Detroit (1920s NFL teams)

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Pre-modern NFL team Detroit had four early teams in the National Football League before the Detroit Lions. The Heralds played in 1920, and had played as an independent as far back as 1905. The Tigers, a continuation of the Heralds, played in 1921, folding midseason and sending their players to the Buffalo All-Americans. The Panthers competed from 1925 to 1926 and the Wolverines in 1928.

Team histories

Detroit Heralds/Tigers

In 1905, several University of Detroit football players, led by Bill Marshall, organized the Heralds as an amateur team after the university did not field a squad.<ref name=Bak>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=History>Template:Cite web</ref> While the university's football team resumed play in 1906, the Heralds continued to play as an amateur team.<ref name=Bak/><ref name=History/> In 1911, the team dropped its amateur status and became semi-professional.<ref name=Griffith>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Maxymuk>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1916, several out-of-town players were brought in to replace some of the older players, several of whom had been with the Heralds since 1905.<ref name=Griffith/>

Despite not being based in Ohio, the Heralds played many of their games against teams in the Ohio League.<ref name=Griffith/> In 1917, the team recorded an 8–2 record, their only losses coming at the hands of the Ohio League champion Canton Bulldogs and a military team from Battle Creek.<ref name=Griffith/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Heralds were a rarity in 1918; while most teams either stopped play or reduced their schedules to only local teams because of World War I and the flu pandemic, the Heralds continued to play a full schedule and even travel to other cities, accruing a 6–2 record with both losses coming to the Ohio League champion Dayton Triangles.<ref name=Griffith/> In 1919, as the suspended teams resumed play and travel restrictions eased significantly, the Heralds went 1–4–2, including losses to the Bulldogs and the Massillon Tigers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1920, the American Professional Football Association, predecessor to the National Football League, was established. While the Heralds did not officially join the association, they are listed in league standings for the season.<ref name=Griffith/><ref name=Maxymuk/> Overall, the Heralds went 2–3–3.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Heralds were reorganized into the Detroit Tigers, after the city's Major League Baseball team, for the 1921 season.<ref name=Bak/> However, after a tie and a win in their first two games, the Tigers lost the next five.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Several players complained about not getting paid and left the team during the season. As a result, the Tigers officially folded in mid-November. Its remaining players were given to the Buffalo All-Americans.<ref name=Griffith/>

Detroit Panthers

In 1925, Detroit fielded its second NFL franchise, the Detroit Panthers. The team was organized by future Hall of Famer, Jimmy Conzelman.<ref name="Part Two">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Conzelman>Template:Cite web</ref> Conzelman was a quarterback who had recently played with the Decatur Staleys, Rock Island Independents and the Milwaukee Badgers.<ref name=Conzelman/> Conzelman served as the team's owner, coach, and starting quarterback.<ref name="Part Two"/> The Panthers started the season 8–1. However, a 6–3 upset loss to the Independents on Thanksgiving Day knocked them out of first place and they ended the season in third with a 8–2–2 record.<ref name=Slater>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Panthers hoped to build on their 1925 season, but they opened the 1926 season with an 0–3 record. After rallying to a 4–0–2 record in their next six games, they lost their last three.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Conzelman gave up the franchise and joined the Providence Steam Rollers as player-coach.<ref name="Part Two"/><ref name=Conzelman/>

Detroit Wolverines

File:Ben Friedman (1926).jpg

Benny Friedman

Following the 1927 season, the Cleveland Bulldogs were sold to a group of investors, who moved the team to Detroit.<ref name="Part Two"/> Coached by LeRoy Andrews, the team was renamed the Detroit Wolverines. They were named after quarterback Benny Friedman's alma mater, the Michigan Wolverines.<ref name="Part Two"/> The Wolverines finished their 1928 season in third place with a 7–2–1 record, losing only to the Providence Steam Rollers and the Frankford Yellow Jackets, the NFL's first and second place teams.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the offseason, Tim Mara, the owner of the New York Giants, was interested in acquiring Friedman. Rather than simply trade for Friedman, Mara bought the entire Wolverines franchise and promptly deactivated it, delivering Friedman and other star Wolverines players to New York.<ref name=Griffith/><ref name="Part Two"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The NFL would not return to the Motor City for six years, until the Portsmouth Spartans became the Detroit Lions in 1934.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Thanksgiving Day games

While the Lions are well known for playing on Thanksgiving Day, the other Detroit teams had a history of playing on Thanksgiving Day as well:

• 1917 Heralds vs. Canton Bulldogs (lost 7–0)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• 1920 Heralds at Dayton Triangles (lost 28–0)<ref name=Thanksgiving>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1921 Tigers, merged with the Buffalo All-Americans, at Chicago Staleys (won 7–6)<ref name=Griffith/><ref name=Thanksgiving/>
• 1925 Panthers vs. Rock Island Independents (lost 6–3)<ref name=Slater/><ref name=Thanksgiving/>
• 1926 Panthers vs. Los Angeles Buccaneers (lost 9–6)<ref name=Thanksgiving/>
• 1928 Wolverines vs. Dayton Triangles (won 33–0)<ref name=Thanksgiving/>

Pro Football Hall of Famers

Detroit Heralds / Tigers / Panthers / Wolverines Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Tenure	Inducted
—	Jimmy Conzelman	HB/QB Coach	1925–1926	1964<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
—	Benny Friedman	QB	1928	2005<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Season-by-season

	Year	W	L	T	Finish	Coach
Heralds	1920	2	3	3	9th	Bill Marshall
Tigers	1921	1	5	1	16th
Panthers	1925	8	2	2	3rd	Jimmy Conzelman
	1926	4	6	2	12th
Wolverines	1928	7	2	1	3rd	LeRoy Andrews

External links

• Team colors site
• Detroit Heralds history
• Detroit Panthers history
• Detroit Wolverines history