DETROIT LIONS

 

The Detroit Lions franchise was originally established in Portsmouth Ohio in 1929 and then in 1934 was moved and rebranded as the Detroit Lions. The Lions won four NFL championships prior to the Super Bowl era (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957). Players like QB Bobby Layne and RB/WR Doak Walker helped the Lions establish their dominance in the 50’s with a systematic and dominant offensive unit. Since then and until recently, the Lions have produced perennially pitiful, boring, and cringeworthy football, with few bright spots to look back on. The Lions lone playoff win between 1967 and 2024 came in 1991 on the back of all-time great Barry Sanders. Mathew Stafford and Calvin Johnson (aka Megatron) provided a decade of watchable football for Detroit loyalists although producing exactly ZERO playoff wins during this span. Excluding a few bright spots, the Lions entire existence has been defined by continual disappointment and decreasing expectations for fans and everyone involved in the organization. For decades, the Lions were the punching bag for division counterparts Vikings, Bears, and Packers. Those two games against the Lions, both away and home, could always be counted on by Vikings, Bears, and Packers fans as guaranteed wins. From the 0-16 season (2008), to countless beatdowns, blowouts, and face-stompings every year, the Lions were considered, absolutely and universally, a joke. Then came Dan Cambell. 

 

Some may say that this recent change in the Lions success can be attributed to quarterback Jared Goff’s superb play. But then you remember that, for 12 years, the Lions had future Hall of Famer Mathew Stafford and couldn’t win anything. The change that has happened to the Lions organization is one of the most profound shifts that I have ever witnessed in sports; and it goes beyond the quarterback. The Lions hired Dan Campbell in the 2021 offseason. In his introductory press conference Campbell preached the importance of culture. He talked about the importance of resilience and grit. He kept it real; he acknowledged that it was going to be hard and that success may take a while. Coach Campbell didn’t make any crazy promises of success or set any unrealistic expectations for his team. He did, however, promise that his team would never give up. He promised to imbue his team with the attitude and fight that represented the spirit of Detroit. The “Detroit vs. Everybody “ mentality. Not to use this as an excuse or as a reason for self-pity, but as a challenge. A challenge to take all of the punches and punch back. The term “biting knee caps” was the rallying cry for Campbell's squad in his first couple years. On a 4th & 2, as time expired, Jared Goff threw an 11 yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the endzone. Campbell and the 0-10-1 Detroit Lions won their first game in a year, Campbell’s first win as the Lions Head Coach (27-23 vs MN). From there, the Lions continued to bite knee caps. In week 18 of that season Detroit knocked off 13-3 Green Bay. They did it again the following year, again in week 18, this time to keep their hated rival out of the playoffs. That year (2022), the Lions ended with a winning 9-8 record. From there, Detroit has gone 12-5 and 15-2 and made it to the NFC Championship game in 2024. The Lions are now closer than they have ever been to making and winning their first Super Bowl. On January 20, 2021 Dan Campbell made a promise. He made a promise to all of the players, all of the fans, and everyone in the organization. He made a promise to all of these people, knowing the hurt and hopelessness that this organization and the city of Detroit felt. He promised to change the culture. He was honest and meant what he said. While Detroit has not done it yet, Campbell’s approach should be taken down as a blueprint to build a franchise back up front the dirt. Believe in your guys, be honest, and never back down. Detroit has a bright, bright future with Dan Campbell, and a Super Bowl win appears closer than ever.