The 2022 season was the Detroit Lions' 93rd in the National Football League (NFL), the 21st playing their home games at Ford Field and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.
On March 28, NFL Films and HBO announced that the Lions would be featured in the newest season of Hard Knocks, a show that follows NFL teams through training camp.
After a 1–6 start, the Lions had a mid-season turnaround, winning eight of their next ten games. The Lions finished the season 9–8, improving upon their 3–13–1 record from the previous season. This marked their first winning record since 2017. The Lions won five out of six divisional games, splitting their season series with the Minnesota Vikings.
Prior to taking the field in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers, the Lions were eliminated from playoff contention for the sixth consecutive season after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams. Despite beating the Packers and having the same 9–8 record as the Seahawks, they lost the playoff spot based on the teams' Week 4 head-to-head meeting, won by the Seahawks. Nevertheless, their win simultaneously eliminated their NFC North rival from playoff contention and allowed the Seahawks to claim the final NFC wild card berth.
Player movements
Free agents PositionPlayerFree agencytagDate signed2022 teamSource LB Alex Anzalone UFA March 14 Detroit Lions QB David Blough RFA March 22 Detroit Lions C Evan Brown UFA March 15 Detroit Lions QB Tim Boyle UFA March 22 Detroit Lions FB Jason Cabinda UFA February 17 Detroit Lions OT Tyrell Crosby UFA S Jalen Elliott ERFA March 14 Detroit Lions LB Shaun Dion Hamilton UFA March 14 Detroit Lions DE Charles Harris UFA March 15 Detroit Lions DT Joel Heath UFA WR KhaDarel Hodge UFA March 25 Atlanta Falcons OT Will Holden RFA New York Giants S Dean Marlowe UFA March 31 Atlanta Falcons S C. J. Moore UFA March 14 Detroit Lions WR Kalif Raymond UFA March 18 Detroit Lions LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin UFA March 23 Houston Texans WR Josh Reynolds UFA March 9 Detroit Lions S Tracy Walker UFA March 15 Detroit Lions DT Nick Williams UFA New York Giants LB Josh Woods UFA February 22 Detroit Lions
Additions Position Player Previous team Date Source LB Chris Board Baltimore Ravens March 23 WR D. J. Chark Jacksonville Jaguars March 17 CB Mike Hughes Kansas City Chiefs March 23 LB Jarrad Davis New York Jets March 25 TE Garrett Griffin New Orleans Saints March 28 S DeShon Elliott Baltimore Ravens April 14 RB Justin Jackson Los Angeles Chargers August 1
Subtractions PositionPlayer2022 teamRelease dateSource OLB Trey Flowers Miami Dolphins March 16
Draft
Detroit held the second overall pick in the draft. They had also gained the final pick in the first round, number 32, from the LA Rams. With days until the Draft, the Lions were heavily projected to draft University of Michigan's defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. After the Jaguars chose Travon Walker with the first overall pick, the Lions made their selection choosing Hutchinson. Holmes reflected on Hutchinson being a Michigan native, saying "It's always great to get the hometown favorite, but I know there's a lot of fanfare for Aidan. His ability to stay home and hopefully be, not only a productive player for our football team, but I know that he'll make his mark in this community. He already has so it's only gonna continue to trend up from here."
With the Lions holding the 32nd and 34th picks, they traded them along with the 66th pick to the Minnesota Vikings for the 12th and 46th picks. With the 12th pick, the Lions chose wide receiver Jameson Williams, who was coming off an ACL tear in the 2022 national championship.
2022 Detroit Lions Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 2 Aidan Hutchinson Defensive end Michigan 12 Jameson Williams Wide receiver Alabama From Minnesota 32 Traded to Minnesota From LA Rams 2 34 Traded to Minnesota 46 Josh Paschal Defensive end Kentucky From Minnesota 3 66 Traded to Minnesota 97 Kerby Joseph Free safety Illinois Compensatory selection 4 107 Traded to Cleveland 5 145 Traded to Denver 177 James Mitchell Tight end Virginia Tech Compensatory selection 6 181 Traded to Philadelphia 188 Malcolm Rodriguez Linebacker Oklahoma State From Seattle via Jacksonville and Philadelphia 217 James Houston IV Linebacker Jackson State Compensatory selection 7 223 Traded to Cleveland 234 Traded to Denver From Cleveland 237 Chase Lucas Cornerback Arizona State From New Orleans via Philadelphia Notes
+ 2022 Detroit Lions undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Greg Bell RB San Diego State Cedric Boswell CB Miami (OH) Derrick Deese Jr. TE San Jose State Obinna Eze OT TCU Nolan Givan TE Southeastern Louisiana Kevin Jarvis G Michigan State Josh Johnson WR Tulsa Zein Obeid G Ferris State Kalil Pimpleton WR Central Michigan Corey Sutton Appalachian State Demetrius Taylor DT Jermaine Waller CB Virginia Tech
Staff
Coaching changes January 10: Anthony Lynn fired as offensive coordinator. February 9: Ben Johnson named offensive coordinator. October 31: Aubrey Pleasant fired as defensive backs coach.
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Atlanta Falcons L 23–27 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 at Indianapolis Colts W 27–26 1–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 3 August 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–19 1–2 Acrisure Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 Philadelphia Eagles L 35–38 0–1 Ford Field Recap 2 September 18 Washington Commanders W 36–27 1–1 Ford Field Recap 3 September 25 at Minnesota Vikings L 24–28 1–2 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 4 October 2 Seattle Seahawks L 45–48 1–3 Ford Field Recap 5 October 9 at New England Patriots L 0–29 1–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 6Bye 7 October 23 at Dallas Cowboys L 6–24 1–5 AT&T Stadium Recap 8 October 30 Miami Dolphins L 27–31 1–6 Ford Field Recap 9 November 6 Green Bay Packers W 15–9 2–6 Ford Field Recap 10 November 13 at Chicago Bears W 31–30 3–6 Soldier Field Recap 11 November 20 at New York Giants W 31–18 4–6 MetLife Stadium Recap 12 November 24 Buffalo Bills L 25–28 4–7 Ford Field Recap 13 December 4 Jacksonville Jaguars W 40–14 5–7 Ford Field Recap 14 December 11 Minnesota Vikings W 34–23 6–7 Ford Field Recap 15 December 18 at New York Jets W 20–17 7–7 MetLife Stadium Recap 16 at Carolina Panthers L 23–37 7–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 January 1 Chicago Bears W 41–10 8–8 Ford Field Recap 18 January 8 at Green Bay Packers W 20–16 9–8 Lambeau Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
To open the regular season, the Lions hosted the Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Jamaal Williams. The Eagles responded with 21 unanswered points in the second quarter via two one-yard touchdown runs from Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders, respectively, and a 27-yard interception return by James Bradberry. The Lions responded with a seven-yard touchdown run from D'Andre Swift. The Eagles scored the final points of the half via a 23-yard field goal by Jake Elliott, which made the score 24–14 in favor of Philadelphia at half-time. The Eagles scored 14 points in the third quarter via a two-yard touchdown run from Kenneth Gainwell and a one-yard touchdown run from Boston Scott. The Lions responded with a four-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions scored 14 points in the fourth quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Williams and a 22-yard touchdown pass from Goff to D. J. Chark, making the final score 38–35 in favor of Philadelphia.
Week 2: vs. Washington Commanders
In week 2, the Lions hosted the Washington Commanders. The Lions scored 12 points in the first quarter via a 35-yard field goal by Austin Seibert, a fumble forced by Charles Harris in the end zone for a safety, and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. The Lions extended their lead in the second quarter via a 48-yard field goal by Seibert and a three-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Josh Reynolds, which made the score 22–0 in favor of Detroit at half-time. The Commanders finally got on the board in the third quarter via a 15-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Curtis Samuel and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to Logan Thomas. The Lions responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Goff to D'Andre Swift. The teams exchanged touchdowns in the fourth quarter, first a one-yard touchdown run from Antonio Gibson for the Commanders, then an 11-yard touchdown pass from Goff to St. Brown for the Lions. The Commanders scored the final points of the game via a one-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to Jahan Dotson, making the final score 36–27 in favor of Detroit.
Amon-Ra St. Brown had 2 touchdown receptions for the Lions and set an NFL record with his 6th consecutive game with 8+ catches.
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
In week 3, the Lions visited their divisional rival, the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions opened the scoring in the first quarter via a two-yard touchdown run from Jamaal Williams. The Lions extended their lead in the second quarter via a five-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to T. J. Hockenson. The Vikings responded with 14 points in the quarter via a one-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Adam Thielen and a four-yard touchdown run from Dalvin Cook, tying the score at 14–14 at half-time. The Lions scored 10 points in the third quarter via a 40-yard field goal by Austin Seibert and a 13-yard touchdown run from Williams. The Vikings scored 14 points in the fourth quarter via a six-yard touchdown run from Alexander Mattison and a 28-yard touchdown pass from Cousins to K. J. Osborn with 45 seconds left in the half. The Lions' attempted comeback failed when Goff's pass intended for D. J. Chark was intercepted by Josh Metellus with 17 seconds remaining in the game, making the final score 28–24 in favor of Minnesota.
Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
In week 4, the Lions hosted the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 17-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith to Will Dissly. The Lions responded with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jared Goff to T. J. Hockenson, Dominik Eberle's extra point was wide left. The Seahawks extended their lead via an eight-yard touchdown run from Smith. The Seahawks scored 10 points in the second quarter via a 56-yard field goal by Jason Myers and a two-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Noah Fant. The Lions scored nine points in the quarter via a 49-yard field goal by Eberle and a one-yard touchdown run from Jamaal Williams as time expired in the half. Eberle's extra point was wide right, which made the score 24–15 in favor of Seattle at half-time. The Seahawks scored 14 points in the third quarter via a 40-yard interception return by Tariq Woolen and a 36-yard touchdown run from Rashaad Penny. The Lions responded with a 51-yard touchdown run from Williams and a two-point conversion run by Goff. The Seahawks scored 10 points in the fourth quarter via a 25-yard field goal by Myers and a 41-yard touchdown run from Penny. The Lions scored 22 points in the quarter via a three-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Josh Reynolds and a two-point conversion pass from Goff to Hockenson, a four-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Hockenson, and a two-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Justin Jackson. The Lions' attempted comeback failed when the onside kick was recovered by the Seahawks, making the final score 48–45 in favor of Seattle.
Week 5: at New England Patriots