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1957 Detroit Lions season

NFL team season (won NFL Championship)

NFL team season (won NFL Championship)

FieldValue
teamDetroit Lions
year1957
record8–4
division_place1st NFL Western (playoff)
coachGeorge Wilson
general managerNick Kerbawy
ownerDetroit Football Company
stadiumBriggs Stadium
playoffsWon Conference Playoff
(at 49ers) 31–27
Won NFL Championship
(vs. Browns) 59–14
shortnavlinkLions seasons
pro bowlers{{Collapsible list
title7
1MLB Joe Schmidt
2SS Jack Christiansen
3FS Yale Lary
4LT Lou Creekmur
5LG Harley Sewell
6LDH Jim David
7LDE Darris McCord
AP All-pros{{Collapsible list
title5
1LT Lou Creekmur (1st team)
2LG Harley Sewell (2nd team)
3MLB Joe Schmidt (1st team)
4SS Jack Christiansen (1st team)
5FS Yale Lary (2nd team)

(at 49ers) 31–27 Won NFL Championship (vs. Browns) 59–14 | AP All-pros ={{Collapsible list The 1957 season was the Detroit Lions' 28th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 24th as the Detroit Lions, and their first under head coach George Wilson. Despite dropping one more game than the previous season, the Lions tied the San Francisco 49ers for first place in the NFL Western Conference. In the tiebreaker game, the Lions defeated the 49ers 31–27 to advance to their fourth championship appearance of the decade. Playing as underdogs, the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns 59–14 to win their fourth NFL championship. As of the 2025 season, this is the last time the Lions have appeared in an NFL title game, the second-longest drought in the NFL and fourth-longest in the four major sports.

In the penultimate regular season game with the Cleveland Browns on December 8, Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne was lost for the season with a broken right ankle. With backup Tobin Rote in at quarterback in the second quarter, the Lions won that game and overcame a ten-point deficit at halftime the following week to defeat the Chicago Bears 21–13, whom they had lost to three weeks earlier at home. They ended the regular season with three consecutive wins and an 8–4 record. All four losses were within the Western Conference, splitting the two games with all but the Green Bay Packers, whom they swept.

Schedule

Regular season

Main article: 1957 NFL season

According to the team, a total of 39,844 season tickets were sold by the Lions for the 1957 campaign. The Lions played their home games in Briggs Stadium (Tiger Stadium), which had a regular listed seating capacity of 46,194, with an additional 7,000 bleacher seats for football to bring total capacity to 53,194.

Detroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"GameDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"DateDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"OpponentDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"ResultDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"RecordDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"VenueDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"AttendanceDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"Sources123456789101112
September 29at Baltimore ColtsL 14–340–1Memorial Stadium40,112
October 6at Green Bay PackersW 24–141–1New City Stadium32,132
October 13Los Angeles RamsW 10–72–1Briggs Stadium55,764
October 20Baltimore ColtsW 31–273–1Briggs Stadium55,764
October 27at Los Angeles RamsL 17–353–2L.A. Memorial Coliseum77,314
November 3at San Francisco 49ersL 31–353–3Kezar Stadium59,702
November 10at Philadelphia EaglesW 27–164–3Connie Mack Stadium29,320
November 17San Francisco 49ersW 31–105–3Briggs Stadium56,915
November 24Chicago BearsL 7–275–4Briggs Stadium55,769
November 28Green Bay PackersW 18–66–4Briggs Stadium54,301
December 8Cleveland BrownsW 20–77–4Briggs Stadium55,814
December 15at Chicago BearsW 21–138–4Wrigley Field41,088
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.
  • Thursday (November 28: Thanksgiving){{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sgRRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9yUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7080%2C5118881

Playoffs

Main article: 1957 NFL playoffs

Detroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"GameDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"DateDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"OpponentDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"ResultDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"VenueDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"AttendanceDetroit Lionsyear=1957border=2}}"SourcesConferenceChampionship
December 22at San Francisco 49ersW 31–27Kezar Stadium60,118
December 29Cleveland BrownsW 59–14Briggs Stadium55,263

Standings

Roster

Detroit Lions 1957 roster
Quarterbacks

Season summary

At the "Meet the Lions" banquet on Monday, August 12, seventh-year head coach Buddy Parker surprised the audience by abruptly announcing his resignation; longtime assistant coach George Wilson was promoted the following day. Two weeks later, Parker became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pre-season

Week 1: at Baltimore

The Lions opened the regular season on the road with a 34–14 loss to the Baltimore Colts on September 29. Quarterback Johnny Unitas threw four touchdown passes while the Baltimore defense held the Lions to 23 rushing yards and intercepted Bobby Layne three times. Detroit's touchdowns were scored by Howard Cassady (a short run for his first NFL touchdown) and Jerry Reichow on a 32-yard pass from backup quarterback Tobin Rote.

Week 2: at Green Bay Packers

;First Quarter

  • Lions – Tobin Rote 2-yard run (Bobby Layne kick) – Lions 7–0
  • Lions – Jack Christiansen 27-yard interception return (Bobby Layne kick) – Lions 14–0 ;Second Quarter
  • Lions – Bobby Layne 15-yard field goal – Lions 17–0 ;Fourth Quarter
  • Lions – Gene Gedman 1-yard run (Bobby Layne kick) – Lions 24–0
  • Packers – Bart Starr 1-yard run (Fred Cone kick) – Lions 24–7
  • Packers – Fred Cone 26-yard run (Fred Cone kick) – Lions 24–14 ;Lions
  • John Henry Johnson 18 Rush, 109 Yds

Week 3: Los Angeles Rams

Week 4: Baltimore Colts

Playoffs vs. San Francisco

Main article: 1957 NFL playoffs

On December 22, the Lions defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31–27, in a Western Conference playoff game. The two teams had finished the regular season tied in the standings at 8–4, which called for a tiebreaker game.

The 49ers took a 24–7 lead at halftime, as Y. A. Tittle threw three touchdown passes in the first half. A field goal early in the third quarter extended the lead to 27–7, then the Lions responded with 24 unanswered points. Detroit's touchdowns were scored by Steve Junker on a four-yard pass from Tobin Rote, two runs by Tom Tracy (1-yard and 58-yard runs), and Gene Gedman on a two-yard run.

NFL Championship Game

Main article: 1957 NFL Championship Game

On December 29, the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns 59–14 in the NFL championship game. The Browns had been favored to win by three points. Tobin Rote, filling in at quarterback after Bobby Layne broke his ankle on December 8, was credited with "a brilliant performance" as he completed 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown, leading the Lions to their greatest point total in history. The Lions capitalized on five interceptions and two fumble recoveries, including a 19-yard interception return for touchdown by Terry Barr, and held Cleveland star rookie Jim Brown to 69 rushing yards on 20 carries.

The longest play of the game was a 78-yard touchdown pass from Rote to Jim Doran. Rookie Steve Junker was the Lions' leading scorer with 12 points on touchdown receptions covering 26 and 23 yards. Jim Martin followed with 11 points on eight extra-point conversions and a 31-yard field goal. The victory gave the Lions their third NFL championship in six years. It was also referred to as "the perfect revenge" for the Browns' 56–10 rout of the Lions in the title game in 1954.

References

References

  1. (December 9, 1957). "Lions lose Layne but win, 20-7". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  2. (December 16, 1957). "Lions uphill fight whips Bears, 21-13". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  3. Edward M. "Bud" Erickson (ed.), ''Detroit Lions Facts Book 1963: Press, Radio, TV.'' Detroit, MI: Detroit Football Company, 1963, p. 4.
  4. "Detroit Lions at Baltimore Colts - September 29th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  5. "Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers - October 6th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  6. "Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions - October 13th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  7. "Baltimore Colts at Detroit Lions - October 20th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  8. "Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams - October 27th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  9. "Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers - November 3rd, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  10. "Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles - November 10th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  11. "San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions - November 17th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  12. "Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions - November 24th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  13. "Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions - November 28th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  14. "Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions - December 8th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  15. "Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears - December 15th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  16. "Divisional Round - Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers - December 22nd, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  17. "Championship - Cleveland Browns at Detroit Lions - December 29th, 1957". Pro Football Reference.
  18. (August 13, 1957). "Buddy Parker quits as Detroit grid coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  19. Diles, Dave. (August 13, 1957). "Parker quits Lions". Owosso Argus-Press.
  20. (August 13, 1957). "George Wilson to coach Lions". Pittsburgh Press.
  21. (August 14, 1957). "Aide succeeds Buddy Parker". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  22. Sell, Jack. (August 28, 1957). "Parker new coach of Steelers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  23. Livingston, Pat. (August 28, 1957). "Parker takes over Steeler reins". Pittsburgh Press.
  24. Bob Latshaw. (September 29, 1957). "Colts Kick Lions in the Teeth, 34-14". Detroit Free Press.
  25. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710130det.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Jan-05.
  26. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195710200det.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Jan-05.
  27. Lyall Smith. (December 23, 1957). "The Lions' 1957 Fight Song: 'Oh, We Won Because We Won --'". Detroit Free Press.
  28. "Cleveland Browns 14 at Detroit Lions 59". Sports Reference LLC.
  29. Latshaw, Bob. (December 30, 1957). "Lions Win, 59–14! 55,263 See Browns Humbled; {{sic". Detroit Free Press.
Info: Wikipedia Source

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