The Detroit Lions are 5-1 to start the 2024-25 season with Super Bowl aspirations, it’s taken quite a while to get to this point. The Lions have never been to a Super Bowl let alone win one, they did win championships in 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957. They were led by quarterback Bobby Layne in 1950 until 1958 when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, during his Detroit tenure he won three titles and played in 97 games going 53-29-2, throwing for 15,710 yards with 118 touchdowns and 142 interceptions. Following the trade, he said, “Detroit will not win for 50 years!” and, “I’d like to win a championship for the Steelers and for myself to shove down Detroit’s throat!” Well 50 years later was 2008 the season in which the Lions finished 0-16. The following season they drafted Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick out of Georgia. Stafford would quarterback the Lions from 2009 until 2020, he got to the playoffs with them three times in his tenure, but they never made it out of the first round, he would play in 165 games throwing for 3,898 yards with 282 touchdowns and 144 interceptions and finished with a 74-90-1 record.
The Brand New Detroit Lions
Stafford would be traded by the Lions on March 18, 2021, to the Los Angeles Rams, and what the Lions got in return and what they expanded from there has gotten them to now. The Lions originally got Jared Goff to be their quarterback as well as three draft picks which were two first-round picks one in 2022 and the other in 2023 with the third pick being a 2021 third-rounder. The Lions then went out and selected defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu with that third-round pick in 2021, in 2022 The Lions traded the Rams pick to the Minnesota Vikings for the 12th overall selection as well as the 46th pick while the Lions added in 32, 34, and 66; with those two picks the Lions selected wide receiver Jameson Williams at 12 and defensive end Josh Paschal with the 66th pick. In 2023 the Lions traded down with the Rams’ sixth pick as they moved that pick as well as a third-round pick 81st overall for Arizona’s first, second, and fifth picks which were 12, 34, and 168th; the Lions would then trade the 168th pick as well as the 122nd, and 139th pick for the 96th overall pick. Those picks turned into running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, and defensive tackle Broderic Martin. At the end of it all the Lions got Goff, Melifonwu, Williams, Paschal, Gibbs, LaPorta, and Martin for Stafford.
On top of those names, the Lions also brought in key pieces from the draft bringing in offensive tackle Penei Sewell, defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike, and Alim McNeil, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown all from the 2021 draft. In 2022 they drafted defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, safety Kerby Joseph, and linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez, and James Houston IV. In 2023, linebacker Jack Campbell, safety Brian Branch, and quarterback Hendon Hooker. This past draft they brought in cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Bottom Line: Is it time?
Last season it all came together as the Lions finished 12-5 and won the NFC North also hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1993 and won their first playoff game since 1991. The Lions made it all the way to the NFC Championship game and had a chance to reach the Super Bowl but the San Francisco 49ers stormed back in the second half to advance to the big game. Now this season as of yesterday’s win the Lions hold the one seed in the NFC with a lot of football left but the expectations are to reach the Super Bowl this season even with the loss to Aidan Hutchinson for the season. So 66 years the curse hit but things have turned around and the time is now for the Detroit Lions who have a real shot to hoist the Lombardi trophy.
