Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions have NFL’s second-longest active championship drought at 67 years

Published

1 year ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Detroit Lions have NFL’s second-longest active championship drought at 67 years

The Detroit Lions are trying to shed some franchise history during the 2025 NFL playoffs.

The Lions are the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time and host the Washington Commanders Saturday in the divisional round. With a win, the Lions could reach the NFC championship game for a second consecutive year and host the game for the first time in franchise history.

If the Lions can win two playoff games against Washington and then the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams, Detroit they would reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. They are the only NFC team to never reach the big game.

The Lions’ history has not been kind regarding championships. Detroit is one of 12 teams not to win a Super Bowl since it began in the 1966 season. The Lions are one of seven teams to win a championship before the Super Bowl era but haven’t won in the 66 seasons since their 1957 triumph.

The Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans (then known as the Houston Oilers), Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills are the other teams to have a championship in history but no Super Bowl.

NFL longest active championship droughts

The Lions have the second-longest active drought, trailing the Cardinals by a decade. The Lions, who won four NFL championships, most recently finished at the top of the league in 1957 (other championship years are 1935, 1952 and 1953). Famously after the 1957 championship, the Lions traded quarterback Bobby Layne, who starred on the three championship teams, and he cursed the franchise for 50 years without another championship.

The Lions are now at 67 years, but might have gotten some recent help from actor and fan Jeff Daniels.

The Cardinals, along with the Chicago Bears, are the oldest team in NFL history founded in 1920. The Cardinals have two championships, but last won in 1947 when they were based in Chicago. Their championship drought is at 77 years. The Cardinals lost in a classic Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers to conclude the 2008 season.

The Oilers won their only two championships in the AFL in 1960-61.

The Chargers won their only championship in the AFL in 1963.

The Bills won consecutive AFL championships in 1964-65.

The Vikings won the NFL championship in 1969 but lost Super Bowl 4 to the Kansas City Chiefs in the final season before the AFL and NFL merged into one league.

Five franchises founded during the Super Bowl era — the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers — have never won a championship.

The four teams without a Super Bowl appearance are the Lions, Browns, Texans and Jaguars, though the Lions are the only team to play in every season of the Super Bowl era and still be left out.

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.

Stay tuned for the best Lions coverage throughout the playoffs and all year long at freep.com/sports/lions.

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Detroit, MI

Large police presence for an investigation on Detroit’s west side

Published

3 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Large police presence for an investigation on Detroit’s west side

Police had not released details about the nature of the investigation

DETROIT – A large police investigation was underway on Detroit’s west side.

Update: 7-year-old boy shot multiple times, man killed in shooting on Detroit’s west side

The scene is taking place on Wednesday (June 24) near Burgess Street, not far from Outer Drive and Fenkell Avenue.

Police had not released details about the nature of the investigation.

Multiple requests for information from the police were pending.

Local 4 photographer Sara Schulz, who is at the scene, observed officers searching the area and appeared to be looking for evidence, including possible shell casings.

The circumstances surrounding the investigation, including whether anyone was injured or whether a shooting occurred, were not immediately confirmed.

Police are expected to provide additional information as the investigation develops.

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Detroit, MI

Ilitch Companies creates gaming platform, expands beyond Detroit

Published

13 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Ilitch Companies creates gaming platform, expands beyond Detroit

Ilitch Companies recently announced the formation of a new gaming platform with plans to purchase a casino in Mississippi and expand its ownership of a casino in New Jersey.

The new venture, called Ilitch Gaming, will oversee the company’s gaming, hospitality and entertainment businesses, the company said in a release, adding that it will build on the success of MotorCity Casino Hotel. The operation of Ilitch Gaming is awaiting regulatory approval.

Chris Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Companies, described the move as a new chapter for the company’s gaming and hospitality business. He will also serve as chairperson of Ilitch Gaming.

“My mother Marian Ilitch’s vision for MotorCity Casino Hotel and our success in Detroit over nearly three decades is the inspiration for what comes next,” Ilitch said in a statement. “The formation of Ilitch Gaming marks a defining new chapter in the evolution of our gaming and hospitality business. We remain committed to creating memorable experiences for guests, supporting responsible gaming, and serving as a positive economic force in the communities where we operate.”

Along with the launch of Ilitch Gaming, Ilitch Companies announced plans to acquire Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort in D’Iberville, Mississippi, and purchase the remaining ownership stake in Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from Luxor Capital Group LP. Ilitch Companies has had 50% ownership interest in Ocean Casino Resort since 2021.

Both deals are subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, and each casino is expected to continue operating as usual until the transactions are completed, officials said.

“We are incredibly proud of what our team has built over the past decade and grateful for the support we have received from our guests across the Gulf Coast,” LuAnn Pappas, chief executive officer of Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, said in a statement. “We believe Ilitch Gaming shares our commitment to hospitality, service, and community, and we are confident Scarlet Pearl is positioned for continued success.”

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

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Detroit, MI

Trailblaze Detroit: Blazing New Trails while Backpacking Metro Detroit | Visit Detroit | Visit Detroit

Published

23 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Trailblaze Detroit: Blazing New Trails while Backpacking Metro Detroit | Visit Detroit | Visit Detroit

Chief Pontiac Trail markers within Kensington Metropark

Kensington Metropark is a Detroit region outdoor destination that hardly requires an introduction. With over 4,500 acres of protected recreational prowess, the Metropark receives nearly 3 million visitors each year that enjoy the following amenities:

Hiking, biking, and equestrian trails weaving through over 700 acres of forests, fields, fens, and swamps
Boating, paddling, and fishing along the Huron River and massive Kent Lake
Tee times at its 18 hole golf course
Family-friendly exhibits and events at its Nature Center and Farm Center
Playgrounds and beaches
Ultimate summer fun at “Splash ‘n’ Blast” water park

With its abundance of amenities – and impressive visitation figures – readers of this article might be surprised to have only just learned that the Chief Pontiac Trail crosses through the beloved metropark. If you fall into that camp, then know that you’re far from being alone. In fact, that sentiment is representative of one of the best aspects of the Chief Pontiac Trail experience: leading backpackers through the least-visited segments of an extremely popular metropark.

As you complete the Chief Pontiac Trail, you’ll enjoy stunning natural vistas that remain hidden from the majority of visitors to Kensington. From rolling grasslands to stunning explosions of wildflowers and dramatic ridge lines, the dramatic approach to the Huron River provides a gorgeous finale to your long morning on the trail.

The upper Huron River flowing through Kensington Metropark

A final descent to Kensington’s “Group Campground” illuminates the finish line of the Chief Pontiac trail: the Group Camp Road Bridge over the Huron River. In true Detroit fashion, there’s no glitzy sign or over-hyped fanfare waiting for you at the end of the trail. Instead, nearly 20 miles of backpacking through the heart of Metro Detroit provides you with the following rewards:

A lifetime of memories gathered in two days
Unmatched sense of accomplishment and adventure
Lasting awe and affinity towards the beauty of Metro Detroit’s outdoors
Shattered expectations regarding “Pure Michigan” trail experiences
Stunning views of the shining Huron River

Congratulations on walking in Chief Pontiac’s steps, Detroit.

We can’t wait to see you at another trailhead soon.

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Trailblaze Detroit is a multimedia series co-produced by Visit Detroit and Expedition Detroit. The core purpose of the series is to promote outdoor adventure tourism and discovery throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties, as well as highlight the Detroit region’s natural spaces, seasonal activities, hidden outdoor gems, and the individuals that support them.

Are you interested in using adventure marketing to promote your organization or business? Awesome – we’re here to help! Contact us at info@expeditiondetroit.com or 734.821.6416 to learn more.

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