query: What year was the Detroit Lions team formed?
passage: History of the Detroit Lions
The history of the Detroit Lions, a professional American football franchise based in Detroit, Michigan, dates back to 1929 when they played in Portsmouth, Ohio as the Portsmouth Spartans. Currently in their 89th season, they are one of the National Football League's oldest franchises.
passage: History of the Detroit Lions
This gave the Lions the first overall pick to draft Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims from Oklahoma. Detroit also drafted quarterback Eric Hipple in the 4th round of the draft who became the Lions starting quarterback for most of the decade. Detroit improved immediately in 1980 jumping to a 9–7 record which unfortunately wasn't good enough to qualify for the playoffs. The next year the Lions finished 8–8 again failing to qualify for the playoffs.