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30 unusual facts about Detroit Lions


1942–43 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

Bob Wiese, who was the team's third leading scorer, played professional football for the Detroit Lions from 1947 to 1948.

Az-Zahir Hakim

Hakim joined the Detroit Lions as a free agent in 2002 and proceeded to have a rebound season in terms of receiving yards and in the punt return game.

Ben Schadler

He was also selected in the 1945 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions (31st round, 321st overall) but never played in the National Football League.

Charlie Sanders

Charles Alvin Sanders (born August 25, 1946) is a former American football player who played tight end for the Detroit Lions from 1968-77.

Chris Hannon

After being waived by the Dolphins, Hannon was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on December 23, 2008.

Darren Sharper

The first of which was a 50-yard return in week 10 to help the Packers to a 20–10 victory over the Detroit Lions.

Dennis Archer

Archer was a strong supporter of numerous construction projects in downtown Detroit, including two new stadiums, Ford Field for the Detroit Lions and Comerica Park for the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit Lions

Regular season games are broadcast regionally on Fox, except when the Lions play an AFC team in Detroit, in which case the game airs regionally on CBS.

Domenik Hixon

At the start of free agency, Hixon reportedly turned down an offer from the Detroit Lions.

Don Phelps

The Browns reached the championship game in the following two seasons but lost to the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions.

Donnie Henderson

Henderson soon accepted the defensive coordinator position for the Detroit Lions and new head coach, Rod Marinelli.

Doug Van Horn

Douglas Claydon Van Horn (born June 24, 1944 in Sedalia, Missouri) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants.

Glenn Pires

He switched franchises, but stayed in the same position when he joined the Detroit Lions.

Gunther Cunningham

Gunther Cunningham (born June 19, 1946) is a former American football defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions.

Hugh McElhenny

Hugh Edward McElhenny (born December 31, 1928 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions.

Janoris Jenkins

In Week 1 against the Detroit Lions, Jenkins recorded his first career interception, returning it 34 yards.

Jerry Quaerna

Jerry Quaerna was a player in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions in 1987 as a tackle.

John Schneller

John Benjamin Schneller (November 1, 1911 – November 6, 1978) was a National Football League (NFL) player for the Portsmouth Spartans/Detroit Lions from 1933 to 1936, playing end on offense and defense.

Keiland Williams

The Detroit Lions claimed Williams off of waivers on September 4, 2011.

Larry Ferguson

He was named a first team All-American in 1960 and played one season for the Detroit Lions.

Pat Swilling

Patrick Travis Swilling (born October 25, 1964) is a former American football linebacker in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, and Oakland Raiders, and a former delegate in the Louisiana House of Representatives.

Paul Janus

The following year he was a member of the Detroit Lions, but did not see any playing time during the regular season.

Ralph Kohl

After the 1964 season, Kohl resigned his position as the head coach at Eastern Illinois to accept a job a scout for BLESTO, an NFL scouting combine that was an acronym for the Bears, Lions, Eagles and Steelers Talent Organization.

Sammie Lee Hill

Hill was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and was the first player from Stillman to be drafted.

Terry Joyce

Over the next few years Joyce attended training camps with the Detroit Lions, L.A. Rams and San Francisco 49ers, but never made the final team rosters.

Terry Tautolo

Terry Lynn Tautolo (born August 30, 1954 in Corona, California) is a former professional American football linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins.

Tom Lewand

Tom Lewand was named president of the Detroit Lions on December 29, 2008, after the team finished the first 0-16 season in NFL history.

Vic Rapp

After his firing, Rapp served as an assistant with the Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Arizona Cardinals.

Visanthe Shiancoe

Fox aired a post game segment following a victory over the Detroit Lions in 2008.

West Branch Area School District

Larry Beightol, a former football player at West Branch, is an offensive line coach in the NFL, most recently working with the Detroit Lions.


1962 NFL season

The Packers successfully defended their 1961 NFL title, finishing the 1962 season at 14–1; their only loss was to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.

1994 Detroit Lions season

The 1994 Detroit Lions season was the 65th season in franchise history.

2005 Detroit Lions season

The 2005 Detroit Lions season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2005.

2006 Detroit Lions season

The 2006 Detroit Lions season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–11 record in 2005.

2012 Irwin Tools Night Race

Because of this, WOTV in Battle Creek, Michigan was the only West Michigan ABC affiliate airing the race, as WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan was simulcasting WXYZ-TV in Southfield, Michigan's Detroit Lions coverage and, unlike WXYZ-TV, chose not to join the race in progress, choosing to air syndicated programming instead.

Benny Ricardo

Benito Concepcion "Benny" Ricardo (born January 4, 1954 in Asunción, Paraguay) is a former American football placekicker in the NFL (1976-1984) for the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and the San Diego Chargers.

Blair Walsh

In 2013's season opener against the Detroit Lions, Walsh tied the record for most consecutive 50 yard or more field goals with eleven, tying with Robbie Gould and Tony Zendejas.

Cadillac Tower

From 1994 to 2000, one side of the building featured a 14-story mural of Detroit Lions star player Barry Sanders.

Chris Oldham

Christopher Martin Oldham (born October 26, 1968 in Sacramento, California) is a former professional American football cornerback for twelve seasons in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints.

Gus Cifelli

He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 19th round of the 1950 NFL Draft, as the 239th pick overall, and played for the Lions from 1950 to 1952.

Idaho State Bengals football

The quarterback during the 12–1 championship season was Mike Machurek, a sixth round selection in the 1982 NFL Draft (154th overall); he spent several seasons with the Detroit Lions.

Jack Henry

Henry's NFL coaching career began with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1990–91, legendary Head Coach Chuck Noll's last 2 seasons), he then moved on to coach at the University of Pittsburgh (1993–1995) and the Detroit Lions (1997–1999).

LaMarr Woodley

Woodley teamed with former Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers and former Chicago Bulls point guard Anthony Roberson at Saginaw High School in 2000 to win Michigan's Division II state championship in football.

Marcus Pollard

After being phased out of the Colts' offense due to the emergence of Dallas Clark, Pollard would join the Detroit Lions for two seasons.

Mark Bradley

Bradley has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New Orleans Saints; and Bradley's father, Danny Bradley, also played for the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions, selected in the 7th round of the 1985 collegiate draft after becoming an MVP quarterback for the Sooners and the Big-Eight Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 1984; leading his team to the 1985 Orange Bowl and a shot at the National Championship.

Marnix Van Holsbeeck

He serves as primary diagnostic consultant for numerous professional sports teams including the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and Detroit Lions.

Mead High School

Mead's best-known athletic alums are former Gonzaga star and former Los Angeles Lakers player Adam Morrison and former Washington State University and former Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson who is currently the 3rd all-time NFL leading scorer.

Stephen Trejo

Stephen Trejo (born November 20, 1977 in Mesa, Arizona) is a former National Football League running back/fullback for the Detroit Lions.

The Macomb Daily

The writers from the other Detroit area Journal Register newspapers who appear frequently in The Macomb Daily are Oakland Press staff writers Gary Graff (who covers pop music), Jim Hawkins (Detroit Tigers), Paula Pasche (Detroit Lions), and Dave Pemberton (Detroit Pistons and Michigan State Spartans) and the News-Heralds Matthew Mowery (Michigan Wolverines).

Tim Lappano

He has coached a variety of positions, most recently coaching Brandon Pettigrew as the tight ends coach of the Detroit Lions through the 2012 season.

Wilber Marshall

A week before that, he had a superb performance in the Redskins 41–10 win over the Detroit Lions, sacking Detroit quarterback Erik Kramer three times.

Woody Widenhofer

Widenhofer returned to the NFL for six years as an assistant coach, serving as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions under head coach Wayne Fontes, followed by two years as linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns under head coach Bill Belichick.