34][E] | |||
1944 | 1944 | NFL | Western | T–2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Frank Sinkwich (MVP ) | [35][36] | |||
1945 | 1945 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | [37] | ||||
1946 | 1946 | NFL | Western | 5th | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | [38][F] | ||||
1947 | 1947 | NFL | Western | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | [39][G] | ||||
1948 | 1948 | NFL | Western | 5th | 2 | 10 | 0 | .167 | Bo McMillin | [40] | |||
1949 | 1949 | NFL | Western | 4th | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | [41] | ||||
1950 | 1950 | NFL | National | 4th | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | [42] | ||||
1951 | 1951 | NFL | National | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Buddy Parker | [43] | |||
1952 | 1952 | NFL† | National* | T–1st° | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Won Conference Playoff (Rams) 31–21 Won NFL Championship (2) (at Browns) 17–7 |
[44] | |||
1953 | 1953 | NFL† | Western* | 1st* | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Won NFL Championship (3) (Browns) 17–16 | [45] | |||
1954 | 1954 | NFL | Western* | 1st* | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Lost NFL Championship (at Browns) 10–56 | [46] | |||
1955 | 1955 | NFL | Western | 6th | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | [47] | ||||
1956 | 1956 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | [48] | ||||
1957 | 1957 | NFL† | Western* | 1st* | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Won Conference Playoff (at 49ers) 31–27 Won NFL Championship (4) (Browns) 59–14 |
George Wilson (COY ) | George Wilson | [49][50] | |
1958 | 1958 | NFL | Western | 5th | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 | [51] | ||||
1959 | 1959 | NFL | Western | 5th | 3 | 8 | 1 | .292 | [52] | ||||
1960 | 1960 | NFL | Western | T–2nd° | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Won Playoff Bowl[H] (vs. Browns) 17–16 | [54] | |||
1961 | 1961 | NFL | Western | 2nd° | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | Won Playoff Bowl[H] (vs. Eagles) 38–10 | [55][I] | |||
1962 | 1962 | NFL | Western | 2nd° | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | Won Playoff Bowl[H] (vs. Steelers) 17–10 | [57] | |||
1963 | 1963 | NFL | Western | T–4th | 5 | 8 | 1 | .393 | [58] | ||||
1964 | 1964 | NFL | Western | 4th | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | [59] | ||||
1965 | 1965 | NFL | Western | 6th | 6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | Harry Gilmer | [60] | |||
1966 | 1966 | NFL | Western | T–6th | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | [61] | ||||
1967 | 1967 | NFL | Western | Central[J] | 3rd | 5 | 7 | 2 | .429 | Mel Farr (OROY ) Lem Barney (DROY ) |
Joe Schmidt | [63][64][65] | |
1968 | 1968 | NFL | Western | Central | 4th | 4 | 8 | 2 | .357 | Earl McCullouch (OROY ) | [66][67] | ||
1969 | 1969 | NFL | Western | Central | 2nd | 9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | [68] | |||
1970 | 1970 | NFL | NFC[K] | Central | 2nd§ | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Cowboys) 0–5 | [71] | ||
1971 | 1971 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | .536 | [72] | |||
1972 | 1972 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | [73] | |||
1973 | 1973 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | Don McCafferty | [74] | ||
1974 | 1974 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | Rick Forzano | [75] | ||
1975 | 1975 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | [76] | |||
1976 | 1976 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | Greg Landry (CBPOY ) | Rick Forzano (1–3) Tommy Hudspeth (5–5) |
[77][78] | |
1977 | 1977 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | Tommy Hudspeth | [79] | ||
1978 | 1978 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Al Baker (DROY ) | Monte Clark | [80][81][L] | |
1979 | 1979 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | [83] | |||
1980 | 1980 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Billy Sims (OROY ) | [84][85] | ||
1981 | 1981 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [86] | |||
1982 | 1982 | NFL | NFC | None[M] | 8th§[M] | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Lost First Round Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–31 | [88] | ||
1983 | 1983 | NFL | NFC | Central^ | 1st^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 23–24 | [89] | ||
1984 | 1984 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | [90] | |||
1985 | 1985 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Darryl Rogers | [91] | ||
1986 | 1986 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [92] | |||
1987 | 1987 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | [93][N] | |||
1988 | 1988 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | Darryl Rogers (2–9) Wayne Fontes (2–3) |
[95] | ||
1989 | 1989 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Barry Sanders (OROY ) | Wayne Fontes | [96][97] | |
1990 | 1990 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | [98] | |||
1991 | 1991 | NFL | NFC | Central^ | 1st^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 38–6 Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 10–41 |
Wayne Fontes (COY ) | [99][100] | |
1992 | 1992 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [101] | |||
1993 | 1993 | NFL | NFC | Central^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) 24–28 | [102] | ||
1994 | 1994 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd§ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Packers) 12–16 | Barry Sanders (OPOY ) | [103][97] | |
1995 | 1995 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd§ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Eagles) 37–58 | [104] | ||
1996 | 1996 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [105] | |||
1997 | 1997 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd§ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 10–20 | Barry Sanders (MVP ) | Bobby Ross | [106][97] |
1998 | 1998 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [107] | |||
1999 | 1999 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd§ | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Redskins) 13–27 | [108] | ||
2000 | 2000 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Bobby Ross (5–4) Gary Moeller (4–3) |
[109] | ||
2001 | 2001 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | Marty Mornhinweg | [110] | ||
2002 | 2002 | NFL | NFC | North[O] | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | [112] | |||
2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Steve Mariucci | [113] | ||
2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | [114] | |||
2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Steve Mariucci (4–7) Dick Jauron (1–4) |
[115] | ||
2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | Rod Marinelli | [116] | ||
2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [117] | |||
2008 | 2008 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 0 | 16 | 0 | .000 | [118] | |||
2009 | 2009 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | Jim Schwartz | [119] | ||
2010 | 2010 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | Ndamukong Suh (DROY ) | [120][121] | ||
2011 | 2011 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd§ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Saints) 28–45 | Matthew Stafford (CBPOY ) | [122][123] | |
2012 | 2012 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | [124] | |||
2013 | 2013 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [125] | |||
2014 | 2014 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd§ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–24 | Jim Caldwell | [126] | |
2015 | 2015 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [127] | |||
2016 | 2016 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd§ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Seahawks) 6–26 | [128] | ||
2017 | 2017 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | [129] | |||
2018 | 2018 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | Matt Patricia | [130] | ||
2019 | 2019 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | [131] | |||
2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Matt Patricia (4–7) Darrell Bevell (1–4) |
[132] | ||
2021 | 2021 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 1 | .206 | Dan Campbell | [133][P] | ||
2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | [135] | |||
2023 | 2023 | NFL | NFC | North^ | 1st^ | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Rams) 24–23 Won Divisional Playoffs (Buccaneers) 31–23 Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 31–34 |
[136] | ||
Totals 5 Division titles 4 Conference titles 4 NFL titles |
591 | 707 | 34 | .456 | All-time regular season record (1930–2023) | [13] | |||||||
9 | 14 | — | .391 | All-time postseason record (1930–2023) | [13] | ||||||||
600 | 721 | 34 | .455 | All-time regular & postseason record (1930–2023) | [13] |
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Finished tied for first (by winning percentage) at 6–1–4; lost tiebreaker playoff game to the Bears, which dropped them to 3rd place (by winning percentage). The tiebreaker game was considered a regular season game, so 3rd place at 6–2–4 is the Spartans' final standing.[19]
- ^ Prior to 1933, the NFL determined their league champions based on win–loss percentage. After a tie for first place in 1932, the NFL arranged an extra regular season game to determine the season's champion. Based on the success of this matchup, George Preston Marshall and George Halas put forth a proposal to determine the league's champion in a championship match at the end of each season. In 1933, the NFL divided teams into two divisions, with the division champions set to meet in the NFL Championship game.[21][22]
- ^ In 1935, the NFL set the number of regular season games to 12. Prior to that, the NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play.[26]
- ^ In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 12 games since 1935, to 11.[26]
- ^ In 1943, the NFL again lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 11 games since 1937, to 10.[26]
- ^ In 1946, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 10 games since 1943, to 11 games.[26]
- ^ In 1947, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 11 games since 1946, to 12 games.[26]
- ^ a b c The Playoff Bowl (played between 1960–1969) was a post-season exhibition game to determine third place.[53]
- ^ In 1961, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 12 games since 1947, to 14 games.[26][56]
- ^ In 1967, the NFL divided conferences into divisions, resulting in two divisions in each of the two conferences. Up to 1967, the league was either divided its two divisions into, two conferences, or neither.[62]
- ^ In 1970, the NFL and American Football League (AFL) officially merged in the AFL–NFL merger to form one league with two conferences. All ten former AFL teams as well as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore from the pre-merger NFL joined the AFC; the other thirteen remaining NFL teams joined the NFC. Each of those two were divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West.[69][70]
- ^ In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[26][82]
- ^ a b The 1982 season was shortened to nine games after a players' strike. The top eight teams in each conference advanced to the playoffs.[87]
- ^ The 1987 NFL strike caused the schedule to be reduced to 15 games.[94]
- ^ In 2002, the NFL realigned to create four divisions in both conferences with four teams in each division.[111]
- ^ In 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 16 games since 1978, to 17 games.[26][134]
References edit
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