The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 72nd season in the National Football League (NFL). Marty Mornhinweg was named the 21st head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001,NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p.117 after owner William Clay Ford Sr. controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller."Mornhinweg Hired To Coach the Lions." New York Times, January 25, 2001. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
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“Infamy Awaits the Lions” in The Free Lance Star, Sunday December 16, 2001; p. C11 before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Of the Lions' 14 losses, nine (all in a row, an NFL record)were by one possession.
Seven seasons later, the Lions went 0–16 after a week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
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 Additions SubtractionsQB Ty Detmer (Browns) G Jeff Hartings (Steelers)G Matt Joyce (Cardinals) TE Walter Rasby (Redskins)TE Pete Mitchell (Giants) G Mike Compton (Patriots)G Brendan Stai (Jaguars) CB Todd Lyght (Rams) CB Robert Bailey (Ravens)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2001 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeNeo AogaQuarterbackAzusa PacificBrad BohnKickerUtah StateMatt ChildersDefensive endUSCEugene ClintonSafetyMississippi StateKeith CottrellPunterFlorida StateWill CuthbertTackleAlabamaVersie GaddisWide receiverIndianaDennis GibbsCornerbackIdahoToby GollidayDefensive tackleMississippi StateAnthony HerronDefensive endIowaChidi IwuomaCornerbackCaliforniaKhary JacksonTight endOklahoma StateLigarius JenningsCornerbackTennessee StateSly JohnsonWide receiverMiami (OH)Loran KaiserDefensive tackleNebraskaDustin KroekerTackleCal PolyJosh LoveladyGuardHoustonDonald MalloySafetyNew Mexico StateRich MazzaGuardRutgersAndre OffingLinebackerEast CarolinaJonathan OrdwayCornerbackBoston CollegeDarnell RobinsonLinebackerOregon StateWayne RogersLinebackerHoustonStephen TrejoFullbackArizona StateEric WilsonDefensive tackleMichigan
Staff
Roster
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at Green Bay Packers L 6–28 0–1 Lambeau FieldRecap 2 September 23 at Cleveland Browns L 14–24 0–2 Cleveland Browns StadiumRecap 3 Bye 4 St. Louis RamsL 0–35 0–3 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 5 October 14 at Minnesota Vikings L 26–31 0–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 6 October 21 Tennessee Titans L 24–27 0–5 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 7 October 28 Cincinnati Bengals L 27–31 0–6 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 8 November 4 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–21 0–7 3Com ParkRecap 9 November 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–20 0–8 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 10 November 18 at Arizona Cardinals L 38–45 0–9 Sun Devil StadiumRecap 11 November 22 Green Bay Packers L 27–29 0–10 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 12 December 2 at Chicago Bears L 10–13 0–11 Soldier FieldRecap 13 December 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 12–15 0–12 Raymond James StadiumRecap 14 December 16 Minnesota Vikings W 27–24 1–12 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 15 December 23 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–47 1–13 Heinz FieldRecap 16 December 30 Chicago Bears L 0–24 1–14 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 17 January 6 Dallas Cowboys W 15–10 2–14 Pontiac Silverdome RecapNote: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Week 2: at Cleveland Browns
Quarterback Ty Detmer made his first start for the Lions, ending the game with seven interceptions. Despite this, the Lions' defense kept the game somewhat close, picking off Cleveland quarterback Tim Couch twice, including a 26-yard pick six by cornerback Terry Fair.
Week 4: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 11: vs Green Bay Packers
Week 14: vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 15: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 17: vs Dallas Cowboys
Standings
Notes
References
External links 2001 Detroit Lions at Pro-Football-Reference.com