The Detroit Lions kick off the 2026 regular season this Sunday (Sept. 13), when then take on the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field. To celebrate the new season, we’re looking back on the biggest moments in Detroit Lions history, from championship teams/eras to jaw-dropping plays and everywhere in between.
The tradition of the Thanksgiving Game
Aside from a hiatus from 1939-1944, the Lions have played on every Thanksgiving since 1934. According to The Sporting News, then-owner George A. Richards booked the Thanksgiving game as part of a marketing gimmick to put more fans in seats. The stunt not only led to a sell-out, but it was broadcast to 94 radio stations across the country thanks to Richards also owning a major NBC radio affiliate at that time. And for generations since, regardless of the quality of the team, the Lions have been part of the holiday.
Lions win back-to-back championships in 1952-53 and another championship in 1957
Sure, the Lions have never won or been to the Super Bowl, but the team isn’t without championships. The Lions were a powerhouse in the 1950s and won back-to-back NFL championships in 1952 and 1953, followed by a third championship in 1957. Several Lions from this era have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Lou Creekmur, and Jack Christiansen.
Barry Sanders shocks the world, retires via fax
One of the darkest days in a franchise filled with bad memories. In 2000, at the peak of his career, Barry Sanders abruptly announced his retirement in a fax to his hometown newspaper, The Wichita Eagle. Despite posting Hall of Fame rushing yards, Sanders was frustrated with management decisions and only one career playoff win. This infamous moment is chronicled in the 2023 Amazon Prime documentary Bye Bye Barry.
Jason Hanson: The man, the myth, the “automatic” kicker who’s the Lions’ all-time leading scorer
When number 4 stepped on the field, it was an automatic 3 points. No one looked more relaxed kicking 50 yarders than Jason Hanson, and there’s a reason he’s the Lions’ all-time leading scorer. He played during a time when Lions couldn’t rely on much, except for Hanson drilling one between the uprights from almost anywhere on the field.
The 2008 Lions make history with 0-16 season
No one really wants to think about this moment, but the Lions’ 0-16 season is pretty difficult to overlook. After all, they became the first team in NFL history to go winless in a 16-game season, which then led to the Lions selecting Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Thanks to the 2017 Cleveland Browns, at least they’re not the only team to achieve this dubious distinction. Misery likes company, right?
Sept. 12, 2010: “Process of the Catch” (aka: The “Calvin Johnson Rule.”)
There are many rules in football, but few are as infamous (or infuriating) as what became known as the “Calvin Johnson Rule,” which brough the phrase “process of the catch” into the sports lexicon. This catch rule was amended in 2018, but more debate around the rule has surfaced since a controversial interception during a January 2026 playoff game between the Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills.
Martha Firestone Ford hands the reigns over to her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp
Martha Firestone Ford became the principal owner and chair of the Detroit Lions in 2014 following the death of William Clay Ford Sr. Those roles were taken over by Ford Hamp in 2020. Since then, the Lions have become a strong contender in the NFC following key personnel changes, and a resurgence in fandom has followed.
Jan. 14, 2024: Lions defeat a Matthew Stafford-led Rams 24-23, win their first playoff game in 32 years
In Matthew Stafford’s first Ford Field playoff game, the Lions beat the Rams in a 24-23 barnburner. This marked the Lions first playoff victory in 32 years, and the start of a new day in Detroit. Chants of “Jared Goff!” can still be heard in the stands if you listen closely.
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