Reliving those horrible ref calls is painful. But on the other end of the spectrum, just seeing a short snippet of our playoff win over the Rams fills me with so much joy! That win meant so much to us Lions lifers. Love this team!
I still don't understand why the NFL doesn't want the Lions to succeed. All those bad calls were straight from the top, predetermined, but why? I'm a Raiders fan and we all know why the NFL hates the Raiders. Al didn't do us any favors there. What the hell did the Lions ever do for the powers to be to make sure the they can't win primetime/playoff games?
@@UpsonPrattJr.Bruh I've been asking the same thing. But not to sound arrogant things are beginning to look up for the Lions. With their recent success the NFL can no longer ignore, disrespect, or hide the Lions away. The refs skunky calls will be heavily scrutinized.
I am a life long Steelers fan but I've always liked the Lions, after watching this and learning about the history of this "curse" and those HORRIBLE ref calls... I now have 2 teams to root for.
I remember when you guys went to the SB at ford field. All the lions fans were hoping you would win because of Jerome Bettis. Us lions fans respect the Steelers. Terry Bradshaw autographed my Terry Bradshaw rookie card.
@@RedWing88I second this, I have always had respect for the Steelers and that superbowl here was crazy black and yellow literally everywhere when we are used to Blue, Silver, Red and Orange in the city lol
I wish that everyone could just appreciate what the Detroit Lions have accomplished this year. What we need to do is look at 2023 in a historical perspective. What Dan Campbell has done for the Lions in his 3 years as head coach mirrors what Chuck Noll did for the Pittsburgh Steelers about a half century ago. Like the Lions of the recent decades, the Steelers were perennial losers for the first 4 decades of their existence. They had never even played in a playoff game until 1972. Hall of Fame Coach Noll took that job in 1969, and launched a dynasty that won 4 Super Bowls during the 1970s and is considered the team of the decade. But it took him some time to build that dynasty as the first of those 4 Super Bowls was played in 1974. I would like to offer Coach Campbell a mulligan on this year's playoffs realizing that Rome, the Steelers, and the Lions weren't built in a day. Keep in mind that the Steelers have remained consistent winner's over the past half century once their organizational culture was changed.
Detroit Lions should be better because the Lions are allowed to challenge the refs with instant replay,anytime you allow gambling in sports it means the games are fixed,that why the NFL is now an entertainment business and not a sport business ,it's as bad as wrestling crooked refs that get called out for not doing their job and the next week they are still working it happened to the Lions last season again with bad referees the next week they got the same ref who blew the call last week before,the NFL has no shame.
The amount of emotions this video put me through as a lions fan is insane man. This franchise has been through it on the field and off as fans have dealt with this team getting shit on by other fans its whole life during the SB era and even by their own fans. Love this team and am glad they represent the state of michigan and am glad things are finally ending with that damn curse.
Wow, the Lions have had to deal with some BS a long time. Mentally that had to be hard. A lot of minds were been messed up them and I’m sure still is to this day. But EVERYTHING comes to an end, but 50 years is a lining time to be curse. I’m glad I have been able to see the Lions as winners!!!! It’s their time, and boy, is their light shinning. Hats off to the true hard Lions fans. I hated that over the years all those great players quite the game, but I understand @enough is enough” you can only take so much. It goes without saying, those ref’s bad calls and unfair decisions should be Outlawed. If Lions could’ve take some of those calls back it would be justice!! But look them NOW…. Happy for EVERYONE OF the LIONS!!!!!
Try being a Lions fan in Chicagoland. At 10yr old I became a Lions fan with 0 Detroit or Michigan ties 36yrs later it seems it is our time and inevitable we will even overcome the NFL and its BS that with people wanting to see the Lions the NFL has a issue of how much BS they can pull without fanbases of other teams seeing the crap we deal with. What was perpetrated yesterday against Branch when u had what went down in the Saints Panthers game and no 1 was ejected will age bad for the NFL as u can't explain how Branch was legitimate ejection when the hit in Carolina only got a flag. What your witnessing after The old guard people have had enough of led By a guy Jerry Jones whom thinks he is bigger than everyone and everyone else is 2nd or lower . With 2014 and then the BS last yr everyone knew was a game stold from us taking any shot at what was our #1 seed and they paid for it 3 weeks ago and u see the irrelevant bag of dirt Jones is and his team people would rather have food poisoning then watch knew exactly what we did to them and why and its why they didn't cry because they knew what they did in Dallas and the players being smart asses waving at us came home to roost and the Cowboys are now in a free fall and other fanbases seeing these things are lining up behind us and this team as we start changing who is America's team and who people are sick and tired of watching say what they want cheat people and and then Disrespect teams and fans they cheat. Those days are over we have a team that u take Branch out your gonna pay. They see it they know it and they are gonna have to live with it! Lions fans its our time and for fans of other teams who feel slighted by this old guard your welcome the whipping boys are now doing the whipping and that crap is no longer gonna fly ! One Pride. The Den is now being Defended.
Where did you come up with being shat on by other fans?😂 I've been to Lions games in Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay. Never seen any true animosity come from other fans, but I've seen a while lot of it from Lions fans when in Detroit. No matter who the opponent, win or loose, Lions have a sizable share of horseshit evil hearted fans.
You realize that when a franchise reaches the depths for a lengthy period of time, no one respects you. No one lets you off the mat. Not even the officials. Bad call(s) go against you ? Their attitude was, 'Oh [bleep] you. You weren't going to win this game, anyway. You're the Lions.' 😕 Well, not anymore. The sea change in stature and respect is breathtaking. And yet there is still so much to prove. Stay hungry, Detroit. Redeem us all ... 🏉 🏈
Having the Lions play in a nationally televised game really did let people see Detroit fans were not making that stuff up about the refs ALWAYS screwing us over. It was great to see fans from other cities rooting for the Lions last year. THIS is the year!
@@deannamarie8389One of the reasons the NFL was messing with us is because around 2010 or so. The commissioner approached the Lions owner and asked the Lions to give up their Thanksgiving day game. Thats a Lions tradition. Our owner said "absolutely not." After that, we got the worst calls by the refs for over 10yrs. They did that hoping we would give up the Nationaly televised game. Our owner said "nope, not going to happen." Nobody talks about this. We were punished because we wanted to keep the Thanksgiving Day game.
As a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, I can certainly empathize with this point of view. Your team earns whatever respect they get from the Referees/Umpires. It can earn it quickly, or it can earn it long-term. Its a combination of both which will encourage long-term success for a franchise in any sport. I can tell you this as a long-time Steelers fan: To generate long-term respect for the franchise, you've got to be the first to accomplish something, and be likely to remain that way for a long-time to come. Good luck, Detroit... Know that ALL of Pittsburgh would LOVE to see you in the Super Bowl this year. If we can run the gauntlet needed to get there!
We couldn't know this at the time, but if they'd called that correctly and we'd won the game, we would've been at HOME for that last playoff game! REFS SUCK
Lifelong Lions fan here and I appreciate this superb video. High-quality production, great commentary, and overall fantastic presentation. In my heart of hearts, I believe that the curse is over and now we have to make it on our own steam. Whether or not we'll do that is a completely different situation but, for now, there are no more excuses.
Even though I’m a fan of another NFL team. I think I speak for any football fan when I say “ I wouldn’t hate to see the Lions finally make it to and win a Super Bowl”
The Lions are the only NFC team that has not made it to at least 1 Super Bowl,the other 3 of 4 teams not to make are in the AFC.Most notably the Browns were the last team the Lions played against to win a championship as the Browns are the oldest AFC team not to make it to at least 1 Super Bowl.
After watching the whole video, i expected this to be made by sports center or another massive sports channel (idk if sports center does stuff like this, I'm from Switzerland so I dont watch American TV) but i was amazed that this was done by a channel with 80 subs. This is top quality content and if you continue to put videos like this out, im sure you're going to grow to be huge. well researched, well spoken and very informative. Already can't wait for the next video.
Words can’t describe how much this means to our team. We appreciate all the support this early on in our journey and promise to put out more high quality content in the near future
I’m a 42 year old life long lions fan. Most people don’t understand the absolute pain we’ve felt as fans. Thanks for putting this all together. This video really did a good job encompassing what our fandom has seen over the years. We love Brad, Sheila, Speilman, and MCDC. I really hope they’ve finally broken the curse. God bless you Jeff Daniels.
I miss STAFFORD butt Butt GOFF is PRETTY FUCKING GOOD SANDERS GOT SCREWED MEGATRON GOT SCREW ADOMICAN SU YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING WHATEVER I'M HAPPY TO STAFFORD GET A SUPER BOWL WIN DIDN'T LIKE HOW THEY BOOED HIM WHEN WE PLAYED IN OUR HOMETOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS
While the editing took about 150+ hours, the pain of this story has lasted a lifetime. If you enjoyed this video please share it with a fellow lions fan and subscribe for more great football stories
thank you for the time. I was hurt all over again. The Knee was the most egregious thing I've ever seen in my life. My wife almost divorced me because I was such a baby about it, screaming obscenities.
I really appreciate you mentioning the guards we lost tragically. Also, you showed a pic of Roy Williams when you mentiond BMW. Roy was the onyl one whi worked out at all, and we fleeced dallas for him later. The high points of the era...
@@firstteamfootball Reggie Brown was another player who's career ended on a board. I just root for guys to get up each play, at this point. Don't forget that Burlsons 3 OPI calls in the Saints playoff game. Or Lomas Brown guaranteeing a playoff win against the Eagles in the 90s. So much painful history. Still love em, and it makes this success sweeter.
I remember UrinatingTree's quote on the hiring: "The Lions hired a Doomsday prepper who talked about biting kneecaps. This will either be one of the best coaching hires of all time or the next Freddy Kitchens. There will be no in-betweens (and either way I will laugh my ass off)." We seem to have landed on the former.
@@moonjelly5 I remember after the NFC Championship game he also groused, "Live by the overaggression, die by the overaggression." But that's the thing. We truly LIVED by it. In that playoff run, how many times did we pick up 3rd and 10 or even 3rd and 12 on a run play because the defense couldn't help but think, "They wouldn't dare."
My family has been fans of the lions since the 50s. This video gave me a lot of emotions because it remember the stories my grandfather told me about the team when I was just a kid… I can tell you my grandfather would be proud of his favorite team if he was still here… love ya gramp 🙏 hope you have a good view up there
Great video. One story you missed was the sudden death of Don McCafferty in 1974. He was about to start his second season as the head coach of the Lions but right before training camp was going to start, he suffered a fatal heart attack while mowing the lawn at his house.
@@AceBG27 , the Bills nearly had that happen to one of their players last season (2023), but the guy got a full recovery and he is playing for them now again.
@@AceBG27 I remember that was on the front page of the news paper .Don't remember if it was Detroit News or Detroit Free Press .But the photo of Dick Butkus standing over him and trying to get him some assistance .That photo took up the entire front page , black and white .
I am a Packers fan that lives an hour away from Detroit. I loved this video. I honestly hope the lions start getting the respect they deserve. I remember watching the Texans Thanksgiving game and was shocked. I hope for the next 5 years that the Packers and Lions are battling for NFC North title. It will make my family functions alot more fun. Great video.
@firstteamfootball I would absolutely love that. Gives me another video to send to my friends that are bears fans. They been talking so much shit to me about Love.
@@STATEROCKSMW2 I can’t understand fans that root for the bandwagon teams from other states. One of my good friends is also a Packers fan, and I could never understand it.
I wish that everyone could just appreciate what the Detroit Lions have accomplished this year. What we need to do is look at 2023 in a historical perspective. What Dan Campbell has done for the Lions in his 3 years as head coach mirrors what Chuck Noll did for the Pittsburgh Steelers about a half century ago. Like the Lions of the recent decades, the Steelers were perennial losers for the first 4 decades of their existence. They had never even played in a playoff game until 1972. Hall of Fame Coach Noll took that job in 1969, and launched a dynasty that won 4 Super Bowls during the 1970s and is considered the team of the decade. But it took him some time to build that dynasty as the first of those 4 Super Bowls was played in 1974. I would like to offer Coach Campbell a mulligan on this year's playoffs realizing that Rome, the Steelers, and the Lions weren't built in a day. Keep in mind that the Steelers have remained consistent winner's over the past half century once their organizational culture was changed.
Interestingly enough, the Pittsburgh Steelers history is part of the Bobby Layne curse. Pittsburgh was of course the team Layne was traded to. Pre-Layne, as stated, they were perennial losers, never winning a playoff game. And though things didn't change overnight, the 60s saw Pittsburgh with some high seasons to go with the lows. And more importantly, they have become the winningest franchise in the NFL since the 70s.
@firstteamfootball Yeah, I kinda feel bad for them. Even though they're division rivals, I don't hate them as much as the Vikings or the other team from Wisconsin.
@firstteamfootball I can empathize with their fans as they've never seen a Superbowl win, or even an appearance (I've seen the Bears lose a Superbowl). The Vikings had 4 chances already. 😂😂😂
Wow, as a fan since 1990, reliving all those terrible years, tragedies, and f'd up calls was tough to watch... until the end. This new regime is legit and the best the Lions have ever had in place. The league has been put on notice... the LIONS ARE HERE!!! GREAT video guys & much appreciated 💯
Being a Lions fan, I commend you on one of the most accurate displays of the history of this team that I've ever seen. A couple of minor things: -You mentioned one of the bad draft picks of the Millen Era was Mike Williams but you showed Roy Williams's picture. -When displaying the 2023 Lions record, you marked a win against Dallas when they loss (they should have won). Otherwise, you did an amazing job.
Houston fan here… i hope its stroud against you guys… im rooting for lion fans… i hope you guys can win it all too… one day… even if its against dallas or houston 🤷♂️…
If they stay healthy, then there is nothing that I can see that will stop the Lions from a rematch against the 49ers in next year’s NFC Championship Game.
The NFC is going to be quite a bit better this year, but so is Detroit. Just sayin', it's gonna take more than just good health for Detroit to make it.
@@michaell874 Why do you ask? I didn't say anything about that. but it's a good question, got me curious, I might just do some research. I know there were several years in the 90s where Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota were all very good or great... Chicago not so much...
@@donaldforest1942 There is a pecking order of refereeing bias in the NFL, and the Lions are certainly not at the top of it. Since they moved back to Los Angeles and with retirement of Tom Brady, the Rams are ranked just below the Giants and Steelers and just possibly above the 49ers.
Life long lion fan and season ticket holder.. growing up my father worked for ford and we were doing ok but not exactly well off.. we had a cookie cutter home but could never afford vacations.. this is where the lions came in which was my vacation from reality growing up.. me and my dad went through hell and back with this team through out out all the years but kept coming back because of our love for the city and our franchise.. in late January of 2021 as my father was dying in hospice asked me “how about them lions”? I said we are in good hands now and everything was going to be ok after watching dans opening press conference.. my father always trusted my opinion and smiled for the first time that I could remember.. he then asked me if he would be able to finally break the curse and I told him yes.. for some reason I just knew he was the one.. later that week my dad passed away but my word lived on.. Dan and Brad have changed this franchise along with Shelia.. i cannot wait to look up at my father and tell him that we did it
Usually watch from my TV, so I don’t comment often. But I had to grab my phone to say thanks for this doc, it was painful LOL, but great job man! Excellent quality
I logged on to my phone after watching on TV just to say... your video quality is so professional and the audio, all though far from bad, just is not equal. You're so close to a high-end production! Thank you for all the hard work. I subscribed
Not a Lions fan lol but you really put this video together. As much as a diehard birds fan I am I love learning about the history of the franchises. Great job.
I have to give you HUGE props on your production quality. I came here as a Lions fan who was looking for something to listen to while starting my work day. I didn't expect to find a gem like this so early in the morning. I'm now subbed and I'm looking forward to more of your content. Keep it up and the limit is the stars.
Here is one for the ages that was not included in the video. Losing the game on a 63 yard field goal in the last seconds by the late disabled kicker Tom Dempsey of the N O Saints 1970. That record stood for 28 years. We Lions' fans have suffered greatly.
I bear the weight of a combined 85 years of suffering from my dad, a lifelong lion fan who passed away before the 2021 NFL draft, 2 days and 2 years ago. I myself am 25 and i must say. This year. It feels different compared to offseasons past. These lions. You could probably put them at ground zero for a nuke and it'd only make the team that much stronger. But i also remember the anger, sadness, heartache and pain that came with us getting to this point. Watching terrible call after horrid play with shitloads of questionable coaching and GM decisions mixed in between. This. Is different. This feels like how the Lions should play.
RIP to your Father I wish he could of seen this past season. One thing I made sure to do was watch every playoff game with my Dad since we never got to have this. I’m 31 now lol had to wait that long to have that moment.
Watched this after the rematch of the year and win in Detroit to start 2024, and man, reliving these have been hard. The first full season I watched growing up was that 0-16, I didn't watch much sports as a kid, and though they've had their moments, watching them has always felt like a trial in patience. This feels different. The Lions feel different, the culture feels different. I truly believe the curse is lifting, if not lifted. SOL is done. Kneecaps everywhere beware. Great video. Painful, but great.
Amazing and super professional video. I was shocked to see you have under 500 subs. you will blow up if you keep making videos like this. Some of the footage you got from back in the day is crazy, shows you truly do your research and know what you’re talking about.
I need to rant about this. Not only did the zebras pick up the call on the pi against the cowgirls, but they just allowed dez to run onto the field to complain about the call.. that's two missed calls that should've been on the cowgirls, and yet it was 4th and 1 Detroit..
This is a VERY good video and it's hard to watch all the heartbreak we as Lions fans have endured. I think adding the fastest OT loss ever against the Bears on Thanksgiving when they ran back the kickoff (I was there) and adding in the part of the Lions/Cowboys playoff game where Dez removed his helmet ON THE FIELD and didn't get flagged in that game (on top of the picked up OPI flag that got picked up). Great video and I love it!
@@firstteamfootball I did subscribe and loved the video!! Steven P told me about it and as a long suffering Lion fan, I loved it! I catch tons of flack here in Milwaukee (the heart of Packer country) and even John Kuhn calls me a Packer Fan in a Lion jersey!!! Thank you and looking forward to more content!
Wow!! Thank you for making this. I've watched the Lions since I was kid in the late 70"s and knew vaguely about the team's history. You've brought it all together here in an informative and entertaining way. Thank you for the memories (good & bad). This must have a tremendous effort to make. This was a blast to watch. I will definitely share your video.
Thank you for sharing it! I’m sure, at times, it was a painful watch for lions fans, but we felt an obligation to bring the full story to the fans. We’re glad you enjoyed it
Awesome video, as a lifelong Lions fan this was a walk down memory lane that I would rather forget. However, we finally have all of the pieces in place to finally end the curse once and for all.
@@firstteamfootball Hmmmm let's see. When I was a kid, my favs were Walter Payton, Billy Sims, The Steel Curtain, Terry Bradshaw, etc. I know the videos from back then will be a tad grainy but I am always interested in that era.
@paranoidandroid4270 well, hard to be like... against them when I hadn't seen them ever win anything till last year. I mean I'm in my thirties. They've been shit for so long that them actually getting good was exciting to see. I don't live and breathe cheese, I can look outside some stupid rivalry and root for a team that deserves it
Great job on this video!! No matter how many bad breaks the the Detroit Lions have gotten over the years, a lot of their fans have never given up on them. That curse is broken!!
This was brilliant! And you have an awesome voice for narration! Ok, just for accuracy sake and no other, two VERY minor details to point out. 1) it's Portsmouth, not Portsmith. 2) the "take the wind" game was not played in Chicago. It was played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana (University of Illinois) where the Bears played while they renovated, and ruined, Soldier Field (soon to be their former home stadium). Great stuff, man! You are super talented. Keep it going!
I’m not even a Lions fan but this was a great in depth video and I watched the whole thing. If you could make a video about the downfall of the Falcons that would be amazing.
Great video. Growing up a Lions fan was hard. I remember we used to have a nice silver and blue Lions Christmas tree ornament, and I always put it prominently on the tree for years. The year we went 0-16, it decided it had enough and randomly fell off the tree and shattered. We all just assumed it was so embarrassed with the team it represented that it decided to jump rather than see that season to its depressing conclusion.
Dude this video was amazing. Only 663 subs and you put out quality content like this? That's a damn shame. Have a sub my man. What a roller coaster of emotions. Seeing all of those terrible calls that absolutely screwed us over was heartbreaking and infuriating. Blowing that lead in SF in the second half was such a gut punch. I really like our staff and roster moves and we're only going to be better this upcoming season, though having a more difficult schedule is worrying. Goff gets slept on for some reason but he's literally a top 5 QB.
Just watched all 3 videos you have posted so far and I gotta say these are amazing videos. You’d think a whole production team put together or like other have said some ESPN or NFL films video. Looking forward to whatever videos you have coming next.
Wow. Not even our moms watched all 3 haha But seriously thank you sir. We put a lot of time but mostly a lot of heart into these videos to make them as good as possible. We always wanted someone else to make super high quality football documentary style videos with the right facts and analysis to back it up: so we said why not do it ourselves. Thanks again for supporting us. Any good topics you think we should make a video on ?
That means a lot. This one was a topic close to home for us. Be sure to check out our other videos or subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss anything 🔥
Excellent documentary here. I loved it. I have been a Detroit Lions fan. A true Lions fan " Win or Loss " for 50 years. I am so; so, so, very happy for Detroit & for Michigan for all the Detroit Lions fans. The last couple years & even back to 3 years ago everything turned 360 degrees around & the Detroit Lions are no longer " the same old Lions. " and it feels great. The Lions Owner & Lions Staff & General Manager & Company & Head Coach Dan Campbell & Ben Johnson & Glenn & our great Quarterback Jared Goff & Montgomery & Gibbs & St Brown & all the great Offense & great Defense. They have made all the great & outstanding difference & turn around. We got the best team & components & were winning games after Games. It's great to be a DETROIT LION NOW. GO LIONS KEEP ROARING & PROWLING SCRATCHING TO VICTORIES. WE BELIVE IN YOU. I BELIEVE IN YOU TOO. I WILL ALWAYS ❤ MY DETROIT 🦁 ! 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
Yeah that just about sums it up. What other team loses a playoff game 5 to nothing? You could’ve added the Lions playoff Bowl wins in the early 60’s when the team was good but couldn’t get by the Pack. And maybe any number of record breaking FG losses - Tom Dempsey and Justin Tucker come to find. But that Monday night loss to Rodgers and the Packers just about sums up my 60 years of Lions fandom - that was particularly painful. In real time I turned to my then 13 year old son and said just before that play was run, “we are about to lose this game”. But hey, on the other hand I was one of the 62,000 in attendance when the Lions beat the Matthew Stafford led Rams in last years playoffs to break the drought. What a scene that was - complete strangers hugging and crying with each other. It was unforgettable and quite the payoff for all these years of frustration. The greatest day in Lions history since 1957.
Tbf that Monday Night game the sack on Rodgers was a facemask not a PF 15 yarder but the smaller 5 yarder ... In the video his hand does graze across the mask which makes it a 5 yarder
We put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this. This video was a passion project: we actually are not even monetized for it. But Nobody deserves it more than the Lions, so well worth it. Thanks for watching and enjoying. Let’s hope the curse gets crushed for good this year
I'm just grateful that I was there and got to see the Lions win not one but two home playoff games. I felt like I got to watch a part of history and while I hope it's the first of many, theres no saying how many they'll actually win So I'm grateful for that
@firstteamfootball I feel like that even if they get over the hump and make it the super bowl.. with their history, they'll have to get there at least twice to win one 😂 All jokes aside most weeks, not just the playoffs, that place was rocking every week! We party in the Eastern Market before the games
The worst part is Hitchens literally sat there upset and his body language CLEARLY told the world he KNEW he committed PI & was pissed at himself for having done so
one thing on the mcdc hire dan reached out to Detroit and told them he wanted the job but other than that amazing video of our pain and so far redemption with dan
You know the interesting thing? In 2021, the Lions tied with the Steelers. The last time the Lions tied with the Steelers? Against Bobby Layne. Since then (including playoffs) the Lions have gone 26-17. So I think the tie with the Steelers was the real end to the curse.
@@firstteamfootball as a lions fan, I’ve learned to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. But after years and years, things feel so different now. I’m thinking they can go all the way!
As a long-suffering Lions fan (50 + years) I'd like to make a few points of order. First, fan dissatisfaction played no role in Billy Ford senior's decision to fire Millen. Billy senior liked Millen and if you were a drinking buddy or someone Ford just liked you got to keep your job no matter how bad you were at it. Long before Millen, Russ Thomas was allowed to run the team into the ground forever as GM because he was one of Ford's drinking pals. It was Billy Ford junior who finally talked the old man into firing Millen, which was itself ironic since hiring that moron was junior's idea in the first place. There is a reason Martha, junior's own mother, shut him out of anything Lions related and turned control over to her daughter Sheila. The second point is, the whole "you'll never win again for 50 years" is largely urban legend. There is no record of Bobby Layne actually saying it and no one around him at the time the Lions traded him recall him making that remark. It grew over time and Bobby just kept quiet about the whole thing, letting it take on a life of it's own. And curse's are a bunch of BS. Wanna know the curse? The curse was Billy senior being allowed to own an NFL franchise. The family bought it for him to shut him up and give him something to do not related to the automobile business. Billy's one contribution to the Ford Motor Company was the Edsel. Nuff said about Billy's skills when it came to making cars. No, when you have a moron running things you don't need a curse to suck. The thing with Billy boy was, the more you told him what he was doing was wrong the more he would do that thing. Call it stubbornness, passive-aggressive behavior, or just plain old stupidity, that is how the man was wired. But let's say I'm wrong. Let's say there was some kind of curse. If there was, it was the curse of JFK. Billy Ford became sole owner of the Lions on November 22, 1963. That date may ring a bell for anyone familiar with the JFK assassination. Now, Kennedy was elected in 1960. William McKinley, the president assassinated before Kennedy was elected in 1900, 60 years earlier. It was 60 years from the time Ford bought the team (1963) to the time the team won more than one playoff game in a season (2023). The Layne curse was 50 years, so it should have ended in 2008. Well, people familiar with Lions history know all about the 0-16 2008 Lions. Hardly an indication things were looking up. So if there was a curse, the math is more favorable to the JFK curse. The lesson? Don't buy a sports team the same day the president gets whacked. To borrow from Sean Connery; here endeth the lesson.
27:40 I love how you marked that Cowboys game as a "win" even though we got shafted on the 2 point conversion and the L column is correct otherwise. Nice touch! #GoLions #DeckerReportedAsEligible
68 year old Lions fan here and watching all those early history of Lions made me realize more than ever, just how good the team has gotten since Sheila Ford has taken over the franchise. I love our coach and GM, but it didn't happen until she took the reigns...
Interesting that the Lions began and ended the 1980s drafting running backs who had both: - Played for college teams in the state of Oklahoma that then belonged to the Big 8 Conference. - Won the Heisman Trophy in their respective junior seasons in college. - Had first names (or nicknames) starting with "B" and last names starting with "S".
On that same day in 1971, Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers was killed in a motorcycle accident. I went to school with a guy who was born the same day.
Very well put together vid, you gained a sub. As a raiders fan a vid on their downfall since their last SB appearance would be a good idea for a future vid.
I hope other fans can watch this video and see the horrible officiating that has cursed us through the years... On a brighter note I was at the Packers game last year when they turned the corner and could sense something different that day!!
Saw that the Lions were marked as a win last year against the Cowboys. Classic. Still, growing up as a Lions fan I cannot say to you how fun these last two years have been. I still remember the crowd popping when we beat the Rams, it was magical.
I went to school with a kid whose father worked for the Lions front office during the Millen years and what they told me always made so much sense. William Clay Ford would not let them run the team their way. They continued to mess with who they hired, fired, and drafted. Mike Williams, Roy Williams, Joey Harrington and Charles Rodgers were all said to been mandated by WCF as must be drafted players as WCF really wanted to build a team like the one in Indianapolis and they had no clue how to do it. Calvin was the only WR that the GM wanted to draft out of the bunch.
This was wonderful to watch! Many memories. Missed a few seasons raising 4 kids w every weekend spent on various fields as they played their own sports, it’s the best timing to now have last 1 graduated so on weekends Mom gets to make chili, wear her Lion’s sweatshirt while enjoying this Lion’s rebuild under Sheila Ford… so so much! Love our Lions & oh, yeah, Decker Reported!💙🩶🦁
I remember when the Detroit Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup in 42yrs in 1997. The whole state was ecstatic, the city of Detroit had a parade that 2 million people came too. Then we won again in 1998, 2002, 2007. Im hope the Lions go on a run like the Wings. Hell, I'd be happy just with 1 SB. I honestly believe, if we stay healthy and maybe trade for an above average DE. We have a real good shot at winning one. I was born in 1986. I didn't get a chance to see the Tigers win a World Series in 1984. I was very young when the Pistons won in 1989 and 1990. The Red Wings were the dominant Detroit sports team. The Pistons did win a NBA Championship in 2004 and went back to the finals in 2005, but lost in 7 games. Tigers went to the World Series in 2006 and 2012, but lost. I really want to see the Lions and Red Wings win.
I always laugh at that Barry run against the cowboys. One of their guys was walking because he thought Barry was down. I mean there was a pile of cowboys players around him. Barry takes off down the field and the dude turns his head and looks shocked
Great video, good history, excellent editing, and an all-around quality permeates this video. Me being a Lions fan has nothing to do with my objective opinion. Great video!
Spielman doesn't get nearly enough credit. Great move on Sheila's part to acknowledge her lack of knowledge, in hiring him and Barry as "consultants." But there's no way we bring on Holmes and Campbell if she's going it alone, or using the carryover patsys in the front office. In Spielman pointing finding those two, the turnaround began.
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Reliving those horrible ref calls is painful. But on the other end of the spectrum, just seeing a short snippet of our playoff win over the Rams fills me with so much joy! That win meant so much to us Lions lifers. Love this team!
That's why we love football. 30 years of misery can be cured in 60 minutes
I agree I've been watching these cats for over 50+ years this new front office and staff knows what's its doing.
I still don't understand why the NFL doesn't want the Lions to succeed. All those bad calls were straight from the top, predetermined, but why? I'm a Raiders fan and we all know why the NFL hates the Raiders. Al didn't do us any favors there. What the hell did the Lions ever do for the powers to be to make sure the they can't win primetime/playoff games?
@@UpsonPrattJr.Bruh I've been asking the same thing. But not to sound arrogant things are beginning to look up for the Lions. With their recent success the NFL can no longer ignore, disrespect, or hide the Lions away. The refs skunky calls will be heavily scrutinized.
Same
I am a life long Steelers fan but I've always liked the Lions, after watching this and learning about the history of this "curse" and those HORRIBLE ref calls... I now have 2 teams to root for.
I remember when you guys went to the SB at ford field. All the lions fans were hoping you would win because of Jerome Bettis. Us lions fans respect the Steelers. Terry Bradshaw autographed my Terry Bradshaw rookie card.
@@RedWing88I second this, I have always had respect for the Steelers and that superbowl here was crazy black and yellow literally everywhere when we are used to Blue, Silver, Red and Orange in the city lol
I wish that everyone could just appreciate what the Detroit Lions have accomplished this year. What we need to do is look at 2023 in a historical perspective. What Dan Campbell has done for the Lions in his 3 years as head coach mirrors what Chuck Noll did for the Pittsburgh Steelers about a half century ago. Like the Lions of the recent decades, the Steelers were perennial losers for the first 4 decades of their existence. They had never even played in a playoff game until 1972. Hall of Fame Coach Noll took that job in 1969, and launched a dynasty that won 4 Super Bowls during the 1970s and is considered the team of the decade. But it took him some time to build that dynasty as the first of those 4 Super Bowls was played in 1974. I would like to offer Coach Campbell a mulligan on this year's playoffs realizing that Rome, the Steelers, and the Lions weren't built in a day. Keep in mind that the Steelers have remained consistent winner's over the past half century once their organizational culture was changed.
Detroit Lions should be better because the Lions are allowed to challenge the refs with instant replay,anytime you allow gambling in sports it means the games are fixed,that why the NFL is now an entertainment business and not a sport business ,it's as bad as wrestling crooked refs that get called out for not doing their job and the next week they are still working it happened to the Lions last season again with bad referees the next week they got the same ref who blew the call last week before,the NFL has no shame.
i’m a lions fan but i’ve always loved the steelers too, we can both root for each other this year🎉
The amount of emotions this video put me through as a lions fan is insane man. This franchise has been through it on the field and off as fans have dealt with this team getting shit on by other fans its whole life during the SB era and even by their own fans. Love this team and am glad they represent the state of michigan and am glad things are finally ending with that damn curse.
62 here. They are the only NFL team I root for, my home team The Lions! We will win, I can feel it more than ever.
❤❤❤❤
Wow, the Lions have had to deal with some BS a long time. Mentally that had to be hard. A lot of minds were been messed up them and I’m sure still is to this day. But EVERYTHING comes to an end, but 50 years is a lining time to be curse.
I’m glad I have been able to see the Lions as winners!!!!
It’s their time, and boy, is their light shinning. Hats off to the true hard Lions fans. I hated that over the years all those great players quite the game, but I understand @enough is enough” you can only take so much. It goes without saying, those ref’s bad calls and unfair decisions should be Outlawed.
If Lions could’ve take some of those calls back it would be justice!! But look them NOW….
Happy for EVERYONE OF the LIONS!!!!!
Try being a Lions fan in Chicagoland. At 10yr old I became a Lions fan with 0 Detroit or Michigan ties 36yrs later it seems it is our time and inevitable we will even overcome the NFL and its BS that with people wanting to see the Lions the NFL has a issue of how much BS they can pull without fanbases of other teams seeing the crap we deal with. What was perpetrated yesterday against Branch when u had what went down in the Saints Panthers game and no 1 was ejected will age bad for the NFL as u can't explain how Branch was legitimate ejection when the hit in Carolina only got a flag. What your witnessing after The old guard people have had enough of led By a guy Jerry Jones whom thinks he is bigger than everyone and everyone else is 2nd or lower . With 2014 and then the BS last yr everyone knew was a game stold from us taking any shot at what was our #1 seed and they paid for it 3 weeks ago and u see the irrelevant bag of dirt Jones is and his team people would rather have food poisoning then watch knew exactly what we did to them and why and its why they didn't cry because they knew what they did in Dallas and the players being smart asses waving at us came home to roost and the Cowboys are now in a free fall and other fanbases seeing these things are lining up behind us and this team as we start changing who is America's team and who people are sick and tired of watching say what they want cheat people and and then Disrespect teams and fans they cheat. Those days are over we have a team that u take Branch out your gonna pay. They see it they know it and they are gonna have to live with it! Lions fans its our time and for fans of other teams who feel slighted by this old guard your welcome the whipping boys are now doing the whipping and that crap is no longer gonna fly ! One Pride.
The Den is now being Defended.
Where did you come up with being shat on by other fans?😂
I've been to Lions games in Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay. Never seen any true animosity come from other fans, but I've seen a while lot of it from Lions fans when in Detroit. No matter who the opponent, win or loose, Lions have a sizable share of horseshit evil hearted fans.
You realize that when a franchise reaches the depths for a lengthy period of time, no one respects you. No one lets you off the mat. Not even the officials. Bad call(s) go against you ? Their attitude was, 'Oh [bleep] you. You weren't going to win this game, anyway. You're the Lions.' 😕 Well, not anymore. The sea change in stature and respect is breathtaking. And yet there is still so much to prove. Stay hungry, Detroit. Redeem us all ... 🏉 🏈
Having the Lions play in a nationally televised game really did let people see Detroit fans were not making that stuff up about the refs ALWAYS screwing us over. It was great to see fans from other cities rooting for the Lions last year. THIS is the year!
@@deannamarie8389One of the reasons the NFL was messing with us is because around 2010 or so. The commissioner approached the Lions owner and asked the Lions to give up their Thanksgiving day game. Thats a Lions tradition. Our owner said "absolutely not." After that, we got the worst calls by the refs for over 10yrs. They did that hoping we would give up the Nationaly televised game. Our owner said "nope, not going to happen." Nobody talks about this. We were punished because we wanted to keep the Thanksgiving Day game.
As a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, I can certainly empathize with this point of view. Your team earns whatever respect they get from the Referees/Umpires. It can earn it quickly, or it can earn it long-term. Its a combination of both which will encourage long-term success for a franchise in any sport. I can tell you this as a long-time Steelers fan: To generate long-term respect for the franchise, you've got to be the first to accomplish something, and be likely to remain that way for a long-time to come.
Good luck, Detroit... Know that ALL of Pittsburgh would LOVE to see you in the Super Bowl this year. If we can run the gauntlet needed to get there!
The week 17 game against Dallas marked as a win is awesome
Oops 🤔😜
Ah the irony of another reffing catastrophe lol
We couldn't know this at the time, but if they'd called that correctly and we'd won the game, we would've been at HOME for that last playoff game! REFS SUCK
I bring good news from the future! Well, good news except for one player. 😢
No we would not have. We would've been the 3rd seed. @@rachelcb123
Lifelong Lions fan here and I appreciate this superb video.
High-quality production, great commentary, and overall fantastic presentation.
In my heart of hearts, I believe that the curse is over and now we have to make it on our own steam.
Whether or not we'll do that is a completely different situation but, for now, there are no more excuses.
Thank you!! It’s go time for them.
Even though I’m a fan of another NFL team. I think I speak for any football fan when I say
“ I wouldn’t hate to see the Lions finally make it to and win a Super Bowl”
Same thing goes for the Browns and Bengals…
Basically the trashes franchises
The Lions are the only NFC team that has not made it to at least 1 Super Bowl,the other 3 of 4 teams not to make are in the AFC.Most notably the Browns were the last team the Lions played against to win a championship as the Browns are the oldest AFC team not to make it to at least 1 Super Bowl.
@@knowprosports I'm pretty sure a Lions/Browns Super Bowl is the next sign of the Apocalypse (Cubs/Indians World Series was the first)
I never thought I'd see the day that the Lions became America's team
After watching the whole video, i expected this to be made by sports center or another massive sports channel (idk if sports center does stuff like this, I'm from Switzerland so I dont watch American TV) but i was amazed that this was done by a channel with 80 subs. This is top quality content and if you continue to put videos like this out, im sure you're going to grow to be huge. well researched, well spoken and very informative. Already can't wait for the next video.
Words can’t describe how much this means to our team. We appreciate all the support this early on in our journey and promise to put out more high quality content in the near future
You are so right. Small content creators should get more spotlight.
@@FilmmakerOfYT seriously though....just watched some of your videos and they deserve way more love
@@firstteamfootball Thank you! I also think many small creators like myself should get a sliver of more respect.
When you live in the land of Hollywood,...everyone is a star!
( just ask them)
I’m a 42 year old life long lions fan. Most people don’t understand the absolute pain we’ve felt as fans. Thanks for putting this all together. This video really did a good job encompassing what our fandom has seen over the years. We love Brad, Sheila, Speilman, and MCDC. I really hope they’ve finally broken the curse. God bless you Jeff Daniels.
40 here. I completely understand. This is the first time on my life that I can say with a straight face, these Lions can win the Super Bowl.
If you think that’s bad try being a Jets fan 🥲
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yes they did
I miss STAFFORD butt
Butt GOFF is PRETTY FUCKING GOOD
SANDERS GOT SCREWED
MEGATRON GOT SCREW
ADOMICAN SU
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING WHATEVER
I'M HAPPY TO STAFFORD GET A SUPER BOWL WIN DIDN'T LIKE HOW THEY BOOED HIM WHEN WE PLAYED IN OUR HOMETOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS
While the editing took about 150+ hours, the pain of this story has lasted a lifetime. If you enjoyed this video please share it with a fellow lions fan and subscribe for more great football stories
Well done from a lions fan
My favorite part is how on the graphic of the 2023 season the game against the Cowboys was marked as a win. FTC.
thank you for the time. I was hurt all over again. The Knee was the most egregious thing I've ever seen in my life. My wife almost divorced me because I was such a baby about it, screaming obscenities.
great job bro.
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I really appreciate you mentioning the guards we lost tragically. Also, you showed a pic of Roy Williams when you mentiond BMW. Roy was the onyl one whi worked out at all, and we fleeced dallas for him later. The high points of the era...
After doing our research, we were completely shocked to learn about the tragic paralyzation of Mike Utley and passing of Eric Andolsek
Good catch on the mike Williams/Roy Williams mixup! Dallas was fleeced but they got their get-back though 😅
@@firstteamfootball Reggie Brown was another player who's career ended on a board. I just root for guys to get up each play, at this point. Don't forget that Burlsons 3 OPI calls in the Saints playoff game. Or Lomas Brown guaranteeing a playoff win against the Eagles in the 90s. So much painful history. Still love em, and it makes this success sweeter.
Dan Campbell's introduction speech is still the funniest speech from a coach in any sport that I've ever heard. Fuckin love that guy. 😅😅
One of the best coaching personalities to come around in a while
My thought when hired was "Great choice, even if he is terrible, he will at least be entertaining."
I remember UrinatingTree's quote on the hiring: "The Lions hired a Doomsday prepper who talked about biting kneecaps. This will either be one of the best coaching hires of all time or the next Freddy Kitchens. There will be no in-betweens (and either way I will laugh my ass off)."
We seem to have landed on the former.
Yessir! And it proved to be true!
@@moonjelly5 I remember after the NFC Championship game he also groused, "Live by the overaggression, die by the overaggression." But that's the thing. We truly LIVED by it. In that playoff run, how many times did we pick up 3rd and 10 or even 3rd and 12 on a run play because the defense couldn't help but think, "They wouldn't dare."
My family has been fans of the lions since the 50s. This video gave me a lot of emotions because it remember the stories my grandfather told me about the team when I was just a kid… I can tell you my grandfather would be proud of his favorite team if he was still here… love ya gramp 🙏 hope you have a good view up there
Hey Peeps! This is his FIRST VIDEO! Pretty damn good kid. I subscribed to support quality work. No stock footage, no AI voice-over. Well done.
Thank YOU Casey. This is our first video but we’ve got so much more good stuff coming soon
@@firstteamfootball this is your first video? Shit it's good. Keep em coming
@marcpomaville9429 thank you! Check out the bears one… they keep getting better
Great video. One story you missed was the sudden death of Don McCafferty in 1974. He was about to start his second season as the head coach of the Lions but right before training camp was going to start, he suffered a fatal heart attack while mowing the lawn at his house.
Or how about the Lions have the only player in NFL history to die in a game? Chuck Hughes, 1971 vs the Bears.
@@AceBG27 , the Bills nearly had that happen to one of their players last season (2023), but the guy got a full recovery and he is playing for them now again.
@@AceBG27 I remember that was on the front page of the news paper .Don't remember if it was Detroit News or Detroit Free Press .But the photo of Dick Butkus standing over him and trying to get him some assistance .That photo took up the entire front page , black and white .
I am a Packers fan that lives an hour away from Detroit. I loved this video. I honestly hope the lions start getting the respect they deserve. I remember watching the Texans Thanksgiving game and was shocked. I hope for the next 5 years that the Packers and Lions are battling for NFC North title. It will make my family functions alot more fun. Great video.
we are thinking about doing a video on the packers. what do you think?
Are you from Michigan, or Wisconsin?
I'm from Michigan. I live an hour away from Detroit.
@firstteamfootball I would absolutely love that. Gives me another video to send to my friends that are bears fans. They been talking so much shit to me about Love.
@@STATEROCKSMW2
I can’t understand fans that root for the bandwagon teams from other states. One of my good friends is also a Packers fan, and I could never understand it.
I wish that everyone could just appreciate what the Detroit Lions have accomplished this year. What we need to do is look at 2023 in a historical perspective. What Dan Campbell has done for the Lions in his 3 years as head coach mirrors what Chuck Noll did for the Pittsburgh Steelers about a half century ago. Like the Lions of the recent decades, the Steelers were perennial losers for the first 4 decades of their existence. They had never even played in a playoff game until 1972. Hall of Fame Coach Noll took that job in 1969, and launched a dynasty that won 4 Super Bowls during the 1970s and is considered the team of the decade. But it took him some time to build that dynasty as the first of those 4 Super Bowls was played in 1974. I would like to offer Coach Campbell a mulligan on this year's playoffs realizing that Rome, the Steelers, and the Lions weren't built in a day. Keep in mind that the Steelers have remained consistent winner's over the past half century once their organizational culture was changed.
Great comparison!
Interestingly enough, the Pittsburgh Steelers history is part of the Bobby Layne curse. Pittsburgh was of course the team Layne was traded to. Pre-Layne, as stated, they were perennial losers, never winning a playoff game. And though things didn't change overnight, the 60s saw Pittsburgh with some high seasons to go with the lows. And more importantly, they have become the winningest franchise in the NFL since the 70s.
@@firstteamfootball , I'd love to see the Lions get their time in the sun, and then the Titans need their turn. Super Bowl XXXIV still hurts.
Campbell is the man. Head of the table and has everything running like a well oiled machine! That staff is MVPs of this team and league.
I as a Bears fan will be rooting for the Lions when they get to the superbowl. It will be well earned... 🐻⬇️
Rootin for a division rival?!
@firstteamfootball Yeah, I kinda feel bad for them. Even though they're division rivals, I don't hate them as much as the Vikings or the other team from Wisconsin.
@firstteamfootball I can empathize with their fans as they've never seen a Superbowl win, or even an appearance (I've seen the Bears lose a Superbowl). The Vikings had 4 chances already. 😂😂😂
@@amistry605thanks I’m rooting for you guys too
@@TB1_EDITS12 🙂👍
Wow, as a fan since 1990, reliving all those terrible years, tragedies, and f'd up calls was tough to watch... until the end.
This new regime is legit and the best the Lions have ever had in place. The league has been put on notice... the LIONS ARE HERE!!!
GREAT video guys & much appreciated 💯
Being a Lions fan, I commend you on one of the most accurate displays of the history of this team that I've ever seen. A couple of minor things:
-You mentioned one of the bad draft picks of the Millen Era was Mike Williams but you showed Roy Williams's picture.
-When displaying the 2023 Lions record, you marked a win against Dallas when they loss (they should have won).
Otherwise, you did an amazing job.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it and we appreciate your feedback!
This is a extremely well done video, I appreciate the effort put into it and it shows that Detroit way. ONE PRIDE! 🦁
It’s the lions year next year….im calling it
someone come back to this comment in a years time and let us know what happens
Jeff Daniel’s bathed in bourbon, you damn right the curse is gone! This team is going to WILL it to happen this year baby! One pride!
Yessss sir! The day Goff got traded to Detroit, i told my boss that the Lions would be Super Bowl champs in the 2024/2025 season!
I hope so, I think yall got cursed again when San Francisco got their 60 year revenge
Houston fan here… i hope its stroud against you guys… im rooting for lion fans… i hope you guys can win it all too… one day… even if its against dallas or houston 🤷♂️…
If they stay healthy, then there is nothing that I can see that will stop the Lions from a rematch against the 49ers in next year’s NFC Championship Game.
The NFC is going to be quite a bit better this year, but so is Detroit. Just sayin', it's gonna take more than just good health for Detroit to make it.
@@johnboehmer6683 When has the NFC North/ Central ever had the best division in the NFC?
@@michaell874
Why do you ask? I didn't say anything about that. but it's a good question, got me curious, I might just do some research. I know there were several years in the 90s where Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota were all very good or great... Chicago not so much...
The only thing holding the Lions back are the NFL and the poor state of referees who fix games !!
@@donaldforest1942 There is a pecking order of refereeing bias in the NFL, and the Lions are certainly not at the top of it. Since they moved back to Los Angeles and with retirement of Tom Brady, the Rams are ranked just below the Giants and Steelers and just possibly above the 49ers.
Life long lion fan and season ticket holder.. growing up my father worked for ford and we were doing ok but not exactly well off.. we had a cookie cutter home but could never afford vacations.. this is where the lions came in which was my vacation from reality growing up.. me and my dad went through hell and back with this team through out out all the years but kept coming back because of our love for the city and our franchise.. in late January of 2021 as my father was dying in hospice asked me “how about them lions”? I said we are in good hands now and everything was going to be ok after watching dans opening press conference.. my father always trusted my opinion and smiled for the first time that I could remember.. he then asked me if he would be able to finally break the curse and I told him yes.. for some reason I just knew he was the one.. later that week my dad passed away but my word lived on.. Dan and Brad have changed this franchise along with Shelia.. i cannot wait to look up at my father and tell him that we did it
Great story man. I hope to do the same for my kids. And let’s go Lions! Looking good this season!
God bless your Father, and keep the faith the the Detroit Lions shall win The Lombardi Trophy for The city of Detroit! THEY ARE DUE!
Usually watch from my TV, so I don’t comment often. But I had to grab my phone to say thanks for this doc, it was painful LOL, but great job man! Excellent quality
Of course, glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the comment!
I logged on to my phone after watching on TV just to say... your video quality is so professional and the audio, all though far from bad, just is not equal. You're so close to a high-end production! Thank you for all the hard work. I subscribed
Thank you for the feedback and the sub Tito! We greatly appreciate the support and will have more content coming soon
We got a new mic for the next vid 💯
I’ve waited a long time for this - this is the year!! Great video, super well done. Watch out 30-for-30, there’s a new game in town 🤯
Not a Lions fan lol but you really put this video together. As much as a diehard birds fan I am I love learning about the history of the franchises. Great job.
Glad you enjoyed the video! There will be more content like this coming out in the near future for both college and NFL football
I have to give you HUGE props on your production quality. I came here as a Lions fan who was looking for something to listen to while starting my work day. I didn't expect to find a gem like this so early in the morning. I'm now subbed and I'm looking forward to more of your content. Keep it up and the limit is the stars.
Thank you Andrew! High quality production is what we strive for. We appreciate the sub
I think you missed another part of the curse: October 24th, 1971. The only NFL player to die on the field, Lions receiver Chuck Hughes.
we will likely include it in our newsletter: firsteamfootball.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Yes you are right. This was a pure tragedy. I was a young when it happened but it is something you never forget.
Here is one for the ages that was not included in the video. Losing the game on a 63 yard field goal in the last seconds by the late disabled kicker Tom Dempsey of the N O Saints 1970. That record stood for 28 years. We Lions' fans have suffered greatly.
Seasons like 2024 are why I stuck around this team for so long, LETS GO LIONS
I bear the weight of a combined 85 years of suffering from my dad, a lifelong lion fan who passed away before the 2021 NFL draft, 2 days and 2 years ago. I myself am 25 and i must say. This year. It feels different compared to offseasons past. These lions. You could probably put them at ground zero for a nuke and it'd only make the team that much stronger.
But i also remember the anger, sadness, heartache and pain that came with us getting to this point. Watching terrible call after horrid play with shitloads of questionable coaching and GM decisions mixed in between.
This. Is different. This feels like how the Lions should play.
RIP to your Father I wish he could of seen this past season. One thing I made sure to do was watch every playoff game with my Dad since we never got to have this. I’m 31 now lol had to wait that long to have that moment.
Watched this after the rematch of the year and win in Detroit to start 2024, and man, reliving these have been hard. The first full season I watched growing up was that 0-16, I didn't watch much sports as a kid, and though they've had their moments, watching them has always felt like a trial in patience. This feels different. The Lions feel different, the culture feels different. I truly believe the curse is lifting, if not lifted. SOL is done. Kneecaps everywhere beware.
Great video. Painful, but great.
Amazing and super professional video. I was shocked to see you have under 500 subs. you will blow up if you keep making videos like this. Some of the footage you got from back in the day is crazy, shows you truly do your research and know what you’re talking about.
Thank you Joey! The sub means a lot and helps us grow quicker so we can keep putting out videos like this, glad you enjoyed it
I need to rant about this. Not only did the zebras pick up the call on the pi against the cowgirls, but they just allowed dez to run onto the field to complain about the call.. that's two missed calls that should've been on the cowgirls, and yet it was 4th and 1 Detroit..
Dez running out on the field without any sort of acknowledgment from the refs will forever be puzzling
Makes my blood boil while watching it. After all these years it still hurts lol
Bro the BS is real
Completely correct observation. Yet nobody mentioned Bryant running on the field crying to the refs. That is an instant flag. Not!
As a fan of said team… Even I found that puzzling.
As a lifelong lions fan, thank you. This is an amazing video. You’ve earned a new subscriber.
Thanks for the sub! Do you think they win Thursday?
This is a VERY good video and it's hard to watch all the heartbreak we as Lions fans have endured. I think adding the fastest OT loss ever against the Bears on Thanksgiving when they ran back the kickoff (I was there) and adding in the part of the Lions/Cowboys playoff game where Dez removed his helmet ON THE FIELD and didn't get flagged in that game (on top of the picked up OPI flag that got picked up). Great video and I love it!
Appreciate all the feedback. We may do a follow up video and add in some of these details. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it
@@firstteamfootball I did subscribe and loved the video!! Steven P told me about it and as a long suffering Lion fan, I loved it! I catch tons of flack here in Milwaukee (the heart of Packer country) and even John Kuhn calls me a Packer Fan in a Lion jersey!!! Thank you and looking forward to more content!
Steven p is the man. You’re in the right place 👍🔥
Wow!! Thank you for making this. I've watched the Lions since I was kid in the late 70"s and knew vaguely about the team's history. You've brought it all together here in an informative and entertaining way. Thank you for the memories (good & bad). This must have a tremendous effort to make. This was a blast to watch. I will definitely share your video.
Thank you for sharing it! I’m sure, at times, it was a painful watch for lions fans, but we felt an obligation to bring the full story to the fans. We’re glad you enjoyed it
Awesome video, as a lifelong Lions fan this was a walk down memory lane that I would rather forget. However, we finally have all of the pieces in place to finally end the curse once and for all.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! They’ve got some DAWGS
Great video guys! Let's go Lions!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, stay tuned for more content
What video would you want to see next ?
@@firstteamfootball Hmmmm let's see. When I was a kid, my favs were Walter Payton, Billy Sims, The Steel Curtain, Terry Bradshaw, etc. I know the videos from back then will be a tad grainy but I am always interested in that era.
Great video bro. Lifetime lions fan here and i gotta say you documented all the crazy moments really well. Nice researched video... chefs kiss
I'm a packers fan with a deep affection for the lions. Excellent video, subbed and waiting for more
Deep affection for a division rival. What is wrong with you?
@paranoidandroid4270 well, hard to be like... against them when I hadn't seen them ever win anything till last year. I mean I'm in my thirties. They've been shit for so long that them actually getting good was exciting to see. I don't live and breathe cheese, I can look outside some stupid rivalry and root for a team that deserves it
Thank you for the sub! New video in the next couple of days!
@@TheFullKananiIt’s a mutual respect between divisional rivals.
Great job on this video!! No matter how many bad breaks the the Detroit Lions have gotten over the years, a lot of their fans have never given up on them. That curse is broken!!
putting win next to the cowboys game is too good XD. DECKER REPORTED
glad I wasn't the only one to notice that!
They mixed it up though, said we lost to the Vikings
Amazing production quality bro!
Great video.
Maybe a video of a close inside look on how Goff’s career which seemed to be all but over, came to Detroit and begin to succeed.
Glad you enjoyed it! The Jared Goff resurgence in Detroit needs to be studied
This was brilliant! And you have an awesome voice for narration! Ok, just for accuracy sake and no other, two VERY minor details to point out. 1) it's Portsmouth, not Portsmith. 2) the "take the wind" game was not played in Chicago. It was played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana (University of Illinois) where the Bears played while they renovated, and ruined, Soldier Field (soon to be their former home stadium). Great stuff, man! You are super talented. Keep it going!
Thank you John for the helpful feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the video and appreciate the support
I’m not even a Lions fan but this was a great in depth video and I watched the whole thing. If you could make a video about the downfall of the Falcons that would be amazing.
Thank you for the feedback! We could cook something up for the falcons
Great video. Growing up a Lions fan was hard. I remember we used to have a nice silver and blue Lions Christmas tree ornament, and I always put it prominently on the tree for years. The year we went 0-16, it decided it had enough and randomly fell off the tree and shattered. We all just assumed it was so embarrassed with the team it represented that it decided to jump rather than see that season to its depressing conclusion.
This is the first video I've seen that mentioned Chris spielman as the start of things - good to see it
He played a MASSIVE role and doesn’t get enough credit!
Dude this video was amazing. Only 663 subs and you put out quality content like this? That's a damn shame. Have a sub my man. What a roller coaster of emotions. Seeing all of those terrible calls that absolutely screwed us over was heartbreaking and infuriating. Blowing that lead in SF in the second half was such a gut punch. I really like our staff and roster moves and we're only going to be better this upcoming season, though having a more difficult schedule is worrying. Goff gets slept on for some reason but he's literally a top 5 QB.
Thank you for the sub! The lions definitely did some nice things this offseason… we’ll see how they do with a first place schedule
I'm not a Lions fan but I'm really pulling for their poor fans.
My team has been a tragedy too for about 40 years so I understand
They were down bad for so long! Who’s your team?
@@firstteamfootballIf I had to guess, he’s probably a Browns fan.
@@RedWing88at least he has the cavs
Just watched all 3 videos you have posted so far and I gotta say these are amazing videos. You’d think a whole production team put together or like other have said some ESPN or NFL films video. Looking forward to whatever videos you have coming next.
Wow. Not even our moms watched all 3 haha
But seriously thank you sir. We put a lot of time but mostly a lot of heart into these videos to make them as good as possible. We always wanted someone else to make super high quality football documentary style videos with the right facts and analysis to back it up: so we said why not do it ourselves. Thanks again for supporting us.
Any good topics you think we should make a video on ?
It’s hard to believe that one team can have so much bad luck for 50 years.
Hello! Its ya boi! Chargers fan here!
The storytelling was beautiful. TH-cam recommends some gems every once, and a while, this was differently one.Great video.
That means a lot. This one was a topic close to home for us. Be sure to check out our other videos or subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss anything 🔥
13:30 When even your opponent is saying that it was catch. Unbelievable.
Excellent documentary here. I loved it. I have been a Detroit Lions fan. A true Lions fan " Win or Loss " for 50 years. I am so; so, so, very happy for Detroit & for Michigan for all the Detroit Lions fans. The last couple years & even back to 3 years ago everything turned 360 degrees around & the Detroit Lions are no longer " the same old Lions. " and it feels great. The Lions Owner & Lions Staff & General Manager & Company & Head Coach Dan Campbell & Ben Johnson & Glenn & our great Quarterback Jared Goff & Montgomery & Gibbs & St Brown & all the great Offense & great Defense. They have made all the great & outstanding difference & turn around. We got the best team & components & were winning games after Games. It's great to be a DETROIT LION NOW. GO LIONS KEEP ROARING & PROWLING SCRATCHING TO VICTORIES. WE BELIVE IN YOU. I BELIEVE IN YOU TOO. I WILL ALWAYS ❤ MY DETROIT 🦁 ! 🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈
And as of now, we are the #1 team in the NFC after biting the Vikings in the knee caps!
Great video, keep it up. Stay encouraged!
Thank you! More content coming soon!
Yeah that just about sums it up. What other team loses a playoff game 5 to nothing?
You could’ve added the Lions playoff Bowl wins in the early 60’s when the team was good but couldn’t get by the Pack. And maybe any number of record breaking FG losses - Tom Dempsey and Justin Tucker come to find.
But that Monday night loss to Rodgers and the Packers just about sums up my 60 years of Lions fandom - that was particularly painful. In real time I turned to my then 13 year old son and said just before that play was run, “we are about to lose this game”.
But hey, on the other hand I was one of the 62,000 in attendance when the Lions beat the Matthew Stafford led Rams in last years playoffs to break the drought. What a scene that was - complete strangers hugging and crying with each other. It was unforgettable and quite the payoff for all these years of frustration. The greatest day in Lions history since 1957.
😂😢😅🤔🤭🤫
Tbf that Monday Night game the sack on Rodgers was a facemask not a PF 15 yarder but the smaller 5 yarder ... In the video his hand does graze across the mask which makes it a 5 yarder
@@randallsheriff3529so? What does that have to do with anything I said?
@@AceBG27 just pointing out something that was incorrect is all
As a Detroiter I'd like to say THANK YOU for this video and the time it took put it together!
We put a lot of blood sweat and tears into this. This video was a passion project: we actually are not even monetized for it. But Nobody deserves it more than the Lions, so well worth it.
Thanks for watching and enjoying. Let’s hope the curse gets crushed for good this year
This video was absolutely awesome.
Thank you Austin! Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent job on putting the video together. I have watched it twice now.
I'm just grateful that I was there and got to see the Lions win not one but two home playoff games. I felt like I got to watch a part of history and while I hope it's the first of many, theres no saying how many they'll actually win So I'm grateful for that
The atmosphere must’ve been crazy….
@firstteamfootball I feel like that even if they get over the hump and make it the super bowl.. with their history, they'll have to get there at least twice to win one 😂
All jokes aside most weeks, not just the playoffs, that place was rocking every week! We party in the Eastern Market before the games
The worst part is Hitchens literally sat there upset and his body language CLEARLY told the world he KNEW he committed PI & was pissed at himself for having done so
one thing on the mcdc hire dan reached out to Detroit and told them he wanted the job but other than that amazing video of our pain and so far redemption with dan
Great video. Thank you for making it!
Glad you enjoyed it! Be on the look out for more content coming soon...
What video have you always wanted to see ?
You know the interesting thing? In 2021, the Lions tied with the Steelers. The last time the Lions tied with the Steelers? Against Bobby Layne. Since then (including playoffs) the Lions have gone 26-17. So I think the tie with the Steelers was the real end to the curse.
Awesome video, thanks for this man.
Of course! Lions all the way this year Freddy?!?
@@firstteamfootball as a lions fan, I’ve learned to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. But after years and years, things feel so different now. I’m thinking they can go all the way!
Hahahah I don’t blame you. Y’all have a chance!
@@firstteamfootball thanks brotha, love your channel
As a long-suffering Lions fan (50 + years) I'd like to make a few points of order. First, fan dissatisfaction played no role in Billy Ford senior's decision to fire Millen. Billy senior liked Millen and if you were a drinking buddy or someone Ford just liked you got to keep your job no matter how bad you were at it. Long before Millen, Russ Thomas was allowed to run the team into the ground forever as GM because he was one of Ford's drinking pals. It was Billy Ford junior who finally talked the old man into firing Millen, which was itself ironic since hiring that moron was junior's idea in the first place. There is a reason Martha, junior's own mother, shut him out of anything Lions related and turned control over to her daughter Sheila.
The second point is, the whole "you'll never win again for 50 years" is largely urban legend. There is no record of Bobby Layne actually saying it and no one around him at the time the Lions traded him recall him making that remark. It grew over time and Bobby just kept quiet about the whole thing, letting it take on a life of it's own. And curse's are a bunch of BS. Wanna know the curse? The curse was Billy senior being allowed to own an NFL franchise. The family bought it for him to shut him up and give him something to do not related to the automobile business. Billy's one contribution to the Ford Motor Company was the Edsel. Nuff said about Billy's skills when it came to making cars. No, when you have a moron running things you don't need a curse to suck. The thing with Billy boy was, the more you told him what he was doing was wrong the more he would do that thing. Call it stubbornness, passive-aggressive behavior, or just plain old stupidity, that is how the man was wired.
But let's say I'm wrong. Let's say there was some kind of curse. If there was, it was the curse of JFK. Billy Ford became sole owner of the Lions on November 22, 1963. That date may ring a bell for anyone familiar with the JFK assassination. Now, Kennedy was elected in 1960. William McKinley, the president assassinated before Kennedy was elected in 1900, 60 years earlier. It was 60 years from the time Ford bought the team (1963) to the time the team won more than one playoff game in a season (2023). The Layne curse was 50 years, so it should have ended in 2008. Well, people familiar with Lions history know all about the 0-16 2008 Lions. Hardly an indication things were looking up. So if there was a curse, the math is more favorable to the JFK curse. The lesson? Don't buy a sports team the same day the president gets whacked. To borrow from Sean Connery; here endeth the lesson.
Yes, and don't let a bullet ridden limozine get refitted with new glass at your glass plant at the Rouge Plant in Dearborn two days later either!
This is an incredible piece for the lions. I appreciate the deeper dive into the an overview.
27:40 I love how you marked that Cowboys game as a "win" even though we got shafted on the 2 point conversion and the L column is correct otherwise. Nice touch! #GoLions #DeckerReportedAsEligible
Glad you enjoyed the video!!
68 year old Lions fan here and watching all those early history of Lions made me realize more than ever, just how good the team has gotten since Sheila Ford has taken over the franchise. I love our coach and GM, but it didn't happen until she took the reigns...
Interesting that the Lions began and ended the 1980s drafting running backs who had both:
- Played for college teams in the state of Oklahoma that then belonged to the Big 8 Conference.
- Won the Heisman Trophy in their respective junior seasons in college.
- Had first names (or nicknames) starting with "B" and last names starting with "S".
Wild isn’t it?
And both ended their careers early😢
OMG Amazing show! I thank you very much for your hard work, it shows!
You forgot another sad detail: in 1971 the WR Chuck Hughes falling down suddenly in the field, dying minutes later.
On that same day in 1971, Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers was killed in a motorcycle accident. I went to school with a guy who was born the same day.
Very well put together vid, you gained a sub. As a raiders fan a vid on their downfall since their last SB appearance would be a good idea for a future vid.
Glad you liked it and thanks for the sub! The raiders are on our radar 💯
I hope other fans can watch this video and see the horrible officiating that has cursed us through the years... On a brighter note I was at the Packers game last year when they turned the corner and could sense something different that day!!
Saw that the Lions were marked as a win last year against the Cowboys. Classic.
Still, growing up as a Lions fan I cannot say to you how fun these last two years have been. I still remember the crowd popping when we beat the Rams, it was magical.
"This is just the beginning boys. Next week at home against whoever the fuck wants to come in here." -Our QB Jared Goff
Awesome video 🎉
Appreciate it Patty!
This is a pure example of the NFL refs sucking
I went to school with a kid whose father worked for the Lions front office during the Millen years and what they told me always made so much sense.
William Clay Ford would not let them run the team their way.
They continued to mess with who they hired, fired, and drafted.
Mike Williams, Roy Williams, Joey Harrington and Charles Rodgers were all said to been mandated by WCF as must be drafted players as WCF really wanted to build a team like the one in Indianapolis and they had no clue how to do it.
Calvin was the only WR that the GM wanted to draft out of the bunch.
DyNasty Bginz ⚒️🦁💙
I am shocked you only have 608 subscribers (make that 609), this is some good stuff man
Thank you! Every sub helps out!
@10:43 That's Roy Williams in the pic not Mike Williams, other than that fucking EPIC video dude!👏👏👏
Good catch, thank you!
What video would you want to see next ?
This was wonderful to watch! Many memories. Missed a few seasons raising 4 kids w every weekend spent on various fields as they played their own sports, it’s the best timing to now have last 1 graduated so on weekends Mom gets to make chili, wear her Lion’s sweatshirt while enjoying this Lion’s rebuild under Sheila Ford… so so much! Love our Lions & oh, yeah, Decker Reported!💙🩶🦁
The tide is turning, I can feel it!
Maybe so
I remember when the Detroit Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup in 42yrs in 1997. The whole state was ecstatic, the city of Detroit had a parade that 2 million people came too. Then we won again in 1998, 2002, 2007. Im hope the Lions go on a run like the Wings. Hell, I'd be happy just with 1 SB. I honestly believe, if we stay healthy and maybe trade for an above average DE. We have a real good shot at winning one. I was born in 1986. I didn't get a chance to see the Tigers win a World Series in 1984. I was very young when the Pistons won in 1989 and 1990. The Red Wings were the dominant Detroit sports team. The Pistons did win a NBA Championship in 2004 and went back to the finals in 2005, but lost in 7 games. Tigers went to the World Series in 2006 and 2012, but lost. I really want to see the Lions and Red Wings win.
I always laugh at that Barry run against the cowboys. One of their guys was walking because he thought Barry was down. I mean there was a pile of cowboys players around him. Barry takes off down the field and the dude turns his head and looks shocked
great content!
ONE DAMN PRIDE
the best, worst team in the NFL
Beautifully done!!! What are great video
Who here December 2024
Me. Let’s see if they can beat the bills
Great video, good history, excellent editing, and an all-around quality permeates this video.
Me being a Lions fan has nothing to do with my objective opinion.
Great video!
Thank you sir. We agree with your impartiality. Stay tuned for other great football content
Sheila ,Spielman, Campball, and Holmes in 2020 was the answer!
Definitely different than prior leadership!
Spielman doesn't get nearly enough credit. Great move on Sheila's part to acknowledge her lack of knowledge, in hiring him and Barry as "consultants."
But there's no way we bring on Holmes and Campbell if she's going it alone, or using the carryover patsys in the front office. In Spielman pointing finding those two, the turnaround began.
Thanks for this upload!
The NFL needs to teach their cheating officials better, they are so obvious 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
2:37 "thats it, Dallas wins Five to Nothing…" the announcer almost seemed just as shocked that an NFL game ended 5-0 😂