List of Detroit Lions seasons

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The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division.[2] The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans in 1928 and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930.[3] After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Detroit Tigers.[4][5] The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.[6]

View of Ford field from the stands.
The Detroit Lions have played their home games at Ford Field since 2002.[1]

The Lions have won four NFL championships, all of which pre-date the existence of the Super 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 the Arizona 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, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston 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 the 2024 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 40 winning 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 the 2008 NFL season.[16]

Seasons

Dan Campbell head shot in a Detroit Lions hat
Lions head coach Dan Campbell played for the team during the 2006–2008 seasons and has been their head coach since 2021.[17]
More information (#), Finish ...
Legend
(#) 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's winning percentage for the season
† NFL champions (1920–1969)
‡ Super Bowl champions (1970–present)
* Conference champions
^ Division champions
§ Wild Card berth
° One-game playoff berth
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More information Season, Team ...
Detroit Lions record by season
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results Awards Head coach Refs
Finish W L T Pct
Portsmouth Spartans
1928 1928 None 9 3 2 .714 Walt Jean [18]
1929 1929 None 12 2 1 .833 [19]
1930 1930 NFL 8th 5 6 3 .464 The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932[20] Hal Griffen [21]
1931 1931 NFL 2nd 11 3 0 .786 George "Potsy" Clark [22]
1932 1932 NFL 3rd°[A] 6 2 4 .667 Lost Playoff Game (at Bears) 0–9 [24]
1933 1933 NFL Western[B] 2nd 6 5 0 .545 [27]
Detroit Lions
1934 1934 NFL Western 2nd 10 3 0 .769 George "Potsy" Clark [28]
1935 1935 NFL† Western^ 1st^ 7 3 2 .667 Won NFL Championship (1) (Giants) 26–7 [29][C]
1936 1936 NFL Western 3rd 8 4 0 .667 [31]
1937 1937 NFL Western T–2nd 7 4 0 .636 Dutch Clark [32][D]
1938 1938 NFL Western 2nd 7 4 0 .636 [33]
1939 1939 NFL Western 3rd 6 5 0 .545 Gus Henderson [34]
1940 1940 NFL Western 3rd 5 5 1 .500 George "Potsy" Clark [35]
1941 1941 NFL Western 3rd 4 6 1 .409 Bill Edwards [36]
1942 1942 NFL Western 5th 0 11 0 .000 Bill Edwards (0–3)
John Karcis (0–8)		 [37]
1943 1943 NFL Western 3rd 3 6 1 .350 Gus Dorais [38][E]
1944 1944 NFL Western T–2nd 6 3 1 .650 Frank Sinkwich (MVPTooltip Joe F. Carr Trophy) [39][40]
1945 1945 NFL Western 2nd 7 3 0 .700 [41]
1946 1946 NFL Western 5th 1 10 0 .091 [42][F]
1947 1947 NFL Western 5th 3 9 0 .250 [43][G]
1948 1948 NFL Western 5th 2 10 0 .167 Bo McMillin [44]
1949 1949 NFL Western 4th 4 8 0 .333 [45]
1950 1950 NFL National[H] 4th 6 6 0 .500 [48]
1951 1951 NFL National T–2nd 7 4 1 .625 Buddy Parker [49]
1952 1952 NFL† National* T–1st° 9 3 0 .750 Won Conference Playoff (Rams) 31–21
Won NFL Championship (2) (at Browns) 17–7		 [50]
1953 1953 NFL† Western*[I] 1st* 10 2 0 .833 Won NFL Championship (3) (Browns) 17–16 [52]
1954 1954 NFL Western* 1st* 9 2 1 .792 Lost NFL Championship (at Browns) 10–56 [53]
1955 1955 NFL Western 6th 3 9 0 .250 [54]
1956 1956 NFL Western 2nd 9 3 0 .750 [55]
1957 1957 NFL† Western* 1st* 8 4 0 .667 Won Conference Playoff (at 49ers) 31–27
Won NFL Championship (4) (Browns) 59–14		 George Wilson (COYTooltip NFL Coach of the Year Award) George Wilson [56][57]
1958 1958 NFL Western 5th 4 7 1 .375 [58]
1959 1959 NFL Western 5th 3 8 1 .292 [59]
1960 1960 NFL Western T–2nd° 7 5 0 .583 Won Playoff Bowl[J] (vs. Browns) 17–16 [61]
1961 1961 NFL Western 2nd° 8 5 1 .607 Won Playoff Bowl[J] (vs. Eagles) 38–10 [62][K]
1962 1962 NFL Western 2nd° 11 3 0 .786 Won Playoff Bowl[J] (vs. Steelers) 17–10 [64]
1963 1963 NFL Western T–4th 5 8 1 .393 [65]
1964 1964 NFL Western 4th 7 5 2 .571 [66]
1965 1965 NFL Western 6th 6 7 1 .464 Harry Gilmer [67]
1966 1966 NFL Western T–6th 4 9 1 .321 [68]
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 [70][71][72]
1968 1968 NFL Western Central 4th 4 8 2 .357 Earl McCullouch (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) [73][74]
1969 1969 NFL Western Central 2nd 9 4 1 .679 [75]
1970 1970 NFL NFC[M] Central 2nd§ 10 4 0 .714 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Cowboys) 0–5 [78]
1971 1971 NFL NFC Central 2nd 7 6 1 .536 [79]
1972 1972 NFL NFC Central 2nd 8 5 1 .607 [80]
1973 1973 NFL NFC Central 2nd 6 7 1 .464 Don McCafferty [81]
1974 1974 NFL NFC Central 2nd 7 7 0 .500 Rick Forzano [82]
1975 1975 NFL NFC Central 2nd 7 7 0 .500 [83]
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)		 [84][85]
1977 1977 NFL NFC Central 3rd 6 8 0 .429 Tommy Hudspeth [86]
1978 1978 NFL NFC Central 3rd 7 9 0 .438 Al Baker (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) Monte Clark [87][88][N]
1979 1979 NFL NFC Central 5th 2 14 0 .125 [90]
1980 1980 NFL NFC Central 2nd 9 7 0 .563 Billy Sims (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) [91][92]
1981 1981 NFL NFC Central 2nd 8 8 0 .500 [93]
1982 1982 NFL NFC None[O] 8th§[O] 4 5 0 .444 Lost First Round Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–31 [95]
1983 1983 NFL NFC Central^ 1st^ 9 7 0 .563 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 23–24 [96]
1984 1984 NFL NFC Central 4th 4 11 1 .281 [97]
1985 1985 NFL NFC Central 4th 7 9 0 .438 Darryl Rogers [98]
1986 1986 NFL NFC Central 3rd 5 11 0 .313 [99]
1987 1987 NFL NFC Central 5th 4 11 0 .267 [100][P]
1988 1988 NFL NFC Central 4th 4 12 0 .250 Darryl Rogers (2–9)
Wayne Fontes (2–3)		 [102]
1989 1989 NFL NFC Central 3rd 7 9 0 .438 Barry Sanders (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) Wayne Fontes [103][104]
1990 1990 NFL NFC Central 3rd 6 10 0 .375 [105]
1991 1991 NFL NFC Central^ 1st^ 12 4 0 .750 Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 38–6
Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 10–41		 Wayne Fontes (COYTooltip NFL Coach of the Year Award) [106][107]
1992 1992 NFL NFC Central 5th 5 11 0 .313 [108]
1993 1993 NFL NFC Central^ 1st^ 10 6 0 .625 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) 24–28 [109]
1994 1994 NFL NFC Central 3rd§ 9 7 0 .563 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Packers) 12–16 Barry Sanders (OPOYTooltip NFL Offensive Player of the Year) [110][104]
1995 1995 NFL NFC Central 2nd§ 10 6 0 .625 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Eagles) 37–58 [111]
1996 1996 NFL NFC Central 5th 5 11 0 .313 [112]
1997 1997 NFL NFC Central 3rd§ 9 7 0 .563 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 10–20 Barry Sanders (MVPTooltip NFL Most Valuable Player Award, OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award) Bobby Ross [113][104]
1998 1998 NFL NFC Central 4th 5 11 0 .313 [114]
1999 1999 NFL NFC Central 3rd§ 8 8 0 .500 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Redskins) 13–27 [115]
2000 2000 NFL NFC Central 4th 9 7 0 .563 Bobby Ross (5–4)
Gary Moeller (4–3)		 [116]
2001 2001 NFL NFC Central 5th 2 14 0 .125 Marty Mornhinweg [117]
2002 2002 NFL NFC North[Q] 4th 3 13 0 .188 [119]
2003 2003 NFL NFC North 4th 5 11 0 .313 Steve Mariucci [120]
2004 2004 NFL NFC North 3rd 6 10 0 .375 [121]
2005 2005 NFL NFC North 3rd 5 11 0 .313 Steve Mariucci (4–7)
Dick Jauron (1–4)		 [122]
2006 2006 NFL NFC North 4th 3 13 0 .188 Rod Marinelli [123]
2007 2007 NFL NFC North 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [124]
2008 2008 NFL NFC North 4th 0 16 0 .000 [125]
2009 2009 NFL NFC North 4th 2 14 0 .125 Jim Schwartz [126]
2010 2010 NFL NFC North 3rd 6 10 0 .375 Ndamukong Suh (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) [127][128]
2011 2011 NFL NFC North 2nd§ 10 6 0 .625 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Saints) 28–45 Matthew Stafford (CBPOYTooltip AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year) [129][130]
2012 2012 NFL NFC North 4th 4 12 0 .250 [131]
2013 2013 NFL NFC North 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [132]
2014 2014 NFL NFC North 2nd§ 11 5 0 .688 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–24 Jim Caldwell [133]
2015 2015 NFL NFC North 3rd 7 9 0 .438 [134]
2016 2016 NFL NFC North 2nd§ 9 7 0 .563 Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Seahawks) 6–26 [135]
2017 2017 NFL NFC North 2nd 9 7 0 .563 [136]
2018 2018 NFL NFC North 4th 6 10 0 .375 Matt Patricia [137]
2019 2019 NFL NFC North 4th 3 12 1 .219 [138]
2020 2020 NFL NFC North 4th 5 11 0 .313 Matt Patricia (4–7)
Darrell Bevell (1–4)		 [139]
2021 2021 NFL NFC North 4th 3 13 1 .206 Dan Campbell [140][R]
2022 2022 NFL NFC North 2nd 9 8 0 .529 [142]
2023 2023 NFL NFC North^ 1st^ 12 5 0 .706 Won Wild Card Playoffs (Rams) 24–23
Won Divisional Playoffs (Buccaneers) 31–23
Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 31–34		 Brad Holmes (EOY) [143]
2024 2024 NFL NFC North^ 1st^ 15 2 0 .882 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Commanders) 31–45 Brad Holmes (EOY) [144]
2025 2025 NFL NFC North 4th 9 8 0 .529 [145]
Totals 615 717 34 .463 All-time NFL regular season record (1930–2025) [15]
9 15 — .375 All-time NFL postseason record (1930–2025)
624 732 34 .461 All-time NFL regular & postseason record (1930–2025)
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See also

Notes

  1. [A]
    Finished tied for first (by winning percentage) at 6–1–4; lost tiebreaker playoff game to the Bears, which dropped them to 3rd place (by winning percentage). The tiebreaker game was considered a regular season game, so 3rd place at 6–2–4 is the Spartans' final standing.[23]
  2. [B]
    Prior to 1933, the NFL determined their league champions based on win–loss percentage. After a tie for first place in 1932, the NFL arranged an extra regular season game to determine the season's champion. Based on the success of this matchup, George Preston Marshall and George Halas put forth a proposal to determine the league's champion in a championship match at the end of each season. In 1933, the NFL divided teams into two divisions, with the division champions set to meet in the NFL Championship Game.[25][26]
  3. [C]
    In 1935, the NFL set the number of regular season games to 12. Prior to that, the NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play.[30]
  4. [D]
    In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 12 games since 1935, to 11.[30]
  5. [E]
    In 1943, the NFL again lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 11 games since 1937, to 10.[30]
  6. [F]
    In 1946, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 10 games since 1943, to 11 games.[30]
  7. [G]
    In 1947, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 11 games since 1946, to 12 games.[30]
  8. [H]
    In 1950, the NFL merged with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) to become the "National-American Football League". Teams were no longer part of divisions, instead being placed into the newly created National and American conferences. The NFL reverted the name change roughly three months later.[46][47]
  9. [I]
    In 1953, the NFL renamed the American conference to the Eastern conference and the National conference to the Western conference. No teams changed conferences as a result of this.[51]
  10. [J]
    The Playoff Bowl (played between 1960–1969) was a post-season exhibition game to determine third place.[60]
  11. [K]
    In 1961, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 12 games since 1947, to 14 games.[30][63]
  12. [L]
    In 1967, the NFL realigned teams from the existing two conferences into newly created divisions. The Eastern conference contained the Capitol and Century divisions while the Western conference contained the Central and Coastal divisions.[69]
  13. [M]
    In 1970, the NFL and American Football League (AFL) officially merged in the AFL–NFL merger to form one league with two conferences. All ten former AFL teams as well as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Baltimore from the pre-merger NFL joined the AFC; the other thirteen remaining NFL teams joined the NFC. Each of those two were divided into three divisions: East, Central, and West.[76][77]
  14. [N]
    In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[30][89]
  15. [O]
    The 1982 season was shortened to nine games after a players' strike. The top eight teams in each conference advanced to the playoffs.[94]
  16. [P]
    The 1987 NFL strike caused the schedule to be reduced to 15 games.[101]
  17. [Q]
    In 2002, the NFL realigned to create four divisions in both conferences with four teams in each division.[118]
  18. [R]
    In 2021, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 16 games since 1978, to 17 games.[30][141]

References

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