The Lions curse of Bobby, also known as the Curse of Bobby Lane, is a legendary curse believed to have plagued the Detroit Lions football team for more than six decades. The curse is said to have originated in 1957 when the Lions traded their star quarterback, Bobby Layne, to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bobby Layne was a highly successful quarterback for the Lions, leading them to three NFL championships in the 1950s. However, when he was traded to the Steelers, Layne reportedly cursed the Lions, stating that they would not win for 50 years. Since then, the Lions have had a long history of disappointment and lack of success. The curse has become a prominent part of Lions folklore, with fans often referring to it as the reason for the team's continued struggles.

Notes: New TV show examines Detroit Lions’ Curse of Bobby Layne

Jeff Daniels, Keegan-Michael Key, and Calvin Johnson pitch in on Sunday’s Detroit-focused episode.

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The curse has become a prominent part of Lions folklore, with fans often referring to it as the reason for the team's continued struggles. Despite numerous coaching changes, player acquisitions, and efforts to turn the team's fortunes around, the Lions have not won a championship since the curse was allegedly placed. Over the years, the curse has been blamed for a multitude of misfortunes, including injuries to key players, questionable coaching decisions, and overall team incompetence.

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While some of our Pride of Detroit staff who shall remain nameless are tired of hearing about the Curse of Bobby Layne, it turns out ESPN+ and Peyton Manning are not. Season 3’s premiere episode of the series “Peyton’s Places,” hosted by the Hall of Fame quarterback, airs on Sunday, October 30 and is all about the so-called curse on the Detroit Lions. The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett has a long writeup about the upcoming episode.

For anyone who has no idea what we are talking about, the Detroit Free Press posted a one-minute primer video explaining it a few years ago. A two-minute video from 2013 by ESPN’s Greg Garber fills in some of the modern day bits of the story. A more extended explanation of the curse (almost eight minutes, so not that long) comes to us from NFL Films, watchable on YouTube.

The importance of Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne in Lions history is pretty substantial; it is worth revisiting the background of this figure in Detroit sports in preparation for the Peyton’s Places episode. There’s a great halftime feature “Legends of the Game” from CBS back in 1980 on YouTube (which won’t play embedded here) which includes interview clips with Layne. It’s neat to hear his voice, which sounded pretty much the same even decades after he was a star in Detroit.

Peyton's back like he never left.

Peyton's Places Season 3: Premieres Oct. 30 on @ESPNPLUS pic.twitter.com/Y5AfVO2o0x

Do you believe in the curse? Do you even care about the curse? Tune in this Sunday anyway to see Detroit superfan Keegan-Michael Key simulate the Billy Sims kick to the face! Now, on to the rest of today’s Notes:

• Our own Erik Schlitt and co-host Joe Kania posted their new Detroit Lions Breakdown podcast episode, in which they preview the Lions’ upcoming game against the Dolphins.

• On the latest episode of Twentyman in the Huddle, Tim Twentyman from the official team site had field position optimization specialist Jack Fox on the show. Twentyman also posted an article about how Jeff Okudah is building confidence through solid performances.

• There was indeed a Barry Sanders design in the new SMPLFD collection for this season:

AVAILABLE NOW: The final #Lions x @smplfd design of the season featuring none other than @BarrySanders! Purchase at Lions Supply inside Ford Field and online while supplies last.

• Kyle Meinke and Ben Raven from MLive posted their latest Dungeon of Doom podcast episode. Former Lions offensive lineman TJ Lang appeared as a guest on the show.

• Yesterday, an article from CBS Sports in our Notes suggested the Lions should trade a running back before the trade deadline. Today, we have an article from The Athletic (subscription required) that floats the possibility of the Lions trading a tight end.

The Lions should trade T.J. Hockenson at the deadline

• Sounds like the Lions rookies are getting into the Halloween spirit:

The Lions held a costume contest for rookies earlier today. Some of the costumes from what I’ve gathered:

Josh Paschal - Joker
Malcolm Rodriguez - Maverick
Aidan Hutchinson - An egg
James Houston - Super Grover
Obinna Eze - Jack Sparrow (winner ✅)

• The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner and Colton Pouncy recorded a new episode of the podcast One of These Years.

Many fans and analysts believe that the Lions will not be able to break the curse until the 50-year mark passes, which is now long past. Some skeptics argue that the curse is simply a figment of fans' imagination and that the team's struggles can be attributed to other factors, such as poor management, lack of talent, or inconsistent coaching. Others, however, firmly believe in the power of the curse and point to the long history of disappointment as evidence. Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the curse, it remains a captivating part of Lions history and has become a source of hope or despair for fans depending on their beliefs. Whether or not the curse is real, it is undeniable that the Lions have faced significant challenges and have yet to achieve the level of success they once enjoyed with Bobby Layne at the helm. Only time will tell if the curse will ever be broken, or if it will continue to haunt the Lions for years to come. Until then, fans will eagerly watch and wait, hoping for a change in fortune and the end of the Lions' curse of Bobby..

Reviews for "Bobby and the cursed lion lineage: a story of doom and despair"

1. Samantha - 1 star

I really did not enjoy "Lion's Curse of Bobby" at all. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, jumping from one random event to another without any clear connection. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to care about what happened to them. Additionally, the writing was sloppy, with numerous grammatical errors and awkward sentences. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointment and would not recommend it to others.

2. Michael - 2 stars

While "Lion's Curse of Bobby" had an interesting concept, I found the execution to be lacking. The pacing was slow, and the plot dragged on, making it hard for me to stay engaged. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, with characters speaking in unnatural ways that didn't reflect their personalities. There were also several plot holes and inconsistencies that further detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, I found "Lion's Curse of Bobby" to be mediocre and not worth the time investment.

3. Emily - 2 stars

I had high expectations for "Lion's Curse of Bobby" based on the synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell short. The characterization was weak, with the main protagonist lacking depth and the supporting characters feeling one-dimensional. The writing style was also a letdown, with an excessive use of clichés and repetitive phrases. The plot had potential but felt underdeveloped and rushed, leaving many questions unanswered. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others unless they have a particular interest in the genre.

The curse that follows the path of the lion king, Bobby