In honor of Rivalry Week at SB Nation, it’s time to look at some of the biggest villains Detroit Lions fans have ever known. There are many reasons for the Lions’ futility over the past six decades—most of them self-inflicted wounds, of course—but there have been a handful of players that just seemed to be a thorn in this franchise’s side.
This list will not feature any Lions players, owners, managers or coaches, even though you could easily make the case that someone like Matt Millen was this team’s biggest villain. This will also not feature any officials, because this website and fanbase don’t need another whiny, self-loathing article about how the Lions have been screwed by the refs over the years.