Record 2–14 Playoff finish did not qualify Owner William Clay Ford Sr. | Start date 2001 Home field Silverdome | |
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The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 82nd season in the National Football League.
Marty Mornhinweg was named the twenty-first head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001, after owner William Clay Ford, Sr. had controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller, who remains the only Lions head coach with a winning record since 1972.
Hoping to improve on their 9–7 record from 2000, 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 before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to that, they had lost an NFL record nine consecutive games by eight points or less.
Seven seasons later, the Lions went 0–16 after a week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
This was the final season that the Lions played at the Pontiac Silverdome before moving to Ford Field the following season.