Does Michigan Have an NFL Team?

The answer may surprise you.

No, Michigan does not have an NFL team. Though, the Detroit Lions do play in nearby Detroit, Michigan.

Introduction

In the United States, professional football is played at the National Football League (NFL) level. There are 32 teams in the NFL, and each team is allowed to have up to 53 players on its roster. Each year, NFL teams compete against each other in a regular season lasting 17 weeks, and the team with the best record at the end of the season earns a spot in the playoffs. The playoffs culminate in the Super Bowl, which is the biggest single-day sporting event in the world.

While there are no NFL teams based in Michigan, there are two Michigan-based teams that play in a different professional football league: the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Drive. The Lions are a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) while the Drive were members of the now-defunct Arena Football League (AFL).

The History of the Lions

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the National Football League (NFL) as a part of the NFC North division. The Lions first joined the NFL in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans and became the Detroit Lions in 1934.

Early Success

The Lions were established in 1930, and they enjoyed early success. They won the NFL Championship in 1935 and again in 1952. In the 1950s, the team struggled, but they rebounded in the 1960s. They made it to the playoffs six times in ten years and won the NFL Championship in 1957.

The Lions’ 1970s were marked by mediocrity, but they had another resurgence in the 1980s. They made it to the playoffs five times and won their third NFL Championship in 1983. The team struggled again in the 1990s, but they made it back to the playoffs in 1999.

Struggles in the 1970s

The Lions struggled in the 1970s, posting a record of just 41-61. This led to several changes in leadership, including the firing of head coach Joe Schmidt. The team also had a hard time finding a quarterback to replace star player Greg Landry, who had been traded away in 1972.

The 1980s and 1990s

The Lions had some success in the 1980s, making the playoffs five times from 1983 to 1991 thanks to a formidable defense that included hall of famers such as linebacker Chris Spielman, defensive end Al “Bubba” Baker, and safety Bennie Blades. The team’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in 1992, when head coach Wayne Fontes took over. Under Fontes, the Lions lost at least 10 games in seven out of eight seasons from 1993 to 2000. In 2000, the Lions finally broke their playoff drought by winning nine games and captured their first division title since 1983. However, they were blown out by the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.

The New Millennium

into the new millennium, the Lions continued to struggle. In 2000, they posted a 9-7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs. The following year, they slipped to 5-11. In 2002, they improved slightly to 6-10. And in 2003, they had their worst season in nearly two decades, posting a dismal 3-13 record.

The Fans

There are diehard fans of the Michigan Football team, but does Michigan have an NFL team? No, but there are some fans that would love to see one. The state of Michigan does not currently have an NFL team, but that does not mean that the fans are not there.

Die-hard Fans

In the state of Michigan, there are die-hard fans for many different sports teams. But, when it comes to football, the fans seem to be split between two teams: the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers. Both teams have a strong fan base in Michigan, but the Lions seem to have a slight edge.

The Lions have been in existence since 1930, and they have a long history in the state of Michigan. The team has played its home games in Detroit since 1934, and they have a large fan base in the city. The Lions have won four NFL Championships (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957), but they have never won a Super Bowl. The team has had some success in recent years, making the playoffs six times since 2000.

The Packers are another team with a long history in the state of Michigan. The team was founded in 1919 and began playing its home games in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1921. The Packers have won 13 NFL Championships (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010) and four Super Bowls (196667 , 1996 , 2010). The Packers also have a large fan base in Michigan due to their historical connection to the state.

Bandwagon Fans

Most sports fans are very passionate about their teams and have been following them for years, but there are also a lot of fair-weather or “bandwagon” fans who only start supporting a team when they start winning. Some people become fans of a certain team because they are from the same area, or because their friends or family members are fans of that team. Others may choose to support a team simply because they dislike another team or player.

No matter what the reason is for choosing to support a particular team, all fans have one thing in common: they want to see their team win. Bandwagon fans may not be as invested in the team as die-hard fans, but that doesn’t mean they’re not rooting for them to succeed.

The Stadium

The only thing that could hold more than 107,601 people is Michigan Stadium, home of the Wolverines. If the Lions ever get good again and make the playoffs, they would have to play their home games at Michigan. That would be AMAZING. If you’ve ever been to a game at the Big House, you know how electric the atmosphere is. Just imagine if it was an NFL playoff game.

Conclusion

It is unclear if Michigan will ever have an NFL team. The state has two very good college teams in the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans. However, there are no professional teams in the state. The Detroit Lions play their games in Detroit, which is just outside of Michigan, but they are considered to be an NFL team.