Top 9 Moments in Detroit Lions History

Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; A detailed view of a Detroit Lions helmet and gloves before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

9. Russ Thomas RETIRES
My first recollection of the Lions off the playing field was how much EVERYBODY hated Russ Thomas. It wasn’t that he was so incompetent, he was adequate- It’s that he BARELY cared about the results on the field. He was bent on showing the players who was boss and delivering Mr. Ford a profit.

8. 1983–THE DRIVE
Gary Danielson was coming off five interceptions and the Lions were only down by one point with a minute remaining. Gary looked spectacular in driving the team to the brink of what would be the Lions’ most amazing win in franchise history with perfect passes. He got them to the 26 yard line to set up for a 43- yard game winning field goal when…(positive memory ends here)

7. 1962 THANKSGIVING GAME
The Lions were the only team to beat the Packers that year. They had a pretty good team and pounded Bart Starr into the turf with 11 sacks. If there was a playoff system that year, they would have made it. The Lions had 3 future hall of famers on that team.

6. MNF GAME STARRING Eric Hipple
In the 80’s, the Lions were not a laughing stock, except for the Darryl Rodgers era. The team had Gary Danielson as it’s starter and he couldn’t start, so the Lions put in unknown Eric Hipple. On Oct. 19, 1981, Hipple burned the Bears for four touchdown passes and ran for two others and captured the imagination of all of the football fans in the country.

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