Ranking the Top 5 Lions head coaches of all-time
By Ryan Heckman
4. George Wilson
Longtime football fans might recognize the name George Wilson from his playing days, which began and ended with a division rival, the Chicago Bears. Wilson played for the Bears from 1937 to 1946, where he would enjoy a highly-decorated career.
As a player, Wilson won four NFL Championships in Chicago. He was a 3-time Pro Bowler and also made an All Pro team. After his playing career was over, Wilson started coaching in Chicago before heading to Detroit. Ultimately, Wilson would take over as head coach in 1957.
In his first season, Wilson not only won NFL Coach of the Year, but he won an NFL Championship. That's not too shabby for a first-year head coach. This also goes to show that, despite the Lions never winning a Super Bowl, they have indeed been champions in the past. Don't let the narrative fool you.
Wilson would coach the Lions for eight seasons before moving on to spend some time with Washington as an assistant, and then finally as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 1966 to 1969. As Detroit's head coach, Wilson went 53-45-6.