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The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the North Divison of the National Football Conference (NFC).[6] The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[7] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball franchise, the Detroit Tigers.[8][9] The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.[10]
Starting with the 1938 NFL season, the NFL instituted an All-Star Game that pitted the league's championship team against a team made up of the best players from the remaining teams.[11] Five of these exhibition games were played, with the last occurring after the 1942 NFL season before the NFL reduced the number of teams and games in the season due to players serving in World War II.[12][13] The first official Pro Bowl occurred in 1951 following the 1950 NFL season.[14] From the 1950 season until the 1969 season, the exhibition game was played between teams representing the Eastern and Western Conferences of the NFL.[15] After the American Football League (AFL) merged with the NFL in 1970, the game was played between teams representing the NFC and the American Football Conference (AFC). The conference team format remained until 2014 when the NFL shifted to a fantasy football format with teams selected by captains from the full pool of Pro Bowl selectees. This format only lasted for three seasons before it reverted back to the conference team format from the 2016 to 2021 NFL seasons;[14] this period included the cancellation of the 2021 Pro Bowl due to the COVID-19 pandemic (teams were still selected and players were still recognized as Pro Bowl selectees).[16] Starting with the 2023 Pro Bowl after the 2022 NFL season, the NFL again changed the format; instead of playing an exhibition game, the Pro Bowl was converted to series of skill competitions that culminated in a non-contact flag football game.[17]
Pro Bowl selections are made by a cumulative vote by three groups that hold equal weight: coaches, players, and fans.[14] Based on the vote results, each team is filled out based on generic offense, defense, and special teams.[18] Before the institution of the Pro Bowl Games in 2023, the players with the most votes were named starters, while the remainder of the selectees were reserves.[19] If a Pro Bowl selectee is unable to participate in the Pro Bowl, either due to health reasons or the fact they are playing in the Super Bowl right after the Pro Bowl, alternates are named in the players' place. These players are still considered official Pro Bowl selectees.[20] The coaching staffs for each team have been selected in various ways, with the common option being the coaching staffs of the team with the best record in each conference who were not going to the Super Bowl given the honors.[21] With the onset of the Pro Bowl Games, the NFL now selects the coaching staffs for the flag football game.[22] Players for each team are paid for their participation, with a higher sum going to the winning team.[23] Throughout the life of the Pro Bowl, awards have been given out to recognize the best player or players of the game. From 2016 to 2022, an award was given to an offensive and defensive most valuable player (MVP).[12]
The Lions have had representatives at the Pro Bowl every year since 1950 except for nine seasons. The Lions first selections in the inaugural Pro Bowl in 1951 were Cloyce Box, Lou Creekmur, Don Doll, Thurman McGraw, and Doak Walker.[24] Four Lions have been given a Pro Bowl MVP award.[12] Linebacker Joe Schmidt and running back Barry Sanders are tied for the team record for most Pro Bowl selections with 10, while Yale Lary (nine selections), and Lou Creekmur (eight selections) round out the top four.[1] Sanders was the first player to play at least 10 seasons in the NFL and be selected to the Pro Bowl in each season they played.[25] The most recent Pro Bowl selections for the Lions were Jahmyr Gibbs, Aidan Hutchinson, Sam LaPorta, Frank Ragnow, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Penei Sewell, and Amon-Ra St. Brown for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.[26]
Selections
All-Star Game (1938–42)
| Season | All-Star Game | # of Lions selected |
Players (# of All-Star Games with Lions) | Position[a] | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | January 1939 | 2 | Lloyd Cardwell (1) | Back | [28] |
| Bill Radovich (1) | Guard | ||||
| 1939 | January 1940 | 3 | Raymond George (1) | Tackle | [29] |
| Jack Johnson (1) | Tackle | ||||
| Fred Vanzo (1) | Back | ||||
| 1940 | December 1940 | 4 | Lloyd Cardwell (2) | Back | [30] |
| Charles Price (1)[b] | Back | ||||
| Harry Smith (1) | Guard | ||||
| Byron White (1)[b] | Back | ||||
| 1941 | January 1942 | 2 | Augie Lio (1) | Guard | [36] |
| John Tripson (1) | Tackle | ||||
| 1942 | December 1942 | 2 | Harry Hopp (1) | Tailback | [37] |
| Augie Lio (2) | Guard |
Pro Bowl (1950–present)
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| * | Selected as Pro Bowl MVP[c] |
| † | Selected as the NFL MVP for that season |