2001 Detroit Lions season
The 2001 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 72nd List of [Detroit Lions seasons|season] in the National Football League. Marty Mornhinweg was named the 21st head coach in franchise history on January 21, 2001, after owner William Clay Ford Sr. controversially fired 2000 interim coach Gary Moeller.
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 before they defeated the Minnesota Vikings season|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 2008 [Green Bay Packers season|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, as well as the final season for the NFC Central Division, which would dissolve following the NFL's realignment in 2002, although all NFC Central teams except List of [Tampa Bay Buccaneers seasons|the Tampa Bay Buccaneers] formed the new NFC North Division.
The Lions closed the Silverdome by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 15–10 in the regular season finale. Coincidentally, the Cowboys defeated the Lions 36–10 in the first regular season game at the Silverdome in 1975.
This would also be the first season under new general manager Matt Millen, as he would be the team's general manager 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 general manager.
Offseason
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
| Neo Aoga | Quarterback | Azusa Pacific |
| Brad Bohn | Kicker | Utah State |
| Matt Childers | Defensive end | USC |
| Eugene Clinton | Safety | Mississippi State |
| Keith Cottrell | Punter | Florida State |
| Will Cuthbert | Tackle | Alabama |
| Versie Gaddis | Wide receiver | Indiana |
| Dennis Gibbs | Cornerback | Idaho |
| Toby Golliday | Defensive tackle | Mississippi State |
| Anthony Herron | Defensive end | Iowa |
| Chidi Iwuoma | Cornerback | California |
| Khary Jackson | Tight end | Oklahoma State |
| Ligarius Jennings | Cornerback | Tennessee State |
| Sly Johnson | Wide receiver | Miami (OH) |
| Loran Kaiser | Defensive tackle | Nebraska |
| Dustin Kroeker | Tackle | Cal Poly |
| Josh Lovelady | Guard | Houston |
| Donald Malloy | Safety | New Mexico State |
| Rich Mazza | Guard | Rutgers |
| Andre Offing | Linebacker | East Carolina |
| Jonathan Ordway | Cornerback | Boston College |
| Darnell Robinson | Linebacker | Oregon State |
| Wayne Rogers | Linebacker | Houston |
| Stephen Trejo | Fullback | Arizona State |
| Eric Wilson | Defensive tackle | Michigan |