Detroit Lions: 2025 Roster, Players, Schedule, Super Bowl Wins and More

The Detroit Lions are a franchise of the NFC North, along with the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears. The Lions have built a legacy that runs deep in the Motor City. Their journey began at University of Detroit Stadium, with stops at Tiger Stadium and the Pontiac Silverdome, before finding their den at Ford Field in 2002—right in the heart of downtown Detroit.

A staple of Thanksgiving football since 1934 (except World War II), the Lions’ annual holiday showdown is a time-honored tradition. Started by first owner George Richards, who used his WJR radio station influence to put the team in the national spotlight. Through highs and lows, the Lions' faithful rally behind their team, embodying Detroit’s blue-collar grit and unwavering loyalty.

Overview of the Detroit Lions

Historical Background of the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions trace their roots back to 1929, when they were founded as the Portsmouth Spartans in Ohio. One of the few small-town teams in the early NFL. Despite their modest market, the Spartans made history, playing in the league’s first-ever playoff game. A tough 9–0 loss to the Chicago Bears to cap off the 1932 season. In 1934, the franchise moved its base to Detroit. And rebranding as the Lions—a name meant to symbolize strength, courage, and dominance on the field. Privately owned by the Ford family, with Sheila Ford Hamp as the principal owner, the Lions are more than just a football team for Detroit.

They also share strong ties with the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings, representing the city’s rich athletic legacy. The Lions are making an impact off the field. Leading community efforts through initiatives like Lions Inspire Change, which promotes social justice, education, and health programs across Detroit.

Notable Milestones and Achievements

• Founded in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans, the team was renamed the Detroit Lions in 1934 after relocating to Detroit.
• The Detroit Lions have won four NFL Championships (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957) before the Super Bowl era, cementing their early dominance in professional football.
• The 1953 team was one of the most dominant in franchise history, led by Bobby Layne, who guided the Lions to back-to-back championships in 1952 and 1953.
• Barry Sanders, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, won the NFL MVP award in 1997 and rushed for over 15,000 career yards before retiring in 1999.
• Calvin Johnson, also known as Megatron, set the NFL single-season receiving yards record in 2012 with 1,964 yards, a record that stood for over a decade.
• The Lions made the NFC Championship Game in the 1991 season, their deepest playoff run since the 1950s.
• The team ended a 30-year playoff win drought in the 2023 season, winning their first postseason game since 1991.
• In 2024, the Lions made their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history, becoming NFC Champions under head coach Dan Campbell.
• Legendary Players: Icons like Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, and Bobby Layne have left lasting legacies in NFL history.
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Several Lions legends, including Barry Sanders, Joe Schmidt, Dick LeBeau, Bobby Layne, and Night Train Lane, are enshrined in Canton.
• Ford Field, opened in 2002, remains one of the most iconic stadiums in the NFL, known for its passionate fan base and deafening crowd noise.

Major Rivalries of the Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

The Detroit Lions have no shortage of rivals, with battles that date back decades and are fueled by fierce division clashes. The Lions-Packers rivalry is one of the NFL’s longest-running feuds, dating back to 1933. These two franchises have been division rivals from the old NFL Western Conference (1933-1970) to the NFC Central, now known as the NFC North. With both teams battling for supremacy in the Black and Blue Division, every showdown carries serious stakes.

Chicago Bears

The Lions and Bears rivalry is as old-school as it gets. Their first clash was on October 22, 1930, when the Lions—then the Portsmouth Spartans—eked out a 7-6 victory. Since 1933, they’ve clashed twice a season, with only the 1987 season breaking the streak. This is a rivalry built on history, toughness, and a deep-rooted divisional battle.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings joined the NFL in 1961, instantly becoming a divisional foe. Both teams transitioned from the Western Division to the NFC Central after the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, and later to the NFC North in 2002. Though younger than the other rivalries, Detroit and Minnesota have built plenty of bad blood over the years.

Dallas Cowboys

Though not a divisional opponent, the Cowboys and Lions have built a compelling rivalry due to multiple playoff clashes and controversial moments. The most infamous was the 2014 NFC Wild Card game, where a controversial pass interference no-call cost Detroit a shot at advancing. Both teams have shared legendary players, including Hall of Fame running backs Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers-Lions rivalry has recently been revived, with intense playoff battles and NFC Championship stakes. The most notable game in recent memory was the 2024 NFC Championship, where the Lions had a 24-7 lead but ultimately fell 34-31. With both teams consistently in the NFC playoff picture, this rivalry is expected to grow in intensity.

Major Contracts of the Detroit Lions in 2025

The Detroit Lions are playing it smart with their 2025 cap space, balancing big-money deals with long-term stability. They’ve got a total cap of $271.1M, with $45.2M in cap space to work with, while carrying a $21.5M dead cap hit.

• Jared Goff – Locked in with a massive 4-year, $212M deal as the franchise QB.
• Amon-Ra St. Brown receives 4 years, $120M to keep torching secondaries.
• Penei Sewell stays put with a 4-year, $112M rookie extension.
• Taylor Decker, a 3-year, $60M contract. Frank Ragnow, 4 years, $ 54 M.
• David Montgomery (Running Back): At 28, Montgomery provides versatility and power to the backfield, complementing the team's rushing attack.​
• Graham Glasgow (Guard): The 33-year-old offers veteran presence and depth to the interior offensive line.​
• Alex Anzalone (Inside Linebacker): At 31, Anzalone brings experience and leadership to the linebacker corps.​

With plenty of cap room left, the Lions still have moves to make. Could another splash signing be on the horizon?

Notable Coaches and Players

The Detroit Lions have seen their fair share of head coaches—30 in total, which ties them for the second-most in NFL history. Only the Arizona Cardinals (42 coaches) have shuffled through more.

• Hal Griffen (1930) was technically the Lions' first coach, back when they were the Portsmouth Spartans. Interestingly, he also played for the team while coaching, leading them to a 5-6-3 record.
• George "Potsy" Clark (1931-1936, 1940) was the Lions' first coach after the move to Detroit. He wasted no time, leading them to an 11-3 record in his first season. He returned for a second stint in 1940 but didn’t stick around long.
• Earl "Dutch" Clark (1937-1938) took over after Potsy but had his hands full—literally. While coaching, he was also the team's starting running back. His coaching stint wasn’t great, but he later became a Hall of Famer as a player.
• Buddy Parker (1951-1956) was an instant success, leading the Lions to back-to-back NFL Championships in 1952 and 1953. But in true Lions fashion, things took a wild turn—Parker abruptly quit mid-speech in 1956.

• Wayne Fontes (1988-1996) holds the title of longest-tenured Lions head coach and is the winningest coach in franchise history (133 wins). He’s also the only Lions coach to win a playoff game in the Super Bowl era (1991).
• Bobby Layne was the fiery QB who led the Lions to three NFL Championships in the 1950s.
• Joe Schmidt, a Hall of Fame linebacker and one of the most feared defenders of his time.
• Barry Sanders was drafted in 1989; he electrified the league, earning Pro Bowl honors in all 10 seasons.
• Calvin Johnson, nicknamed Megatron, is a Hall of Fame receiver. Could Dan Campbell be the one to finally change the script?

Who Are the Starters for the Detroit Lions in the 2025 Season?

Here is the projected starting lineup for the Detroit Lions in the 2025 NFL season:

Offense

• Quarterback: Jared Goff
• Running Back: David Montgomery
• Wide Receiver 1: Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Wide Receiver 2: Jameson Williams
• Slot Wide Receiver: Kalif Raymond
• Tight End: Sam LaPorta
• Left Tackle: Taylor Decker
• Left Guard: Jonah Jackson
• Center: Frank Ragnow
• Right Guard: Graham Glasgow
• Right Tackle: Penei Sewell

Defense

• Left Defensive End: Aidan Hutchinson
• Right Defensive End: Josh Paschal
• Defensive Tackle 1: D.J. Reader
• Defensive Tackle 2: Alim McNeill
• Strongside Linebacker: James Houston IV
• Middle Linebacker: Alex Anzalone
• Weakside Linebacker: Jack Campbell
• Cornerback 1: Amik Robertson
• Cornerback 2: Cameron Sutton
• Nickel Cornerback: Brian Branch
• Free Safety: Kerby Joseph
• Strong Safety: Ifeatu Melifonwu

Special Teams

• Kicker: Michael Badgley
• Punter: Jack Fox
• Long Snapper: Scott Daly
• Kick Returner: Kalif Raymond
• Punt Returner: Kalif Raymond

The Schedule of the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are set for a high-stakes 2025 campaign, featuring showdowns with division winners from the AFC West (Chiefs), NFC South (Buccaneers), and NFC West (Rams).

Home Games

• Chicago Bears (5-12)
• Green Bay Packers (11-6)
• Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
• Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
• New York Giants (3-14)
• Cleveland Browns (3-14)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)

Away Games

• Baltimore Ravens
• Chicago Bears
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Green Bay Packers
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Los Angeles Rams
• Minnesota Vikings
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Washington Commanders