I never ever believed though, after all those years of watching missed tackles, dropped throws, crappy quarterbacks, stupid penalties, loads of field goals that should have been touchdowns (the Lions have always had great kickers) and just plain bad football that it could get worse. I remember going to the games, sitting among legions of Bears, Vikings, or Packers fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, hoping for a day when I could sit among my own kind and cheer. Team CEO and general manager Matt Millen ruined all hopes. It takes a very rare talent to take a long history of mediocrity and turn it into a total unmitigated disaster. Very rare.
Let’s give the man his due:
- The overall record since Millen took over in 2001 is 31-84. Watching the Lions play all of those years, I’m wondering how they pulled off 31.
- The Lions went three years without a road victory from 2001-2003, the only team in NFL history ever to do that.
- Three first round draft picks, Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, and Joey Harrington not only didn’t work out, but they are no longer in football. (Harrington was recently released by the New Orleans Saints, five days after signing him.)
- Three coaches were part of this era, each with winning percentages of .156, .349, and .286 percent respectively.
- There were no division championships, although they haven’t won one of those since 1993, long before Millen did damage.
- They never had a winning season.
- They never finished higher than third.
- Playoffs? Um, no.
- Fans not only chanted “Fire Millen” at Lions games, but at Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers games as well.
- The highest scoring player in the entire era is Jason Hanson, who’s the kicker.
Is there hope for us long suffering fans since Millen is now among the unemployed? There’s still a primary culprit of all this shameful history and that’s the owner, William Clay Ford. Ever since he took over the team in 1964, the Lions have won a total of one playoff game. He gave Millen a five-year contract extension in 2005, right around the time that fans were all spewing outrage over the man having a job. He was convinced that Millen was the man for the job because he liked him, riding with hopes that Millen would eventually rise the team back to their glory years of mediocrity.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
In a way I feel genuinely bad for Millen because he should have been put out of his occupational misery years ago, so yes, the last three or four years of failure were on Ford's head.
Now Millen probably can't even go back to broadcasting. Or do, like, anything football-related.
2 - Joanne Huspek
We should rejoice, that's what we should do!
Actually, since I grew up in Colorado and went to college in Minnesota, I cheer for the Broncos or the Vikings, not the Lions. Millen made it so very easy, too. He was a crybaby when the team lost (which was very often), and couldn't stand it when the fans expressed their displeasure at HIM. When you're the boss, the buck stops there.
I just can't believe it took this long for William Clay Ford to figure it out. Millen should have been gone long ago.
3 - RJ Elliott
Great article, Alice.
I still remember fondly the 1991 NFL season. It was the only year (in my lifetime) in which the Lions were viewed as being genuinely credible. They went 12-4, made the playoffs, won their division, even had a playoff bye, and shockingly even won a playoff game (against the Dallas Cowboys). John Madden was the color commentator for that playoff game, and he didn't sound at all pleased that these nobodies from Detroit were beating "America's Team." (Fat fucker.)
Anyway, they ended up getting crushed in the NFC Championship Game 41-10 by their nemesis (and eventual Super Bowl Champion) the Washington Redskins. Sigh...
But those were good times, the early 1990s. Barry Sanders, Wayne Fontes, Brett Perriman, Chris Spielman ... a great group of guys.
It just sucks that, in this time of NFL "parity," my team has consistently failed every season for about a decade now. Oh, well. There's always the Pistons and the Red Wings!
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
"NFL "parity,""
So, how bout those Colts and Patriots?
5 - Paul Mailloux, london On Canada
Evey year its the same thing....about this time I say that's it I'm picking a new team next season. Please Mr. Ford just give us a glimmer of HOPE!
6 - Randy
If im not mistaken, Junior was born during the same year Senior bought the our beloved Lions.