In 1928, the Detroit Lions started as the Portsmouth Spartans ... the foundation for pro football,” Keenist said. The Spartans’ colors were purple and gold, the same as the Minnesota Vikings ...

The present-day Detroit Lions used to be the Portsmouth Spartans in the 1930s. At the time, Portsmouth was the second-smallest city in the country with an NFL team behind Green Bay. Professional ...

A clipping from the Chillicothe Gazette concerning the Portsmouth Spartans. The Spartans were later moved to Detroit to become the Detroit Lions. Before they were moved to Detroit to become the ...