Radical NFL Realignment Proposal Would Split Detroit Lions from Traditional NFL North Rivals

The NFL has been relatively static as far as conferences and divisions are concerned. The divisional rivalries are long established and won't be easy to change. There's a proposal that's been floated online to make regions more geographically sound and that proposal would split Detroit from its traditional divisional foes in Chicago, Minnesota and Green Bay.

The last time there was a shake-up in the Lions' division was 2002 when the NFC Central dropped Tampa Bay and became the 4-team NFC North. With its nickname of the 'Black and Blue Division' is contains some of the most storied and most played rivalries in pro football. The 4 squads have been playing each other twice per season for more than 60 years - 80 if you exclude the Vikings.

So how would this proposal align the NFL? The traditional conferences AFC and NFC would be abolished for 8 divisions that align best geographically. In a division called Great Lakes West Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago would be joined by Indianapolis. Detroit would become a member of a Great Lakes East division with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.

READ MORE: AI Predicts Detroit Will Finally Win a Super Bowl in 2029

On strict geography it makes sense. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana are the westernmost states that touch the Great Lakes while Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York are the easternmost of the Great Lakes states.

As with anything online, it garnered a great deal of discussion.

It makes a lot of sense, I hate it

switch Lions and Colts. NFC North is already perfect.

The NFC north is perfect and changing it is blasphemy

Splitting up the NFC North is a disgusting act.

Even worse: placing the Lions and Browns in the same division. That's too many decades of pain for one division to beat, especially if you factor the historical Bills into that equation.

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Of course this is one fan's projection and not in any way a proposal by the league or its owners so it's just pure fun and speculation. See the full realignment proposal here on Reddit.