1935 NFL Championship

Lore & Background

The Lions, coached by George 'Potsy' Clark, were in their first title game, three years removed from their loss in the indoor 1932 NFL Playoff Game as the Portsmouth Spartans. The Giants, coached by Steve Owen, were in their third straight title game and were defending champions. With an estimated 15,000 fans in attendance, it was the least attended peacetime championship game in league history.

In Their Own Story

The air at Briggs Stadium was crisp enough to see your breath, but the roar of the crowd drowned out the winter chill. It was December 29, 1935, and the stakes could not have been higher. As Harry Newman dropped back to pass, the weight of a city's hope rested on his shoulders. The New York Giants had come to steal the show, but the Lions' defense held firm, turning the tide with every tackle. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 26-7. Confetti rained down on the gridiron as players in their dark blue and silver uniforms embraced, knowing they had just etched their names into the annals of history.

Reader's Guide

The game was played in gray, wet, and windy weather on a sloppy field. The Lions took the opening kickoff and marched 61 yards for a touchdown on a 2-yard run by fullback Ace Gutowsky. Later in the first quarter, halfback Dutch Clark scored on a 40-yard run, giving Detroit a 13–0 lead. In the second quarter, the Giants responded with a 42-yard scoring pass from Ed Danowski to Ken Strong, making the halftime score 13–7. The score held until late in the fourth quarter, when a low Giants punt hit one of their linemen and was recovered by Detroit on the New York 26-yard line. A sweep by Ernie Caddel found the end zone, and a pass interception by future Lions coach Buddy Parker led to a final 4-yard touchdown run by Parker in the game's final seconds.

Did You Know?

• The Lions' starting lineup included halfback Dutch Clark, who was not a quarterback.
• The franchise began in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans, not as the Detroit Lions.
• The game was played on December 15, 1935, not December 8.
• The head coach in 1935 was George 'Potsy' Clark, not Lud Wray or Gus Henderson.

Franchise Origins and Relocation

Before becoming the Detroit Lions, this franchise began its journey in Portsmouth, Ohio, known as the Spartans starting in 1928. The team officially joined the National Football League on July 12, 1930, but financial instability eventually forced a significant move. In 1934, ownership relocated the organization to Detroit, renaming them the Lions to align with the city's Major League Baseball team, the Tigers. This transition marked a pivotal moment in NFL history, establishing a new identity for the struggling club. The relocation was not merely geographical but also symbolic, as the team sought to find stability and a fresh start in an industrial powerhouse. Under owner George A. Richards, the franchise navigated these turbulent early years, setting the stage for future success despite the economic hardships that plagued their initial existence in Ohio.

The Selection of Team Colors

The iconic visual identity of the Detroit Lions was determined through a unique personal selection process shortly after the team moved to Michigan in 1934. Owner George A. Richards tasked Glenn Presnell, a surviving member of the 1934 squad, and his wife with choosing the official color scheme from several options, including red and white or orange and black. The couple favored a combination of blue and silver, which Richards ultimately approved for the franchise. This specific shade of blue is officially designated as "Honolulu blue," inspired by the waves off the coast of Hawaii. While there was a brief deviation to scarlet and black between 1948 and 1950 under coach Bo McMillin, the core identity of silver helmets and pants paired with Honolulu blue or white jerseys has remained remarkably consistent since that pivotal decision in the mid-1930s.

Championship Success and Long Drought

The franchise achieved its greatest early triumph by winning four NFL Championship Games between 1935 and 1957, establishing a legacy of excellence during the league's formative decades. The 1935 victory was particularly significant as it marked their first title following the relocation to Detroit. However, after securing the championship in 1957, the team entered an extended period of struggle that defined much of its modern history. This drought continued for another thirty years without a victory until the franchise finally broke through in the 2023 season. Notably, despite operating continuously throughout the entire Super Bowl era, they remain the only team never to appear in a Super Bowl, highlighting a unique and often frustrating chapter in their long-standing NFL presence.

Evolution of Uniforms and Heritage

Throughout nearly a century of existence, the Lions' uniforms have undergone subtle evolutions while maintaining a strong connection to their heritage. The classic look features silver helmets and pants with Honolulu blue jerseys, though minor design tweaks like sleeve stripes and number colors have shifted over time. In 1956, auxiliary "TV numbers" were added to sleeves for broadcast clarity, later moving to the shoulders in 1999. The team has frequently honored its past through throwback uniforms, such as the 1994 edition replicating the 1935 championship gear and a permanent alternate jersey introduced in 2009 for their 75th anniversary. Recent updates include removing black from the brand identity in 2017 and introducing new sets like "One Pride" and "Motor City Muscle" in 2024, which blend modern aesthetics with historical elements like the leaping lion logo and specific color combinations.