TheDetroit Lions are a professionalAmerican football team based inDetroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in theNational Football League (NFL) as a member of theNational Football Conference (NFC)North Division.[2] The franchise was founded inPortsmouth, Ohio, as thePortsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[3] After being purchased byGeorge A. Richards in 1934, the franchise wasrelocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city'sMajor League Baseball (MLB) franchise, theDetroit Tigers.[4][5] The team plays its home games atFord Field inDowntown Detroit.[6]
The Lions have won fourNFL championships, all of which pre-date the existence of theSuper Bowl. The Lions' four championships are tied for the tenth most total championships amongst all 32 NFL franchises;[7] the last of these was in 1957, which gives the club the second-longest NFL championship drought behind theArizona Cardinals.[8] They are one of four current teams, and the only one in the NFC, to have never played in the Super Bowl.[9] Two of these teams, theJacksonville Jaguars and theHouston Texans, are expansion teams in the AFC that began play in 1995 and 2002 respectively.[10] Additionally, the Lions have won only three post-season games since 1957.[11][12][13] The Lions also lost an NFL-record nine consecutive playoff games from 1991 to 2023.[14][7]
As of the end of the2024 regular season, the Lions have an all-time record of 606 wins, 709 losses, and 34 ties in the regular season, with an additional 9 wins and 14 losses in the playoffs. The team has had 40winning seasons, 49 losing seasons, and 6 seasons with as many wins as losses.[15][3][4] The Lions were the first franchise to finish a full (non-strike shortened) regular season with no wins or ties, since the move to sixteen regular season games in 1978, going 0–16 during the2008 NFL season.[16]
(#) | The order of league championship won by the franchise |
---|---|
Finish | Final position in league, division, or conference |
T-# | Finished tied in that position with one or more teams |
Pct | The team'swinning percentage for the season |
† | NFL champions(1920–1969) |
‡ | Super Bowl champions(1970–present) |
* | Conference champions |
^ | Division champions |
§ | Wild Card berth |
° | One-game playoff berth |
Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coach | Refs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finish | W | L | T | Pct | |||||||||
1930 | 1930 | NFL | 8th | 5 | 6 | 3 | .464 | The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932[18] | Hal Griffen | [19] | |||
1931 | 1931 | NFL | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | George "Potsy" Clark | [20] | ||||
1932 | 1932 | NFL | 3rd°[A] | 6 | 2 | 4 | .667 | LostPlayoff Game (atBears) 0–9 | [22] | ||||
1933 | 1933 | NFL | Western[B] | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | [25] | ||||
1934 | 1934 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | George "Potsy" Clark | [26] | |||
1935 | 1935 | NFL† | Western^ | 1st^ | 7 | 3 | 2 | .667 | WonNFL Championship(1) (Giants) 26–7 | [27][C] | |||
1936 | 1936 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | [29] | ||||
1937 | 1937 | NFL | Western | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | Dutch Clark | [30][D] | |||
1938 | 1938 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | [31] | ||||
1939 | 1939 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | Gus Henderson | [32] | |||
1940 | 1940 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | George "Potsy" Clark | [33] | |||
1941 | 1941 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | Bill Edwards | [34] | |||
1942 | 1942 | NFL | Western | 5th | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | Bill Edwards(0–3) John Karcis(0–8) | [35] | |||
1943 | 1943 | NFL | Western | 3rd | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | Gus Dorais | [36][E] | |||
1944 | 1944 | NFL | Western | T–2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | Frank Sinkwich (MVPTooltip Joe F. Carr Trophy) | [37][38] | |||
1945 | 1945 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | [39] | ||||
1946 | 1946 | NFL | Western | 5th | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | [40][F] | ||||
1947 | 1947 | NFL | Western | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | [41][G] | ||||
1948 | 1948 | NFL | Western | 5th | 2 | 10 | 0 | .167 | Bo McMillin | [42] | |||
1949 | 1949 | NFL | Western | 4th | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | [43] | ||||
1950 | 1950 | NFL | National[H] | 4th | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | [46] | ||||
1951 | 1951 | NFL | National | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | Buddy Parker | [47] | |||
1952 | 1952 | NFL† | National* | T–1st° | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | WonConference Playoff (Rams) 31–21 WonNFL Championship(2) (atBrowns) 17–7 | [48] | |||
1953 | 1953 | NFL† | Western*[I] | 1st* | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | WonNFL Championship(3) (Browns) 17–16 | [50] | |||
1954 | 1954 | NFL | Western* | 1st* | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | LostNFL Championship (atBrowns) 10–56 | [51] | |||
1955 | 1955 | NFL | Western | 6th | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | [52] | ||||
1956 | 1956 | NFL | Western | 2nd | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | [53] | ||||
1957 | 1957 | NFL† | Western* | 1st* | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | WonConference Playoff (at49ers) 31–27 WonNFL Championship(4) (Browns) 59–14 | George Wilson (COYTooltip NFL Coach of the Year Award) | George Wilson | [54][55] | |
1958 | 1958 | NFL | Western | 5th | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 | [56] | ||||
1959 | 1959 | NFL | Western | 5th | 3 | 8 | 1 | .292 | [57] | ||||
1960 | 1960 | NFL | Western | T–2nd° | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | WonPlayoff Bowl[J] (vs.Browns) 17–16 | [59] | |||
1961 | 1961 | NFL | Western | 2nd° | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | WonPlayoff Bowl[J] (vs.Eagles) 38–10 | [60][K] | |||
1962 | 1962 | NFL | Western | 2nd° | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | WonPlayoff Bowl[J] (vs.Steelers) 17–10 | [62] | |||
1963 | 1963 | NFL | Western | T–4th | 5 | 8 | 1 | .393 | [63] | ||||
1964 | 1964 | NFL | Western | 4th | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | [64] | ||||
1965 | 1965 | NFL | Western | 6th | 6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | Harry Gilmer | [65] | |||
1966 | 1966 | NFL | Western | T–6th | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | [66] | ||||
1967 | 1967 | NFL | Western | Central[L] | 3rd | 5 | 7 | 2 | .429 | Lem Barney (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) Mel Farr (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Joe Schmidt | [68][69][70] | |
1968 | 1968 | NFL | Western | Central | 4th | 4 | 8 | 2 | .357 | Earl McCullouch (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | [71][72] | ||
1969 | 1969 | NFL | Western | Central | 2nd | 9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | [73] | |||
1970 | 1970 | NFL | NFC[M] | Central | 2nd§ | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | LostDivisional Playoffs (atCowboys) 0–5 | [76] | ||
1971 | 1971 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | .536 | [77] | |||
1972 | 1972 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | [78] | |||
1973 | 1973 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | Don McCafferty | [79] | ||
1974 | 1974 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | Rick Forzano | [80] | ||
1975 | 1975 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | [81] | |||
1976 | 1976 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | Greg Landry (CBPOYTooltip AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year) | Rick Forzano(1–3) Tommy Hudspeth(5–5) | [82][83] | |
1977 | 1977 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | Tommy Hudspeth | [84] | ||
1978 | 1978 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Al Baker (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Monte Clark | [85][86][N] | |
1979 | 1979 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | [88] | |||
1980 | 1980 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Billy Sims (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | [89][90] | ||
1981 | 1981 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | [91] | |||
1982 | 1982 | NFL | NFC | None[O] | 8th§[O] | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | LostFirst Round Playoffs (atRedskins) 7–31 | [93] | ||
1983 | 1983 | NFL | NFC | Central^ | 1st^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | LostDivisional Playoffs (at49ers) 23–24 | [94] | ||
1984 | 1984 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | [95] | |||
1985 | 1985 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Darryl Rogers | [96] | ||
1986 | 1986 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [97] | |||
1987 | 1987 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | [98][P] | |||
1988 | 1988 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | Darryl Rogers(2–9) Wayne Fontes(2–3) | [100] | ||
1989 | 1989 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | Barry Sanders (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Wayne Fontes | [101][102] | |
1990 | 1990 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | [103] | |||
1991 | 1991 | NFL | NFC | Central^ | 1st^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | WonDivisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 38–6 LostNFC Championship (atRedskins) 10–41 | Wayne Fontes (COYTooltip NFL Coach of the Year Award) | [104][105] | |
1992 | 1992 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [106] | |||
1993 | 1993 | NFL | NFC | Central^ | 1st^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | LostWild Card Playoffs (Packers) 24–28 | [107] | ||
1994 | 1994 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd§ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atPackers) 12–16 | Barry Sanders (OPOYTooltip NFL Offensive Player of the Year) | [108][102] | |
1995 | 1995 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd§ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atEagles) 37–58 | [109] | ||
1996 | 1996 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [110] | |||
1997 | 1997 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd§ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atBuccaneers) 10–20 | Barry Sanders (MVPTooltip NFL Most Valuable Player Award) | Bobby Ross | [111][102] |
1998 | 1998 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | [112] | |||
1999 | 1999 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd§ | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atRedskins) 13–27 | [113] | ||
2000 | 2000 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Bobby Ross(5–4) Gary Moeller(4–3) | [114] | ||
2001 | 2001 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | Marty Mornhinweg | [115] | ||
2002 | 2002 | NFL | NFC | North[Q] | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | [117] | |||
2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Steve Mariucci | [118] | ||
2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | [119] | |||
2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Steve Mariucci(4–7) Dick Jauron(1–4) | [120] | ||
2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | Rod Marinelli | [121] | ||
2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [122] | |||
2008 | 2008 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 0 | 16 | 0 | .000 | [123] | |||
2009 | 2009 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | Jim Schwartz | [124] | ||
2010 | 2010 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | Ndamukong Suh (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) | [125][126] | ||
2011 | 2011 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd§ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atSaints) 28–45 | Matthew Stafford (CBPOYTooltip AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year) | [127][128] | |
2012 | 2012 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | [129] | |||
2013 | 2013 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [130] | |||
2014 | 2014 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd§ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atCowboys) 20–24 | Jim Caldwell | [131] | |
2015 | 2015 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | [132] | |||
2016 | 2016 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd§ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | LostWild Card Playoffs (atSeahawks) 6–26 | [133] | ||
2017 | 2017 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | [134] | |||
2018 | 2018 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | Matt Patricia | [135] | ||
2019 | 2019 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | [136] | |||
2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | Matt Patricia(4–7) Darrell Bevell(1–4) | [137] | ||
2021 | 2021 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 1 | .206 | Dan Campbell | [138][R] | ||
2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | [140] | |||
2023 | 2023 | NFL | NFC | North^ | 1st^ | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 | WonWild Card Playoffs (Rams) 24–23 WonDivisional Playoffs (Buccaneers) 31–23 LostNFC Championship (at49ers) 31–34 | [141] | ||
2024 | 2024 | NFL | NFC | North^ | 1st^ | 15 | 2 | 0 | .882 | LostDivisional Playoffs (Commanders) 31–45 | [142] | ||
Totals | 606 | 709 | 34 | .462 | All-time NFL regular season record (1930–2024) | [15] | |||||||
9 | 15 | — | .375 | All-time NFL postseason record (1930–2024) | |||||||||
615 | 724 | 34 | .460 | All-time NFL regular & postseason record (1930–2024) |