September 23, 1934

The Detroit Lions played their first NFL game.

Earlier that year, the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans moved to Detroit and were renamed the Lions. In their first game as a team with the National Football League, the Lions shut out the New York Giants 9-0 in front of 12,000 fans. During that season, the Lions won their first ten games and hosted the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, beginning a holiday home-game tradition that continues to this day.

Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past.  See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.