The 2021 season was the Detroit Lions' 92nd season in the National Football League (NFL), the 20th playing their home games at Ford Field and their first under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. The Lions finished 3–13–1, failing to improve upon their 5–11 record from the previous season. The Lions began their season 0–8 before tying with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10, in which they nearly beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the first time since 1955. However, the Lions would not win a game until Week 13 against the division rival Minnesota Vikings, ending a 15-game, 364-day winless streak. In Week 14, the Lions were eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive year. They finished the season at the bottom of the NFC North for the fourth consecutive season. However they ended the season on a high note, upsetting two playoff bound teams; the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15 and the top-seeded Green Bay Packers in Week 18. Their .206 winning percentage was their worst since 2009.
This was the Lions' first season since 2008 without longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff and three draft picks on January 31, 2021. Stafford would go onto win his first Super Bowl in Super Bowl LVI with the Rams later that postseason. For first time since 2003, Don Muhlbach was not on the opening day roster, as he was released and subsequently retired in the offseason. Lions Don Muhlbach Retires
With the Cincinnati Bengals defeating the Las Vegas Raiders in the postseason, the Lions officially held the longest playoff victory drought in the NFL, having not won a playoff game since the 1991 season. As of the 2025 season, this is the most recent season the Lions have finished with a losing record. This would also be the last season the Lions finished last place in the NFC North until then.
Offseason
Coaching changes
From January 19 to February 9, the Lions hired 13 coaches January 19: Aaron Glenn as defensive coordinator. January 20: Dan Campbell as head coach. January 23: Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator. January 25: Aubrey Pleasant as defensive back coach and Duce Staley as running backs and assistant head coach.Detroit Lions' early offseason additions point to big 2021 for D'Andre Swift Detroit Free Press, January 25, 2021 January 26: Dave Fipp as special teams coordinator.Detroit Lions officially hire Dave Fipp as special teams coordinator MLive.com, January 26, 2021 January 28: Mark Brunell as quarterbacks coach.Report: Detroit Lions expected to hire Mark Brunell as QB coach MLive.com, January 28, 2021 January 29: Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant.Detroit Lions add veteran coach Dom Capers to staff as senior defensive assistant MLive.com, January 29, 2021 February 3: Todd Wash as defensive line coach, Kelvin Sheppard and Brian Duker as defensive assistants, and Seth Ryan as assistant wide receivers coach.Detroit Lions hire ex-Jaguars DC Todd Wash as DL coach, 3 other assistants Detroit Free Press, February 3, 2021 February 9: Antwaan Randle El as wide receivers coach.Detroit Lions to reportedly hire Antwaan Randle El as wide receivers coach MLive.com, February 9, 2021
Additions
Date Player Position Previous team Contract Source March 3 Tyrell Williams Wide receiver Las Vegas Raiders 1 year / $4.7million March 13 Josh Hill Tight end New Orleans Saints 1 year / $1.2million March 16 Jamaal Williams Running back Green Bay Packers 2 years / $7.5 million March 17 Tim Boyle Quarterback Green Bay Packers 1 year / $2.5 millionMarch 22 Breshad Perriman Wide receiver New York Jets 1 year / $3.0million Randy Bullock Placekicker Cincinnati Bengals 1 year / $1.5million March 23 Kalif Raymond Wide receiver Tennessee Titans 1 year / $1.0millionLions Sign Former Titans WR Kalif Raymond Fan Nation (Sports Illustrated), March 23, 2021 March 24 Damion Ratley Wide receiver Houston Texans 1 year / $0.9million Alex Anzalone Linebacker New Orleans Saints 1 year / $1.8million April 1 Corn Elder Cornerback Carolina Panthers 1 year / $0.9million April 6 Quinton Dunbar Cornerback Seattle Seahawks 1 year / $1.0million April 8 Dean Marlowe Strong Safety Buffalo Bills 1 year / $1.0million April 30 Darren Fells Tight end Houston Texans 1 year May 12 Alex Brown Cornerback Kansas City Chiefs 1 year Alijah Holder Safety Denver Broncos 1 year Charlie Taumoepeau Tight end San Francisco 49ers 1 year May 19 Darrin Paulo Offensive tackle Denver Broncos May 27 Brian Price Defensive tackle Green Bay Packers 1 year
Departures
Date Player Position New Team SourceMarch 8 Christian Jones Linebacker Chicago Bears Russell Bodine CenterMarch 12 Jesse James Tight end Chicago Bears Justin Coleman Cornerback Miami DolphinsMarch 15 Joe Dahl Guard Jamal Agnew Wide receiver Jacksonville Jaguars Jarrad Davis Linebacker New York JetsMarch 16 Danny Shelton Defensive tackle New York Giants Chase Daniel Quarterback Los Angeles ChargersMarch 17 Marvin Jones Wide receiver Jacksonville Jaguars Matt Prater Placekicker Arizona Cardinals Desmond Trufant Cornerback Chicago Bears March 20 Kenny Golladay Wide receiver New York Giants March 24 Miles Killebrew Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers March 27 Mohamed Sanu Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers April 15 Duron Harmon Safety Atlanta Falcons April 23 Hunter Bryant Tight end May 1 Kerryon Johnson Running back San Francisco 49ers June 2 John Atkins Defensive tackle Atlanta Falcons
Re-signings
Date Player Position Contract Source March 8 Mike Ford Cornerback 1 year / $1.2 million March 15 Romeo Okwara Defensive end 3 years / $39 million March 17 Jalen Reeves-Maybin Outside linebacker 1 year / $2.37 million March 19 Don Muhlbach Long snapper
Trades
On March 17, the Lions acquired defensive tackle Michael Brockers from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick in 2023.
Retirements PositionPlayerDate retiredTEJosh HillMay 5, 2021
Draft
2021 Detroit Lions Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes Source 1 7 Penei Sewell OT Oregon 2 41 Levi Onwuzurike DT Washington 3 72 Alim McNeill DT NC State 101 Ifeatu Melifonwu CB Syracuse from Los Angeles Rams 4 112 Amon-Ra St. Brown WR USC 113 Derrick Barnes LB Purdue from Cleveland Browns 7 257 Jermar Jefferson RB Oregon State from Cleveland Browns
Pre-draft trades The Lions received a 2021 third-round selection as well as 2022 and 2023 first-round selections and quarterback Jared Goff from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions traded a conditional sixth-round selection, which could become a fifth rounder, to Dallas in exchange for defensive end Everson Griffen. The Lions traded safety Quandre Diggs and a 2021 seventh-round selection to Seattle in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round selection.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Lions' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on May 13. The exact dates and times were announced on May 20. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Buffalo Bills L 15–16 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–26 0–2 Heinz Field Recap 3 Indianapolis Colts L 17–27 0–3 Ford Field Recap
Regular season
Schedule The Lions schedule was released on May 13, 2021.Detroit Lions 2021 schedule NFL.com
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 San Francisco 49ers L 33–41 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 at Green Bay Packers L 17–35 0–2 Lambeau Field Recap 3 September 26 Baltimore Ravens L 17–19 0–3 Ford Field Recap 4 October 3 at Chicago Bears L 14–24 0–4 Soldier Field Recap 5 October 10 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–19 0–5 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 6 October 17 Cincinnati Bengals L 11–34 0–6 Ford Field Recap 7 October 24 at Los Angeles Rams L 19–28 0–7 SoFi Stadium Recap 8 October 31 Philadelphia Eagles L 6–44 0–8 Ford Field Recap 9 Bye 10 November 14 at Pittsburgh Steelers T 16–16 0–8–1 Heinz Field Recap 11 November 21 at Cleveland Browns L 10–13 0–9–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 November 25 Chicago Bears L 14–16 0–10–1 Ford Field Recap 13 December 5 Minnesota Vikings W 29–27 1–10–1 Ford Field Recap 14 December 12 at Denver Broncos L 10–38 1–11–1 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 15 December 19 Arizona Cardinals W 30–12 2–11–1 Ford Field Recap 16 December 26 at Atlanta Falcons L 16–20 2–12–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 17 January 2 at Seattle Seahawks L 29–51 2–13–1 Lumen Field Recap 18 January 9 Green Bay Packers W 37–30 3–13–1 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Lions hosted the San Francisco 49ers to kick off the regular season. The 49ers opened the scoring in the first quarter via a five-yard touchdown pass from Trey Lance to Trent Sherfield. The Lions responded with a six-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to T. J. Hockenson to tie the game. The 49ers added 24 points in the second quarter via a 38-yard touchdown run from Elijah Mitchell, a three-yard touchdown run from JaMycal Hasty, a 39-yard interception return by Dre Greenlaw and a 40-yard field goal by Robbie Gould. The Lions added 49-yard field goal by Austin Seibert, making the score 31–10 in favor of San Francisco at half-time. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the third quarter, first a 79-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Deebo Samuel for San Francisco, then a 43-yard touchdown pass from Goff to D'Andre Swift. The 49ers extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 52-yard field goal by Gouble. The Lions added 16 points via a one-yard touchdown run from Jamaal Williams and a two-point conversion pass from Goff to Hockenson, and a two-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Quintez Cephus and a two-point conversion pass from Goff to Cephus. The Lions' attempted comeback failed when they failed to convert from the 49ers' 19-yard line late in the fourth quarter, making the final score 41–33 in favor of San Francisco.
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
In week 2, the Lions visited their divisional rival the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a five-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Quintez Cephus. The Packers responded with a four-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Aaron Jones to tie the game. The Lions regained the lead in the second quarter via an eight-yard touchdown pass from Goff to T. J. Hockenson. The Packers again tied the game via a one-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jones. The Lions responded with a 43-yard field goal by Austin Seibert, making the score 17–14 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Lions were held scoreless in the second half. The Packers scored 14 points in the third quarter via a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Robert Tonyan, and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jones. The Packers extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Jones, making the final score 35–17 in favor of Green Bay.
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens