Dick Richards leads a group that purchases the Portsmouth Spartans for the staggering price of $7,952. 08, moving them to Detroit, where in keeping with the jungle tradition with other Detroit nicknames the team utilizes the name Lions.

The Lions were the fourth NFL team in Detroit, with the Detroit Herald Tigers, Detroit Panthers and Detroit Wolverines. The Lions play their first game ever on September 23rd at the old University of Detroit Stadium, and beat the New York Giants by a score of 9-0 in front of 12,000 fans.

The Lions would go on to win their first 10 games that included 7 straight shutouts. Four days after their first loss the Lions host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving establishing a new tradition.

The Lions would lose the key game 16-13, and would go on to finish their inaugural campaign with a 10-3 record.