Detroit Lions Wearing White at Home

Hello...

To my knowledge, the Detroit Lions remain perhaps the ONLY NFL team that has NEVER worn their white jerseys at home....with ONE exception.

It occurred on Thanksgiving Day, 1970.

The visiting Oakland Raiders, that season, wore silver numbers on their white jerseys. NBC, broadcasting the game, was afraid that the silver on white numbers wouldn't show up well on national TV, so they asked the Lions to wear white so the Raiders could wear black. The Lions agreed.

The move seemed to backfire, as the Raiders jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead. But the Lions recovered and won, 28-14.

Aside from that game, unless it happened wayyyy before my time, I don't think the Lions have ever worn white at home.

Greg Eno
www dot Greg Eno dot com

Greg,

Interesting story on the Raiders-Lions 1970 game. Thanks for sharing.

The Lions actually did wear white at home on one other occasion, ironically enough also on a Thanksgiving game. In 1961, the Lions wore white against the Packers. This was most unusual in that, as far as we know, it is the ONLY time for ANY NFL team wore white at home in the 1957-1963 era. It was in these years that the NFL Rule Book stated that the away team must wear white while the home team must wear dark.

timmyb wrote:Greg,
The Lions actually did wear white at home on one other occasion, ironically enough also on a Thanksgiving game. In 1961, the Lions wore white against the Packers. This was most unusual in that, as far as we know, it is the ONLY time for ANY NFL team wore white at home in the 1957-1963 era. It was in these years that the NFL Rule Book stated that the away team must wear white while the home team must wear dark.

From the 11/23/61 Milwaukee Sentinel:

"(Lions head coach George) Wilson, fed up with the Lions' inability to win at Tigers Stadium, sought--and received--permission to have his players wear road uniforms against the Packers. Five of Detroit's six victories occurred in road games when the Lions wore white shirts.

"'No, I'm not superstitious,' said Wilson. 'Our blue shirts shrank. Besides, we look better in white.'"

GREAT stuff! Thanks for sharing---and clearing that up for me!

in addition to comments about the Lions, of course, as Tim's White At Home page indicates, the Seahawks have never worn white at home...