By George B. Eichorn
It’s been a long time since suffering Detroit Lions fans had reason to celebrate in the National Football League post-season. Detroit travels to San Francisco for the NFC Championship and a berth in the Super Bowl on February 11th.
Not since 1992 when the Washington Redskins humiliated the Lions 41-10 in the NFC title game has a Lions team gotten this far!
Thirty-two years ago the Lions were coached by 51-year-old Wayne Fontes who led them to the NFC Championship Game following a 12-4 regular season record. Now they are led by 47-year-old Dan Campbell whose players bought into the system and went 12-5.
In 1992 the Lions played games at the 80,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome, located on Opdyke and Featherstone, 30 miles from downtown Detroit. Today they still play indoors at the 65,000-seat Ford Field near Gratiot and Brush Streets.
The Lions were owned and run by owner William Clay Ford and general manager Chuck Schmidt. Now, they are owned by Ford’s daughter – Sheila Ford Hamp – and general manager Brad Holmes.
In 1992 Chris Spielman was Detroit’s starting linebacker and Lomas Brown the starting tackle. Now, Spielman is special assistant to the chairman, president & CEO. Brown is color analyst on the Lions Radio Network and host of a weekday sports talk show on WJR.
Barry Sanders was an all-pro running back for the Lions in 1992. Today he is a frequent guest at Lions home games and in commercials for a popular family-managed law firm. Finally, a statue outside Ford Field was dedicated this season.
In 1991-92 Erik Kramer was starting quarterback with a 6-2 record and a victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Divisional playoffs. He lost to Washington in the 1992 NFC title game. Now, Jarrod Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams enters Sunday’s game with a 12-5 season record plus 2-0 in playoff games thus far with 564 passing yards, 3 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions in wins over the Rams and Buccaneers.
In 1992 Pat Summerall and John Madden called the Lions/Redskins game at RFK Stadium for CBS. Mark Champion and Jim Brandstatter handled local radio. In 2024, Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen will call the Lions/Niners game for FOX. Dan Miller and Lomas Brown have the radio call on 97.1 The Ticket.
In 1992 Coleman Young was in his fifth and last term as Detroit’s mayor with a population of over one million. In 2024, Mike Duggan is in his third term as mayor with a city of 620,000 residents.
In 1992 Scott Morganroth and George Eichorn covered the NFL and the Lions. Some things never change; Scott and George are still covering the best league in sports!
Reach George Eichorn at geichorn@yahoo.com or @Sandgsports99 on X (formerly Twitter).
Detroit’s Sports Broadcasters: On the Air: Eichorn, George B, Introduction Harwell, Ernie.
