Lions Retired Numbers & 2026 Jersey Numbers

This guide covers the Lions' retired numbers, the 2026 roster numbers fans buy most and the numbers tied to team legends. It does not cover the NFL's position rules, which have their own guide.

Lions retired numbers

The Pro Football Hall of Fame lists six distinct retired numbers, including No. 20 for Barney, Sims and Sanders. Historical exceptions matter: Hughes’ 85 has been reissued, and Schmidt approved Pat Swilling’s use of 56. Kyle Vanden Bosch also wore 93 after its one-season memorial hold for Corey Smith. An honorary listing is not a complete assignment history.

Who wears what in 2026

Rosters change during the season, so confirm a player is still on the team before you order a name and number.

For a listed player option, see the Jared Goff silver Rivalries Game jersey and check the name, number and edition before ordering.

Famous numbers in Lions history

Barry Sanders (20) and Calvin Johnson (81) are the Lions' two most famous modern players. Sanders shares the retired 20 with Barney and Sims. Johnson's 81 is not on the retired list. Doak Walker's 37 was retired the same year he finished playing. Dutch Clark's 7 was retired in 1939, which makes it one of the oldest honors in the NFL. 93 was also taken out of use for the 2009 season in memory of Corey Smith, who disappeared after a boating accident, then reissued in 2010.

Choosing a listed name and number

A listed historical player jersey can represent a retired number. Detroit’s reissue exceptions make it especially important to match the name as well as the number. Shop the Lions jersey collection for current players. For position ranges, see the NFL jersey number rules.

Which Lions numbers fans buy

Gibbs’ 0 and St. Brown’s 14 identify current players in the cited roster; Sanders’ 20 identifies a retired honoree. To see how each era looked, read the Lions uniform history, and for every style the team wears this year, see the Lions jerseys 2026 guide.

Thanksgiving numbers

The Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day since 1934, so their numbers show up in a national game every year. Doak Walker's 37 was retired on December 11, 1955. Bobby Layne wore 22 in the early 1950s teams that played those games. Fans who like to wear a number on Thanksgiving often choose a legend's number with a blue home jersey, which is the color the team usually wears at Ford Field.

Why the Lions share number 20

Most teams give a retired number to one player. Detroit retired 20 for Lem Barney, Billy Sims and Barry Sanders, which is why fans see all three names against one number. If you buy a jersey with 20, check the name on the back before you order, so you get the star you intend.

A retired number and a Hall of Fame career

Barry Sanders’ No. 20 is retired, while Calvin Johnson’s 81 is absent from the six-number list checked here. Both are Canton honorees, which shows why Hall of Fame status does not automatically retire a number. Consult Canton’s player profiles for induction history; this page stays focused on the number lookup.