detroit lions vs. st. louis rams the season begins consistency up front ...

and, along with new team uniforms that features the fi rst signifi cant
change to the Lions logo since it was introduced in 1961.
As Coach Schwartz labeled the 2011 season upon its conclusion,
it was not a great year but an important one. Perhaps most notably,
2011 will be rmembered for the “comeback” as the Lions returned to
the playoff s for the fi rst time since 1999 and set NFL records with four
comeback wins of 13+ points, three comeback wins of 17+-points and
two back-to-back 20+-point comeback wins. The Lions set several
HISTORY BOOK
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team records, including points (474) and yards (6,337), as well as
individual records. Perhaps the two biggest stars leading the Lions
in 2011 were QB Matthew Staff ord, named AP Comeback Player of
the Year, and All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson.
In 2012, the Lions return most of its starters and look to build
upon the last year’s success. The team is led by a mix of young
rising stars and veterans who provide both sound leadership and
high perfomance on the fi eld.
SIGNIFICANT DATES IN LIONS HISTORY
June 30, 1934 George A. Richards heads group that purchases
Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans for $7,952.08 and moves
team to Detroit.
Sept. 23, 1934 Lions play fi rst NFL game, beat New York Giants 9-0 at
University of Detroit Stadium before 12,000.
Nov. 25, 1934 Lions suff er fi rst defeat, 3-0 to Green Bay, a er winning
10 straight games, including seven consecutive
shutouts.
Nov. 29, 1934 Lions play fi rst of traditional Thanksgiving Day home
games, losing to the Bears, 19-16, before 26,000.
Dec. 9, 1935 Lions defeat New York Giants, 26-7, for fi rst
Championship.
Sept. 9, 1938 Detroit defeats Pittsburgh, 16-7, in the fi rst game
played at the Lions’ new home, Briggs (later renamed
Tiger) Stadium.
Nov. 24, 1940 Finishing the season with 514 yards, Byron “Whizzer”
White becomes the fi rst Lion to claim the NFL rushing
title.
Feb. 10, 1943 Gus Dorais named head coach of Lions, a er a
successful tenure at the University of Detroit.
Jan. 15, 1948 Syndicate headed by Edwin J. Anderson purchases
Detroit franchise for $165,000 and names “Bo” McMillin
general manager and head coach.
Dec. 2, 1949 Anderson elected president of Lions.
Dec. 20, 1950 “Buddy” Parker succeeds McMillin as head coach.
Dec. 21, 1952 Lions defeat Los Angeles Rams, 31-21, for NFL’s
National Conference title.
Dec. 28, 1952 Lions win fi rst championship since 1935 with a 17-7
victory over the Browns in Cleveland before 50,934.
Dec. 27, 1953 Detroit wins second straight championship with a 17-16
decision over Cleveland in Detroit before 54,577.
Aug. 12, 1957 Parker resigns suddenly as head coach and assistant
coach George Wilson succeeds him the next day.
Dec. 28, 1957 Detroit claims fourth championship on 59-14 victory
over Cleveland before 55,263 in Detroit.
Jan. 23, 1961 William Clay Ford elected president of Lions.
Sept. 7, 1963 Former Lions’ great Earl “Dutch” Clark becomes a
charter member of the new Professional Football Hall
of Fame.
Jan. 10, 1964 William Clay Ford takes over as Lions’ sole owner a er
purchasing franchise for $4.5 million.
Jan. 7, 1965 Harry Gilmer appointed head coach, replacing George
Wilson.
Mar. 10, 1966 A er 13 seasons, Joe Schmidt retires to become Lions’
linebacker coach.
Jan. 11, 1967 Schmidt named Lions’ head coach, succeeding Gilmer.
Dec. 26, 1970 Lions edged by Dallas, 5-0, in fi rst playoff game since
1957.
Oct. 24, 1971 Wide receiver Chuck Hughes dies on fi eld during game
a er suff ering a heart attack.
Dec. 17, 1972 Linebacker Wayne Walker plays in his Detroit-record
200th game with the Lions, a 34-17 win against the Los
Angeles Rams.
Jan. 12, 1973 Schmidt resigns as head coach.
Jan. 26, 1973 Don McCaff erty named Lions’ head coach.
July 28, 1973 Joe Schmidt, former Lions linebacker and head coach, is
enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
July 28, 1974 McCaff erty dies of heart attack.
Aug. 3, 1974 Rick Forzano named Lions’ head coach.
Aug. 23, 1975 Lions play the fi rst game in their new home, Pontiac
Metropolitan Stadium (later renamed Pontiac
Silverdome).
Oct. 4, 1976 Forzano resigns as head coach.
Oct. 5, 1976 Tommy Hudspeth named interim head coach.
Feb. 9, 1977 Hudspeth named head coach.
Jan. 11, 1978 Monte Clark named head coach and director of football
operations.
Apr. 29, 1980 Lions choose Oklahoma’s Billy Sims with the fi rst
overall pick in the NFL dra .
Jan. 8, 1983 Detroit qualifi es for fi rst playoff appearance in 12
seasons, but loses 31-7, at Washington. The Redskins
went on to win Super Bowl XVII.
Dec. 31, 1983 A er claiming club’s fi rst NFC Central title, a lastsecond
fi eld goal attempt fails as Detroit drops a 24-23
playoff game at San Francisco.
Dec. 19, 1984 Monte Clark and his coaching staff are released.
Feb. 6, 1985 Darryl Rogers named head coach a er a
successful 20-year college coaching career.
Nov. 13, 1988 Darryl Rogers released from his duties as head
coach.
Nov. 14, 1988 Defensive coordinator Wayne Fontes named
interim head coach.
Dec. 22, 1988 Fontes named head coach.
Dec. 26, 1989 General Manager Russ Thomas retires.
Dec. 27, 1989 Chuck Schmidt is named Executive Vice-President
and Chief Operating Offi cer.
Nov. 17, 1991 Guard Mike Utley suff ers paralyzing neck injury in
Detroit’s 21-10 win over the Rams. His “Thumbs
Up” sign as he was carried from the fi eld inspires
his teammates to win their next six games.
Dec. 22, 1991 Lions fi nish regular season with 12 wins (most
in franchise history) and claim the NFC Central
Championship, Detroit’s fi rst division title since
1983.
Jan. 5, 1992 Lions host fi rst playoff game in the Silverdome
and fi rst home playoff game since 1957. Detroit
defeats Dallas, 38-6, for the team’s fi rst playoff
win since 1957.
Jan. 12, 1992 Lions make their fi rst appearance in NFC
Championship Game, losing to the Redskins, 41-
10, in Washington.
Nov. 22, 1992 Barry Sanders becomes the Lions’ all-time
leading rusher, surpassing Billy Sims’ record of
5,106 career yards.
Jan. 2, 1994 Lions clinch NFC Central Division championship
for the second time in three years with a 30-20
victory over Green Bay in the Silverdome.
Oct. 23, 1994 Mel Gray becomes the all-time NFL leader in
kickoff return yards.
Nov. 13, 1994 Barry Sanders runs for a club-record 237 yards on
26 carries in Detroit’s 14-9 win over Tampa Bay at
the Silverdome. He would fi nish the season with a
then-Lions’ record of 1,883 yards.
Dec. 31, 1994 In Detroit’s third playoff appearance in four
seasons, the Lions drop a 16-12 Wild Card
contest at Green Bay.
Feb. 15, 1995 William Clay Ford, Jr. named Lions Vice-
Chairman.
Dec. 10, 1995 Quarterback Scott Mitchell breaks Bobby Layne’s
44-year-old club record for most touchdown
passes in a season (26). Mitchell ends the year
with 32 touchdown passes.
Dec. 17, 1995 Receivers Herman Moore and Brett Perriman set
NFL record for most catches and receiving yards
by teammates in a season.
Dec. 23, 1995 Herman Moore sets NFL record with 123 catches
in a season.
Dec. 30, 1995 The Lions play in their third straight wild card
playoff game, losing 58-37 at Philadelphia.
July 27, 1996 Former lineman Lou Creekmur is enshrined in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dec. 26, 1996 Wayne Fontes and his coaching staff are
dismissed.
Jan. 13, 1997 Bobby Ross named head coach.
Dec. 21, 1997 Barry Sanders becomes only the third player in
league history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a
season. He rushes for 184 yards in the fi nal game
to push his season total to 2,053 yards, the
second-highest seasonal tally in NFL history.
Dec. 28, 1997 The Lions play their fourth playoff game in fi ve
years, losing a wild card outing at Tampa Bay,
20-10.
Dec. 20, 1998 Herman Moore becomes the fastest player in NFL
history to record 600 career receptions.
July 28, 1999 Barry Sanders announces his retirement from
the NFL one day prior to the opening of training
camp.
Nov. 16, 1999 Lions host groundbreaking ceremony “From the