<P> While playing at home against Chicago on October 24, 1971 tragedy struck when wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and died of a massive heart attack . He remains the only NFL player to ever die on the field . The team wore black armbands for the rest of the season, in which they finished 7 - 6 - 1 . </P> <P> In 1972, the Lions improved to 8 - 5 - 1 and then dropped back to 6 - 7 - 1 the following year . Heart disease claimed another member of the franchise when head coach Don McCafferty died shortly before the 1974 training camp . That season saw the Lions finish at 7 - 7 . </P> <P> On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974, after over 35 years, the Lions played their final game in Tiger Stadium, where they lost to the Denver Broncos 31--27 in front of 51,157, amidst snow flurries and a 21 - point Broncos 3rd quarter . The Lions moved to the newly constructed Silverdome and have played their home games indoors ever since (at Ford Field since 2002). </P> <P> Another 7 - 7 record was produced in 1975, the Lions' first year indoors and a 6 - 8 showing in 1976 . The team finished 6 - 8 again in 1977, struggling the whole season with an anemic offense that only put up 183 points . More mediocrity followed in 1978 with seven wins in the newly expanded 16 - game season . The bottom fell out of the Lions in 1979 with a 2 - 14 record . </P>

Where did the lions play before the silverdome