The 2024 season was the Detroit Lions' 95th in the National Football League (NFL), their 91st in Detroit, and their fourth under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. They improved on their 12–5 record from the previous season and defended their NFC North title. After a blowout week 11 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they secured their third consecutive winning season for the first time since 1995. With their week 12 victory against the Indianapolis Colts, the Lions became the first team to reach 10 wins in the 2024 season, making this the first time a Lions team had accomplished this feat since 1934, as well as their first consecutive 10+ win seasons in franchise history. In Week 13, the Lions won their first Thanksgiving game since 2016.
After a win against the Minnesota Vikings in the final game of the regular season, the Lions won their second consecutive division title and clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time in franchise history. They swept the NFC North for the first time, which was the best single-season division in NFL history by combined winning percentage. The Lions were also the only team in the 2024 season who swept their division, and became the first team to go undefeated in the NFC North since the 2019 Green Bay Packers. The Lions finished the regular season with a franchise record 15–2 record, tied for the most wins in the 2024 season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Their two losses of the season (to the Buccaneers and Bills) were by a combined 10 points. The Lions became the second team to win 15 games since the 2015 Carolina Panthers after the Chiefs, and the first NFC team to do so. They also became the first team in franchise history to go undefeated on the road. They entered the playoffs as the favorite to win Super Bowl LIX. However, their season was derailed by defensive injuries and ended in a shocking 45–31 upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. They became the sixth consecutive team with 15 wins in the regular season to fail to win the Super Bowl, and the second to not win a playoff game, after rival 2011 Green Bay Packers. The Lions would later be joined by the Chiefs, who, after losing Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles, became the seventh 15-win team to fail to win the Super Bowl.
The focal point of the Lions' success was their offense; their 564 total points scored were the most in the NFL in 2024, and the fourth-most ever in a regular season, and their 33.2 points scored per game were the 12th highest of any team since the AFL-NFL merger. Their +222 point differential was the highest in the NFL in 2024, as well as the 25th highest of all time. Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs paired with David Montgomery to form a running back tandem before Montgomery got injured against the Bills, scoring a franchise record and league-leading 20 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Lions defense finished the regular season 7th in fewest points allowed despite several injuries to key players that restricted their playoff run, including Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
The Lions debuted updated uniforms with a classic font including a new alternate consisting of blue lettering on black jerseys and matching black pants and black socks and a blue helmet with a black lion graphic.Detroit Lions unveil new jerseys ahead of the 2024 season WJRT-TV (ABC 12), April 18, 2024 After the season, both of the Lions coordinators, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn left to become head coaches. Johnson went on to become head coach of the NFC North rival Bears while Glenn went on to become the Jets head coach.
Player movements Free agents PositionPlayerFree agencytagDate signed2024 teamSource OG Kayode Awosika ERFA March 13 Detroit Lions DT Tyson Alualu UFA K Michael Badgley UFA February 22 Detroit Lions FB Jason Cabinda UFA LS Scott Daly UFA March 15 Detroit Lions CB Khalil Dorsey RFA March 14 Detroit Lions TE Zach Ertz UFA March 12 Washington Commanders TE Anthony Firkser UFA July 30 New York Jets S C. J. Gardner-Johnson UFA March 14 Philadelphia Eagles G Graham Glasgow UFA March 13 Detroit Lions DE Charles Harris UFA September 11 Carolina Panthers CB Will Harris UFA May 1 New Orleans Saints OLB James Houston ERFA March 13 Detroit Lions RB Mohamed Ibrahim UFA August 22 Minnesota Vikings G Jonah Jackson UFA March 14 Los Angeles Rams CB Jerry Jacobs RFA July 27 Los Angeles Rams DT Benito Jones RFA March 18 Miami Dolphins RB Zonovan Knight ERFA March 7 Detroit Lions CB Chase Lucas ERFA March 18 San Francisco 49ers OLB Jalen Reeves-Maybin UFA February 27 Detroit Lions LS Jake McQuaide UFA October 15 Chicago Bears CB Emmanuel Moseley UFA March 7 Detroit Lions OT Matt Nelson UFA March 21 New York Giants WR Donovan Peoples-Jones UFA March 18 Detroit Lions OLB Anthony Pittman RFA March 14 Washington Commanders RB Craig Reynolds ERFA March 10 Detroit Lions WR Josh Reynolds UFA March 28 Denver Broncos OT Dan Skipper UFA March 14 Detroit Lions QB Nate Sudfeld UFA March 27 Detroit Lions G Halapoulivaati Vaitai UFA CB Kindle Vildor UFA April 3 Detroit Lions TE Brock Wright RFA April 3 Detroit Lions TE Shane Zylstra RFA March 4 Detroit Lions
Additions Position Player Previous team Date Source G Netane Muti Las Vegas Raiders February 6 Detroit Lions sign young offensive lineman to futures deal Pride of Detroit, February 7, 2024 WR Tre'Quan Smith Denver Broncos February 7 Lions Sign WR Tre'Quan Smith to Reserve/Futures Contract Sports Illustrated, February 7, 2024 LB Mathieu Betts BC Lions (CFL) February 13 DE Marcus Davenport Minnesota Vikings March 14 CB Carlton Davis Tampa Bay Buccaneers March 13 New Lions CB Carlton Davis wants to create Bulls, Lakers-like dynasty in Detroit Detroit Free Press, March 13, 2024 TE Parker Hesse Atlanta Falcons March 13 CB Amik Robertson Las Vegas Raiders March 14 DT D. J. Reader Cincinnati Bengals March 14 Detroit Lions sign run-stuffer D.J. Reader — their 4th key defensive addition of offseason Detroit Free Press, March 13, 2024 G Kevin ZeitlerBaltimore RavensMarch 18 WR Kaden Davis Arizona Cardinals May 13 Lions sign WR Kaden Davis NBC Sports, May 12, 2024 LB Ben Niemann Denver Broncos June 10 K Jake Bates Michigan Panthers (UFL) June 18 Detroit Lions sign record-breaking UFL kicker Jake Bates to two-year deal CBS Sports, June 18, 2024 DT David Bada Washington Commanders July 25 OG Jake Burton Michigan Panthers (UFL) July 31 Report: Lions to Sign OL Jake Burton Sports Illustrated, July 31, 2024 QB Jake Fromm Washington Commanders August 12 LB Trevor Nowaske Arizona Cardinals August 27 Lions claim LB Trevor Nowaske off waivers, sign 15 players to practice squad NBC Sports, August 28, 2024
Trades On March 13, the Lions acquired cornerback Carlton Davis, a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which Tampa Bay used to select Jalen McMillan. On November 5, the Lions acquired defensive end Za'Darius Smith and a 7th round pick in the 2026 NFL draft from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 5th and 6th round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.Za'Darius Smith Traded to Detroit Lions Sports Illustrated, November 5, 2024
Releases
PositionPlayer2024 teamRelease dateSource S Tracy Walker San Francisco 49ers February 20 CBCameron Sutton Pittsburgh SteelersMarch 21WRAntoine GreenDetroit LionsAugust 12LSScott Daly Chicago BearsAugust 26It's official: Scott Daly arrives at Halas Hall to be the Chicago Bears’ emergency replacement at long snapper Chicago Tribune, August 29, 2024RBZonovan Knight New York JetsAugust 26Lions waive third-year running back after preseason struggles MLive.com, August 26, 2024QBNate Sudfeld August 27CBSteven Gilmore Jr. August 27Detroit Lions cut top UDFA from last season MLive.com, August 27, 2024WRMaurice Alexander Detroit LionsAugust 27Maurice Alexander Cut by Detroit Fox Sports, August 27, 2024TEParker Hesse November 2Lions release Parker Hesse, sign two to active roster Yahoo! Sports, November 2, 2024WRIsaiah Williams Cincinnati BengalsNovember 7Lions Release Undrafted WR Isaiah Williams for Jameson Williams’ Return BVM Sports, November 7, 2024LBJames Houston Cleveland BrownsNovember 26
Retirements PositionPlayerDate retiredSourceQBTeddy BridgewaterFebruary 2, 2024QBDavid BloughFebruary 15, 2024DERomeo OkwaraMarch 19, 2024OGMichael SchofieldSeptember 5, 2024
Draft
Detroit hosted the draft this year and recorded the highest attendance ever with over 700,000 visitors for the three-day event.Detroit has obliterated the NFL draft attendance record MLive.com, April 27, 2024
+ 2024 Detroit Lions draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes Source 1 24 Terrion Arnold CB Alabama From Cowboys 29 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys 2 61 Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB Missouri 3 73 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys From Vikings 92 Traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4 126 Giovanni Manu OT UBC From Packers via Jets 129 Traded to the Minnesota Vikings 132 Sione Vaki RB Utah Compensatory selection; from 49ers via Eagles 5 164 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles 6 189 Mekhi Wingo DT LSU From Broncos via Rams, Bills and Texans 201 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles From Buccaneers 205 Traded to the Houston Texans 210 Christian Mahogany G Boston College Compensatory selection; from Eagles Detroit Lions add Boston College OL Christian Mahogany at No. 210 in Round 6 of NFL draft Detroit Free Press, April 27, 2024 7 249 Traded to the Houston Texans Draft trades
+ 2024 Detroit Lions undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Jalon Calhoun WR Duke Detroit Lions' 2024 Undrafted Free-Agent Tracker Sports Illustrated, April 28, 2024 Steele Chambers LB Ohio State Duke Clemens C UCLA Kingsley Eguakun C Florida Chelen Garnes S Wake Forest DaRon Gilbert LB Northern Illinois Hogan Hatten LS Idaho Bryan Hudson C Louisville Nate Lynn OLB William & Mary Morice Norris Jr. CB Fresno State Isaac Rex TE BYU Loren Strickland S Ball State James Turner K Michigan Isaac Ukwu OLB Ole Miss Isaiah Williams WR Illinois
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Giants L 3–14 0–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 2 at Kansas City Chiefs W 24–23 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–17 2–1 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 Los Angeles Rams W 26–20 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 September 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 16–20 1–1 Ford Field Recap 3 September 22 at Arizona Cardinals W 20–13 2–1 State Farm Stadium Recap 4 Seattle Seahawks W 42–29 3–1 Ford Field Recap 5 Bye 6 October 13 at Dallas Cowboys W 47–9 4–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 7 October 20 at Minnesota Vikings W 31–29 5–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 8 October 27 Tennessee Titans W 52–14 6–1 Ford Field Recap 9 November 3 at Green Bay Packers W 24–14 7–1 Lambeau Field Recap 10 November 10 at Houston Texans W 26–23 8–1 NRG Stadium Recap 11 November 17 Jacksonville Jaguars W 52–6 9–1 Ford Field Recap 12 November 24 at Indianapolis Colts W 24–6 10–1 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 13 November 28 Chicago Bears W 23–20 11–1 Ford Field Recap 14 Green Bay Packers W 34–31 12–1 Ford Field Recap 15 December 15 Buffalo Bills L 42–48 12–2 Ford Field Recap 16 December 22 at Chicago Bears W 34–17 13–2 Soldier Field Recap 17 at San Francisco 49ers W 40–34 14–2 Levi's Stadium Recap 18 January 5 Minnesota Vikings W 31–9 15–2 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams