The 2020 season was the Detroit Lions' 91st in the National Football League (NFL) and their third and final season under head coach Matt Patricia. The Lions improved on their 3–12–1 record from the previous season, but were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive year following their loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. The Lions finished 5–11, and last place in the NFC North for the third consecutive season. Further, the 2020 Lions defense had one of the worst seasons in NFL history, setting franchise records for points allowed (519, 3rd worst in NFL history) and yards allowed (6,716, 3rd worst in NFL history) in a season, both marks topping the 2008 team.

2020 was Matthew Stafford’s twelfth and final year with Detroit, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff and three draft picks on January 31, 2021.

On June 23, 2020, Detroit Lions' principal owner Martha Firestone Ford stepped down, passing ownership to her daughter Sheila Ford Hamp.

Following the Lions' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Houston Texans, both Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn were fired and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell took over as interim head coach. Patricia finished his tenure in Detroit with a record of . Additionally, the Lions fired special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs on December 21.Lions Fire Special Teams Coordinator Brayden Coombs Sports Illustrated Fan Nation, December 21, 2020

Offseason

Coaching changes On December 31, 2019, the Lions fired strength coach Harold Nash, special-teams coordinator John Bonamego, defensive backs coach Brian Stewart, linebackers coach Al Golden, tight ends coach Chris White and assistant strength coach Rodney Hill. On January 2, 2020, defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni retired and offensive line coach Jeff Davidson took an "indefinite leave" from coaching. On January 13, the Lions hired Cory Undlin as defensive coordinator.

Additions Date Player Position Previous team Contract Source February 3 Joshua Garnett Guard San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $1.3 million March 16 Halapoulivaati Vaitai Offensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles 5 years / $45 million Jamie Collins Linebacker New England Patriots 3 years / $30 million Nick Williams Defensive tackle Chicago Bears 2 years / $10 million March 17 Chase Daniel Quarterback Chicago Bears 3 years / $13.05 million March 18 Danny Shelton Defensive tackle New England Patriots 2 years / $8 million Desmond Trufant Cornerback Atlanta Falcons 2 years / $21 million March 19 Jayron Kearse Safety Minnesota Vikings 1 year / $2 million March 20 Tony McRae Cornerback Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $1.5 million March 27 Reggie Ragland Linebacker Kansas City Chiefs 1 year / $1.0475 million Elijah Lee Linebacker San Francisco 49ers 1 year / $835,000 March 29 Geronimo Allison Wide receiver Green Bay Packers 1 year / $1.0475 million April 2 Darryl Roberts Cornerback New York Jets 1 year / $2 million May 1 Hunter Bryant Tight end Washington Undrafted FA Jeremiah Dinson Safety Auburn Jalen Elliott Safety Notre Dame Bobby Price Safety Norfolk State Luke Sellers Fullback South Dakota State Arryn Siposs Punter Auburn Steven Wirtel Long snapper Iowa State May 22 Logan Stenberg Guard Kentucky 4 years / $4.036 million John Penisini Defensive tackle Utah 4 years / $3.466 million June 9 Julian Okwara Defensive end Notre Dame 4 years / $4.92 million June 24 Jonah Jackson Offensive guard Ohio State 4 years / $4.79 million July 13 Jeff Okudah Cornerback Ohio State 4 years / $33.5 million D'Andre Swift Running back Georgia 4 years / $8.53 million Quintez Cephus Wide receiver Wisconsin 4 years / $3.599 million Jason Huntley Running back New Mexico State 4 years / $3.58 million August 2 Jashon Cornell Defensive tackle Ohio State 4 years / $3.37 million August 17 Jonathan Williams Running back Indianapolis Colts 1 year / $910,000 August 23 Will Clarke Defensive end St. Louis BattleHawks 1 year / $910,000 August 27 Kevin Wilkins Defensive end Philadelphia Eagles 1 year / $610,000 August 31 Olive Sagapolu Defensive tackle Green Bay Packers 1 year / $610,000 September 6 Adrian Peterson Running back Washington Football Team 1 year / $1.05 millionOctober 30Jonathan WilliamsRunning backWashington Football TeamDetroit Lions sign running back Jonathan Williams from Washington’s practice squad MLive.com, October 30, 2020

Departures Date Player Position Note New Team Source February 25 Damon Harrison Defensive tackleReleased Seattle Seahawks March 13 Rick Wagner Offensive tackle Green Bay Packers March 16 Graham Glasgow GuardUFA Denver Broncos Jeff Driskel Quarterback Denver Broncos March 17 A. J. Howard SafetyReleased Kyle Sloter Quarterback Chicago Bears March 18 Devon Kennard Linebacker Arizona Cardinals March 19 A'Shawn Robinson Defensive tackleUFA Los Angeles Rams March 24 Sam Martin Punter Denver Broncos April 15 Steve Longa LinebackerReleased April 15 Paul Butler Tight end April 15 Jonathan Durhart Wide receiver April 27 Tra Carson Running back April 27 James Fisher Long snapper April 27 Casey Tucker Guard April 27 Matt Wile Punter August 17 Wes Hills Running back Waived August 23 Caleb Benenoch Guard Released New England Patriots August 27 Olive Sagapolu Defensive tackle Waived September 1 Geremy Davis Wide receiverReleasedSeptember 5Oday AboushiGuardBeau BenzchawelGuardDavid BloughQuarterbackVictor Bolden Jr.Wide receiverWill ClarkeDefensive endJalen ElliottSafetyFrank HerronDefensive tackleWes HillsRunning backAlbert HugginsDefensive tackleMinnesota VikingsJason HuntleyRunning backPhiladelphia EaglesTom KennedyWide receiverChris LacyWide receiverDallas CowboysIsaac NautaTight endAnthony PittmanLinebackerBobby PriceSafetyOlive SagapoluDefensive tackleArryn SipossPunterMatt SokolTight endKevin StrongDefensive tackleDee VirginCornerbackKenny WigginsGuardNew York GiantsKevin WilkinsDefensive tackleJonathan WilliamsRunning backSteve WirtelLong snapper

Re-signings Date Player Position Contract Source February 22 Danny Amendola Wide receiver 1 year / $5 million March 14 Don Muhlbach Long snapper1 year / $1.135 million March 21 Miles Killebrew Linebacker 1 year / $2 million March 24 Oday Aboushi Guard 1 year / $1.1875 million April 14 Kenny Wiggins Guard 1 year / $1.1875 million April 21 Mike Ford Cornerback 1 year / $750,000 April 21 Dee Virgin Cornerback 1 year / $750,000 August 20 Chris Lacy Wide receiver 2 years / $1.08 million Wes Hills Running back 2 years / $1.08 million

Trades On March 18, the Lions acquired safety Duron Harmon and a seventh-round pick from the New England Patriots in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft. On March 19, the Lions traded cornerback Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. On October 27, the Lions acquired defensive end Everson Griffen from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Draft

2020 Detroit Lions Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes Source 1 3 Jeff Okudah CB Ohio State 2 35 D'Andre Swift RB Georgia 3 67 Julian Okwara DE Notre Dame 75 Jonah Jackson G Ohio State from Indianapolis 4 121 Logan Stenberg G Kentucky from Las Vegas 5 166 Quintez Cephus WR Wisconsin 172 Jason Huntley RB New Mexico State from Las Vegas 6 197 John Penisini DT Utah from Indianapolis 7 235 Jashon Cornell DT Ohio State from New England Notes The Indianapolis Colts traded a third and sixth-round selection (75th and 197th) to Detroit in exchange for a third, fifth, and sixth-round selection (85th, 149th, 182nd). The Lions traded their fourth-round selection (109th) to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a fourth and fifth-round selection (121st and 172nd). On August 23, 2018, the Lions traded a conditional seventh-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for linebacker Eli Harold. On October 22, 2019, the Lions traded safety Quandre Diggs and a seventh-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the preseason to be cancelled.

On July 29, the Lions placed five players, including wide receiver Kenny Golladay and tight end T. J. Hockenson, on the COVID-19 reserve list. The following day, two more players, including cornerback Justin Coleman, were placed on the list. On August 1, the Lions placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on the list. Three days later, however, Stafford's test was confirmed to be a false positive and he was removed from the list.

Most games this season were played behind closed doors, with crowds at some stadiums limited to friends and families of the players, coaches, and staff members.Green Bay Packers prepare Lambeau Field for a home opener without fans in the seats Green Bay Press Gazette, September 16, 2020Arizona Cardinals able to have small group of family and friends in attendance Sunday Arizona Republic, September 22, 2020Detroit Lions to allow 500 family members, friends inside Ford Field for Sunday’s game vs. Colts WDIV, October 31, 2020Minnesota Vikings won't have fans at next home game Nov. 8 ESPN, October 29, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 10 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, November 15, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 11 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, November 22, 2020Lions won't allow fans for Thanksgiving game vs. Texans Yard Barker, November 16, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 13 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, December 6, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 14 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, December 13, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 15 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, December 20, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 16 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, December 23, 2020Which NFL stadiums, teams will allow fans at games in Week 17 of the 2020 season? NBC Sports, January 3, 2021

Several members of the Lions coaching staff, including interim head coach Darrell Bevell, had to quarantine during the week 16 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to an outbreak.Lions could be without several coaches vs. Bucs as team determines high-risk COVID-19 close contacts NFL.com, December 23, 2020

Staff Following the Lions' Thanksgiving Day loss to the Houston Texans, both Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn were relieved of their duties with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell taking over as interim head coach. Patricia finished his tenure in Detroit with a record of . Additionally, the Lions fired special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs on December 21. Due to Coronavirus restrictions, Robert Prince was the acting head coach when the team faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Final roster

Preseason The Lions' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Week Date Opponent Venue Result 1 at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2 New York Jets Ford Field 3 at Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium 4 Buffalo Bills Ford Field

Regular season

Schedule