The 2003 season was the Detroit Lions' 74th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 70th as the Detroit Lions, and their first under head coach Steve Mariucci. The team improved upon their 3–13 record from the previous season, finishing 5–11. However, they failed to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, finishing last in the NFC North.
The Lions selected Charles Rogers with the second overall selection in the 2003 NFL draft and brought in a number of defensive free agents, including cornerback Dré Bly on a five-year deal. However, injuries to the defense would hinder the Lions as they finished with the 25th ranked defense in points allowed. The offense performed poorly as they finished 26th in points scored. The run game finished 32nd in yards while the pass game finished 24th in yards. The Lions failed to win more than 5 games, nor did they win a single road game for the third consecutive season. The Lions did, however, allow the least amount of sacks in football for the second consecutive season, with 11.
Offseason Coaching changes After the 2002 season, general manager Matt Millen said that head coach Marty Mornhinweg would return in 2003 despite compiling a 5–27 record over his two seasons with the team. However, Mornhinweg was fired 27 days later. The team hired former San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci to a five-year, $25 million contract. Mariucci was fired after the 49ers loss in the 2003 postseason; he had compiled a 57–39 record with the team and two division titles in his six-year head coaching tenure with the team. The hiring process drew allegations that the team violated the Rooney Rule, an NFL policy requiring NFL teams to consider at least one minority candidate for head coach. The league investigated and fined general manager Matt Millen $200,000 for "failing to interview a minority head coaching candidate". Owner William Clay Ford Sr. said that Commissioner Paul Tagliabue was "singling out the Lions" and that he had "lost a lot of respect for [him]."
The Lions' previous offensive coordinator and running backs coach Maurice Carthon was hired by the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions hired Sherman Lewis as their offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, while hiring Bobby Williams as their running backs coach. They also fired wide receivers coach Larry Kirksey and linebackers coach Glenn Pires.
Free agency
The Lions bolstered their defense by signing linebackers Earl Holmes and Wali Rainer, defensive lineman Dan Wilkinson, and cornerbacks Dré Bly and Otis Smith. After losing linebacker Chris Claiborne, the Lions signed Rainer and Holmes to one-year and three-year contracts respectively, with Holmes coming in as a seven-year veteran. Wilkinson was signed after starting tackle Luther Elliss suffered a torn pectoral. Bly signed a five-year, $24.5 million deal and was rated as the best corner in free agency. They lost cornerback Todd Lyght to retirement and brought back linebacker Brian Williams and defensive tackle Jared DeVries on a one-year and three-year deal respectively.
Adding to their offense, they signed wide receiver Shawn Jefferson to a one-year deal. They also signed fullback Cory Schlesinger to a two-year extension and brought in running back Shawn Bryson on a one-year deal. Tight end Mikhael Ricks was re-signed to a three-year deal.
The Lions released wide receivers Germane Crowell and former Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard. Following a 2-day team minicamp, the Lions released wide receiver Jacquez Green and quarterback Jonathan Beasley.
NFL draft With the second overall selection, the Lions chose wide receiver Charles Rogers. Rogers was a fan favorite in Michigan and set school records for receiving yards and touchdowns for Michigan State. He also signed endorsements with Pepsi and EA Sports prior to his selection. However, Rogers' career was marred by injuries and suspensions, leading to him playing only three years in the league. Their second round pick, linebacker Boss Bailey, played for the Lions until 2007 and produced 7.0 sacks and thirteen passes defended. Third round selection defensive end Cory Redding moved to defensive tackle and became the highest paid player at his position in 2007. He would be traded away following the 2008 season. Running back Artose Pinner, the Lions' fourth round selection, accumulated 915 total yards and 5 total touchdowns over his three seasons with Detroit. Defensive back Terrence Holt, who eventually moved to free safety in 2005, racked up eight interceptions in his four years with the Lions.
Undrafted free agents
+ 2003 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeCurt AnesQuarterbackGrand Valley StateCasey FitzSimmonsTight endCarroll (MT)Chris KernDefensive backMount Union
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster
Preseason Detroit played their first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. To begin the game, punter John Jett was able to pin the Steelers within their 2-yard line which paid off when Lions Barrett Green sacked Tommy Maddox in the endzone for the safety and early 2–0 lead. The Steelers tacked on two field goals before the Lions scored on a Joey Harrington pass to Scotty Anderson. Detroit extended their lead with a Mike McMahon rushing touchdown and a Cory Redding fumble recovery touchdown. The Steelers could only muster another touchdown before the Lions sealed the 26–13 win with a field goal. For their second game of the preseason, the Lions traveled to Paul Brown Stadium to face off against the Cincinnati Bengals. After three punts, the Bengals scored on three straight Neil Rackers field goals with the Lions adding their own field goal before the half with the Bengals up 9–3. The Bengals scored on a Carson Palmer touchdown pass to Jeremi Johnson before another Palmer pass, this time to T. J. Houshmandzadeh, put them up 23–3 heading into the fourth. The Lions tacked on another touchdown to reach the final score of 23–10.
For their third preseason game, the Lions hosted the Cleveland Browns. The Browns failed to capitalize on an early Harrington interception and punted. Detroit started the scoring off with a Hanson 23-yard field goal before the Browns responded with a 6-yard touchdown pass. After punting, the Lions got the ball back after the Browns fumbled and scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass to go up 10–7. The Browns tied it up with 30 seconds left on a 46-yard field goal, but the Lions scored their own field goal to put the halftime score at 13–10. The Lions blew the game wide open with a Hanson field goal and then two McMahon touchdown passes before the Browns responded with a Tim Couch touchdown pass to go into the fourth quarter with the score at 31–17. Detroit was able to score another touchdown to solidify the final score of 38–17. For their final preseason game, the Lions traveled to Ralph Wilson Stadium to face off against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills opened up the scoring when they returned the first punt of the game 75 yards for the touchdown. They extended their lead with a 34-yard touchdown pass to go up 14–0 heading into the second quarter. The Lions got on the board when a Buffalo fumble at their own 4-yard line was recovered in the endzone for the score. They scored two Hanson field goals to end the first half down 14–13. Beginning the second half, the Lions scored a go-ahead 46-yard field goal. The Bills responded on an eleven-minute touchdown drive to get to the final score of 22–16.
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 Pittsburgh Steelers W 26–13 1–0 Ford Field58,735 2 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–23 1–1 Paul Brown Stadium39,956 3 Cleveland Browns L 38–17 2–1 Ford Field59,333 4 at Buffalo Bills L 16–22 2–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium45,593
Regular season Overview
The Lions were plagued with injuries before the regular season began. In May, wide receiver Scotty Anderson was stabbed outside a nightclub alongside his brother. Starting defensive tackle Luther Elliss suffered a torn pectoral in July, although it wouldn't require surgery and he would be back on the field before the regular season started. Two rookies were injured; Charles Rogers dislocated his finger in training camp and required stitches and James Davis injured his ribs. Two starters were lost to season ending injuries: James Stewart and Chris Cash to shoulder and knee injuries respectively. After the regular season began, injuries still piled up. Charles Rogers broke his collarbone in practice on October 7, ending his rookie season. They also lost punter John Jett to a calf injury and signed Nick Harris. During the Week 3 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, André Goodman dislocated his shoulder and was out for the season. Dré Bly, Robert Porcher, Rod Babers, and Jimmy Wyrick also dealt with injuries. Victor Rogers and Chris Watson suffered back injuries and were put on injured reserve. During the Week 14 matchup against the San Diego Chargers, safety Corey Harris and long snapper Bradford Banta were lost for the season with a torn hamstring and broken collarbone respectively.
The Lions began their season 1–6 and finished 5–11, fourth in the NFC North and thirteenth in the NFC, and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14. The offense finished last in the league in yards and 26th in points scored. The passing game, led by second year quarterback and third overall pick Joey Harrington, had the fourth-most attempts but finished 24th in passing yards. The rushing game was the league's worst; 32nd in both rushing attempts and yards, and 30th in rushing touchdowns. The defense finished 25th and 24th in points allowed and yards allowed respectively, with the passing defense finishing 28th and 29th in yards and touchdowns and the rushing defense finishing in the middle of the league at 15th in rushing yards allowed. The Lions broke an NFL record for the most consecutive road losses with 24, one more than the previous record holder Houston Oilers from 1981 to 1984. They broke the record in their last road game of the season in a Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers. Individually, quarterback Harrington threw a career-high 22 interceptions in his 16 starts. Az-Zahir Hakim led the team in receiving yards with 449 and Shawn Bryson lead the team in rushing yards with 606. Cornerback Dré Bly, on the back of six interceptions, 15 passes defended, and 60 combined tackles, was named to the Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro, the only Lion to make either team.
Schedule In addition to their regular games with NFC North divisional rivals, the Lions played teams from the NFC West and AFC West according to the NFL's schedule rotation, and also played games against the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys, who had finished fourth in their respective divisions in 2002.
WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance 1 September 7 Arizona Cardinals W 42–24 1–0 Ford Field60,691 2 September 14 at Green Bay Packers L 6–31 1–1 Lambeau Field70,244 3 September 21 Minnesota Vikings L 13–23 1–2 Ford Field60,865 4 September 28 at Denver Broncos L 16–20 1–3 Invesco Field at Mile High75,719 5 October 5 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–24 1–4 Candlestick Park67,365 6 Bye 7 October 19 Dallas Cowboys L 7–38 1–5 Ford Field61,160 8 October 26 at Chicago Bears L 16–24 1–6 Soldier Field61,428 9 November 2 Oakland Raiders W 23–13 2–6 Ford Field61,561 10 November 9 Chicago Bears W 12–10 3–6 Ford Field61,492 11 November 16 at Seattle Seahawks L 14–35 3–7 Seahawks Stadium65,865 12 November 23 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–24 3–8 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome63,946 13 November 27 Green Bay Packers W 22–14 4–8 Ford Field62,123 14 December 7 San Diego Chargers L 7–14 4–9 Ford Field61,544 15 December 14 at Kansas City Chiefs L 17–45 4–10 Arrowhead Stadium77,922 16 December 21 at Carolina Panthers L 14–20 4–11 Ericsson Stadium72,835 17 December 28 St. Louis Rams W 30–20 5–11 Ford Field61,006Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text
Game summaries