1928 Detroit Wolverines season

Ironically, this proved to be the team's downfall, as the Wolverines piqued the interest of Giants owner Tim Mara, who wanted to acquire Friedman and Detroit's other star players.

Mara did so by buying the entire Detroit franchise, and promptly shutting it down, thus delivering Friedman et al to New York.

The NFL would not return to the Motor City until 1934, when the Portsmouth Spartans moved to Detroit and were rebranded as the Lions.

[30] An impressive crowd of 18,000 made their way to the stadium, joined by a region radio audience listening to the live sideline broadcasts of two competing stations.

[30] Starters LE - Lyle Munn (Kansas State) LT - Tom Cobb (St. John's) LG - Les Caywood (St. John's) C - Joe Wostoupal (Nebraska) RG - Dosey Howard (Marietta College) RT - Bill Owen (Oklahoma A&M, Phillips) RE - Carl Bacchus (Missouri) QB - Benny Friedman (Michigan) † LH - Rex Thomas (St. John's) RH - Ossie Wiberg (Nebraska Wesleyan) FB - Tiny Feather (Kansas State)

NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Benny Friedman was the star of the 1928 Detroit Wolverines. Friedman was a pioneer passing quarterback.
Tiny Feather (#20) carries the ball towards the end zone in the Detroit Wolverines season-opening victory over the New York Yankees, October 14, 1928.
Print ad for the November 18 game with the New York Yankees in Detroit. "Eight thousand shivering fans" turned up, according to one news account.