Team Facts

Firsts, Records, Odds & Ends

Franchise Granted:

July 12, 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans

First Season:

1930

Moved to Detroit:

June 30, 1934

NFL Championships:

1935, 1952, 1953, 1957

NFL Western Division Championships:

1935, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957

NFC Central Division Championships:

1983, 1991, 1993

NFC North Division Championships:

2023, 2024

All-Time Record:

(At Start of 2025 Season)

606-709-34

Retired Uniform Numbers:

#7 Dutch Clark

#20 Lem Barney

#20 Barry Sanders

#20 Billy Sims

#22 Bobby Layne

#37 Doak Walker

#56 Joe Schmidt

#85 Chuck Hughes

  • First Draft Choice: Sid Wagner, G, Michigan State, 1936.

  • First Regular-Season Game as the Portsmouth Spartans: A 13-6 win over the Newark Tornadoes, 9/14/30.

  • First Regular-Season Game as the Detroit Lions: A 9-0 victory over the New York Giants, 9/23/34.

  • First Thanksgiving Day Game: A 19-16 loss to the Chicago Bears, 11/29/34.

  • First NFL Title: The Lions defeated the New York Giants 26-7 in the 1935 NFL Championship game, 12/15/35.

  • First All-League Selections: George Christensen and Dutch Clark, 1934.

  • First Player Elected to the Hall of Fame: QB Dutch Clark, charter member, 1963.

  • First to Rush 200 Yards in a Game: Barry Sanders, 220 yards vs. the Minnesota Vikings, 11/24/91.

  • First 2,000-Yard Rusher: Barry Sanders, 2,053 yards (1997).

  • First 1,000-Yard Rusher: Steve Owens, 1,035 yards (1971).

  • First 3,000-Yard Passer: Gary Danielson, 3,223 yards (1980).

  • **Most Career Rushing Yards:**Barry Sanders, 15,269 yards (1989-1998).

  • Most Career Passing Yards: Matthew Stafford, 45,109 yards (2009-2020).

  • Most Career Receptions: Calvin Johnson, 731 receptions (2007-2015).

  • All-Time Leading Scorer: Jason Hanson, 2,150 points (1992-2012).