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2001 Detroit Lions season
Head Coach Marty Mornhinweg
General Manager Matt Millen
Home Field Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record 2–14
Place 5th NFC Central
Playoff Finish Did not qualify
Uniform
275px
Timeline
Previous season Next season
2000 2002

The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 72nd season in the National Football League. Marty Mornhinweg was named the twenty-first head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001,[1] after owner William Clay Ford, Sr. controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller.[2]

The season began with much optimism, with the Lions hoping to improve on their 9–7 record from 2000; however, the Lions were extremely disappointing and had the worst start to an NFL season since the 1986 Indianapolis Colts began 0–13. They were widely believed to be likely to suffer the NFL’s first 0–16 season[3] before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to that, they had lost an NFL record nine consecutive games by eight points or less.[3]

Seven seasons later, the Lions went 0–16 after a week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. [4]

This was the final season that the Lions played at the Pontiac Silverdome before moving to Ford Field the following season, as well as the final season for the NFC Central Division, which would dissolve following the NFL's realignment in 2002.

This would also be the first season under new general manager Matt Millen, as he would be the team's GM for the next six seasons and first 3 games of the 2008 season. This would start a stage of futility for the Lions, as they would fail to post a winning record with Millen as GM.

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

2001 Detroit Lions draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 18 Jeff Backus  Offensive tackle Michigan
2 50 Dominic Raiola  Center Nebraska
2 61 Shaun Rogers *  Defensive tackle Texas
5 148 Scotty Anderson  Wide receiver Grambling State
5 149 Mike McMahon  Quarterback Rutgers
6 173 Jason Glenn  Linebacker Texas A&M
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[5]

Undrafted free agents[]

2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Josh Lovelady Guard Houston

Personnel[]

Staff[]

2001 Detroit Lions staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs – Maurice Carthon
  • Quarterbacks – Kevin Higgins
  • Wide Receivers – Larry Kirksey
  • Tight Ends – Sean Kugler
  • Offensive Line – Carl Mauck
  • Offensive Assistant/Quality Control – Mike McHugh
Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Vince Tobin
  • Defensive Line – Bill Young
  • Assistant Defensive Line/Pass Rush Specialist – Charles Haley
  • Linebackers – Glenn Pires
  • Defensive Backs – Richard Selcer
  • Defensive Assistant/Quality Control – Don Clemons

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Chuck Priefer

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Jason Arapoff
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Malcolm Blacken

[6]

Roster[]

2001 Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

  • 15 Latef Grim WR
  • 53 Wayne Rogers LB


Rookies in italics
53 Active, 3 Inactive, 4 Practice squad

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.com
recap
1 September 9 at Green Bay Packers L 6–28 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap
2 September 23 at Cleveland Browns L 14–24 0–2 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
3 Bye
4 October 8 St. Louis Rams L 0–35 0–3 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
5 October 14 at Minnesota Vikings L 26–31 0–4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap
6 October 21 Tennessee Titans L 24–27 0–5 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
7 October 28 Cincinnati Bengals L 27–31 0–6 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
8 November 4 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–21 0–7 3Com Park Recap
9 November 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–20 0–8 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
10 November 18 at Arizona Cardinals L 38–45 0–9 Sun Devil Stadium Recap
11 November 22 Green Bay Packers L 27–29 0–10 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
12 December 2 at Chicago Bears L 10–13 0–11 Soldier Field Recap
13 December 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 12–15 0–12 Raymond James Stadium Recap
14 December 16 Minnesota Vikings W 27–24 1–12 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
15 December 23 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–47 1–13 Heinz Field Recap
16 December 30 Chicago Bears L 0–24 1–14 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
17 January 6 Dallas Cowboys W 15 –10 2–14 Pontiac Silverdome Recap

[7]

Standings[]

Template:2001 NFC Central standings

References[]

  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.117
  2. "Mornhinweg Hired To Coach the Lions." New York Times, January 25, 2001. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.
  3. 3.0 3.1 “Infamy Awaits the Lions” in The Free Lance Star, Sunday December 16, 2001; p. C11
  4. https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aAxVc5OuvWyA
  5. "2001 Detroit Lions Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2001_draft.htm. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  6. "Administration and Coaching Staff". 2001 Detroit Lions Media Guide. pp. 4–32.
  7. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2001.htm?redir

External links[]

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