The Detroit Lions curse is a long-standing belief in the misfortune and lack of success that has plagued the Detroit Lions, a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The curse is said to have originated in 1958 when the Lions won their last championship and has persisted ever since. Throughout their history, the Lions have experienced numerous disappointments and setbacks. They have never appeared in a Super Bowl and have only won a single playoff game in the Super Bowl era. This lack of success has led many fans to believe that the team is cursed. One of the most cited examples of the Lions curse is the "Bobby Layne curse.
7 Bizarre Sports Curses
Since Detroit traded QB Bobby Layne in 1958, the Lions have endured a lengthy playoff drought. No hex, however, may be as strange as the one involving a fast-food icon.
Updated: June 1, 2023 | Original: October 27, 2021
The Detroit Lions have won one playoff game since trading Bobby Layne in 1958. / Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Superstitions and sports are as inseparable as Halloween and candy, but a few sports franchises and athletes have endured runs of such poor fortune that they seemingly can only be explained by the supernatural. Hexes such as the Curse of the Bambino and Curse of the Billy Goat that bedeviled the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs are familiar to most sports fans. Here are seven lesser-known sports jinxes:
One of the most cited examples of the Lions curse is the "Bobby Layne curse." In 1958, the Lions traded their star quarterback Bobby Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before leaving, Layne supposedly said that the Lions would not win for 50 years.
1. The Curse of Rocky Colavito
Once the Red Sox and Cubs broke their historic curses, Major League Baseball’s longest title drought passed to Cleveland’s baseball club, which switched its name from the Indians to Guardians following the 2021 season. Much as some Red Sox fans pointed to the trade of Babe Ruth for their woes, Cleveland fans blamed the 1960 swap of the team’s most popular player, Rocky Colavito.
The reigning American League home run leader, Colavito learned of his trade to Detroit while standing on first base during an exhibition game at Russwood Park in Memphis. Perhaps the first sign that the transaction had angered the sporting gods was when the stadium was destroyed in a fire hours after the trade. Although Colavito returned to Cleveland five years later, the team’s 1948 World Series title remains their last.
Cleveland’s long-suffering fans watched their team fail to hold a ninth-inning lead in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series before a Tony Fernandez error contributed to a devastating loss. In 2016, the Cubs broke their curse in Cleveland by winning Game 7 of the World Series in extra innings and adding further heartache to the home team’s fans.
Since that time, the Lions have endured decades of mediocrity and disappointment. Another example of the curse is the infamous "0-16" season in 2008, where the Lions became the first team in NFL history to lose all 16 games in a single season. This further cemented the belief in the curse and reinforced the team's status as one of the least successful franchises in the league. Despite changes in ownership, coaching staff, and player personnel, the Lions have been unable to break free from the curse. They continue to struggle on the field and disappoint their fans year after year. Many believe that until the curse is broken, the Lions will continue to face obstacles and setbacks. While the Detroit Lions curse may be seen by some as a simple superstition or a result of poor management and coaching, it holds a significant place in the hearts of many Lions fans. It has become a part of the team's identity, a symbol of enduring loyalty in the face of continuous disappointment. As the Lions work towards a brighter future and strive to end the curse, fans hold on to hope that someday their beloved team will finally achieve success and bring a championship back to Detroit. Until then, the curse will remain a topic of discussion and debate for football fans across the country..
Reviews for "The Detroit Lions Curse and Its Ongoing Impact on the NFL"
1. John - 1/5 stars
I found "Detroit Lions Curse" to be incredibly disappointing. The concept had so much potential - a curse haunting a football team - but the execution fell flat. The storyline was predictable and lacked any real depth or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, it felt like a wasted opportunity and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written supernatural thriller.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars
"Detriot Lions Curse" had an interesting premise, but it failed to deliver on many levels. The pacing was slow and the story dragged on without any real sense of urgency or excitement. The writing style was also quite underwhelming, with stilted dialogues and bland descriptions. I was hoping for a gripping and atmospheric read, but unfortunately, this book fell short and left me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Mike - 1/5 stars
I couldn't even finish "Detroit Lions Curse" because it was so poorly written. The grammar and punctuation mistakes were distracting and made it difficult to follow the story. Additionally, the plot seemed scattered and disjointed, and I couldn't find any coherent progression. It's a shame because I was initially intrigued by the idea of a curse affecting a football team, but the execution was so terrible that I gave up on this book in frustration.