2001 Detroit Lions season

The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 72nd season in the National Football League. Marty Mornhinweg was named the twenty-first head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001,[1] after owner William Clay Ford, Sr. controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller.[2]

2001 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford, Sr.
Head coachMarty Mornhinweg
General managerMatt Millen
Home fieldPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record2–14
Division place5th NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersDE Robert Porcher
Uniform

The season began with much optimism, with the Lions hoping to improve on their 9–7 record from 2000; however, the Lions were extremely disappointing and had the worst start to an NFL season since the 1986 Indianapolis Colts began 0–13. They were widely believed to be likely to suffer the NFL’s first 0–16 season[3] before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to that, they had lost an NFL record nine consecutive games by eight points or less.[3]

Seven seasons later, the Lions went 0–16 after a week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. [4]

This was the final season that the Lions played at the Pontiac Silverdome before moving to Ford Field the following season, as well as the final season for the NFC Central Division, which would dissolve following the NFL's realignment in 2002, although all NFC Central teams except the Tampa Bay Buccaneers formed the new NFC North Division.

The Lions closed the Silverdome by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 15-10 in the regular season finale. Coincidentally, the Cowboys defeated the Lions 36-10 in the first regular season game at the Silverdome (then known as Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium) in 1975.

This would also be the first season under new general manager Matt Millen, as he would be the team's general manager for the next six seasons and first 3 games of the 2008 season. This would start a stage of futility for the Lions, as they would fail to post a winning record with Millen as general manager.

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 2001 NFL Draft
2001 Detroit Lions draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 18 Jeff Backus  Offensive tackle Michigan
2 50 Dominic Raiola  Center Nebraska
2 61 Shaun Rogers *  Defensive tackle Texas
5 148 Scotty Anderson  Wide receiver Grambling State
5 149 Mike McMahon  Quarterback Rutgers
6 173 Jason Glenn  Linebacker Texas A&M
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[5]

Undrafted free agents
2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Josh Lovelady Guard Houston

Staff
2001 Detroit Lions staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Vince Tobin
  • Defensive Line – Bill Young
  • Assistant Defensive Line/Pass Rush Specialist – Charles Haley
  • Linebackers – Glenn Pires
  • Defensive Backs – Richard Selcer
  • Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Don Clemons

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Jason Arapoff
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Malcolm Blacken

[6]

Roster
2001 Detroit Lions final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 , 4 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 9at Green Bay PackersL 6–280–1Lambeau FieldRecap
2 September 23at Cleveland BrownsL 14–240–2Cleveland Browns StadiumRecap
3 Bye
4 October 8St. Louis RamsL 0–350–3Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
5 October 14at Minnesota VikingsL 26–310–4Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap
6 October 21Tennessee TitansL 24–270–5Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
7 October 28Cincinnati BengalsL 27–310–6Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
8 November 4at San Francisco 49ersL 13–210–73Com ParkRecap
9 November 11Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 17–200–8Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
10 November 18at Arizona CardinalsL 38–450–9Sun Devil StadiumRecap
11 November 22Green Bay PackersL 27–290–10Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
12 December 2at Chicago BearsL 10–130–11Soldier FieldRecap
13 December 9at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 12–150–12Raymond James StadiumRecap
14 December 16Minnesota VikingsW 27–241–12Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
15 December 23at Pittsburgh SteelersL 14–471–13Heinz FieldRecap
16 December 30Chicago BearsL 0–241–14Pontiac SilverdomeRecap
17 January 6Dallas CowboysW 15 –102–14Pontiac SilverdomeRecap

[7]

Standings
NFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Chicago Bears 13 3 0 .813 338 203 W4
(4) Green Bay Packers 12 4 0 .750 390 266 W3
(6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 7 0 .563 324 280 L1
Minnesota Vikings 5 11 0 .313 290 390 L4
Detroit Lions 2 14 0 .125 270 424 W1

References
  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.117
  2. "Mornhinweg Hired To Coach the Lions." New York Times, January 25, 2001. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
  3. “Infamy Awaits the Lions” in The Free Lance Star, Sunday December 16, 2001; p. C11
  4. https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aAxVc5OuvWyA
  5. "2001 Detroit Lions Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  6. "Administration and Coaching Staff". 2001 Detroit Lions Media Guide. pp. 4–32.
  7. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2001.htm?redir
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