1971 Detroit Lions season

The 1971 Detroit Lions season was their 42nd in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10–4, winning only seven games.

1971 Detroit Lions season
Head coachJoe Schmidt
Home fieldTiger Stadium
Results
Record7–6–1
Division place2nd NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Mired in adversity, the 1971 season turned especially tragic for the Lions and the NFL when, during their week 6 hosting of the Chicago Bears, Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed on the playing field. Unresponsive, Hughes was pronounced dead later that day of heart failure. Since 1971, no Detroit player has worn Hughes' #85 jersey save on special permission of the Hughes family.[1][2]

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 1971 NFL Draft
1971 Detroit Lions draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 21 Bob Bell  DT Cincinnati
2 30 Dave Thompson  C Clemson from Philadelphia
2 48 Charlie Weaver  LB USC
3 72 Al Clark  DB Eastern Michigan
4 100 Larry Woods  DT Tennessee State
5 125 Pete Newell  G Michigan
6 150 Frank Harris  QB Boston College from Philadelphia
6 152 Herman Franklin  WR USC
7 177 Brownie Wheless  OT Rice
8 204 Ken Lee  LB Washington
9 229 Mickey Zofko  RB Auburn
11 281 Phil Webb  DB Colorado State
12 308 Bill Pilconis  WR Pittsburgh
13 332 David Abercrombie  RB Tulane
14 360 Tom Lorenz  TE Iowa State
15 385 Ed Coates  WR Central Missouri
16 411 Tom Kutchinski  DB Michigan State
17 436 Gordon Jolley  OT Utah
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Notes

  • Detroit traded QB Greg Barton to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second-round selection (30th) and second- and third-round selections in 1972.
  • Detroit traded DE Denis Moore to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' sixth-round selection (150th).
  • Detroit traded its tenth-round selection (256th) to Philadelphia in exchange for DB Len Persin.

Roster
Detroit Lions roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • currently vacant

rookies in italics

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 20 Minnesota Vikings L 13–16 0–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418
2 September 26 at New England Patriots W 34–7 1–1 Schaefer Stadium 61,057
3 October 3 Atlanta Falcons W 41–38 2–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418
4 October 10 Green Bay Packers W 31–28 3–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418
5 October 17 at Houston Oilers W 31–7 4–1 Astrodome 45,885
6 October 24 Chicago Bears L 23–28 4–2 Tiger Stadium 54,418
7 November 1 at Green Bay Packers T 14–14 4–2–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,961
8 November 7 at Denver Broncos W 24–20 5–2–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200
9 November 14 Los Angeles Rams L 13–21 5–3–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418
10 November 21 at Chicago Bears W 28–3 6–3–1 Soldier Field 55,049
11 November 25 Kansas City Chiefs W 32–21 7–3–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418
12 December 5 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–23 7–4–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418
13 December 11 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–29 7–5–1 Metropolitan Stadium 49,784
14 December 19 at San Francisco 49ers L 27–31 7–6–1 Candlestick Park 45,580

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings
NFC Central
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Minnesota Vikings 11 3 0 .786 5–1 9–2 245 139 W2
Detroit Lions 7 6 1 .538 2–3–1 3–6–1 341 286 L2
Chicago Bears 6 8 0 .429 2–4 5–6 185 276 L5
Green Bay Packers 4 8 2 .333 2–3–1 2–7–2 274 298 L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Week 6
See also: 1971 Chicago Bears season and Bears–Lions rivalry
Week Six: Chicago Bears (3–2) at Detroit Lions (4–1)
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 7 14 0728
Lions 6 14 3023

at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Chuck Hughes became the first NFL player to die on the field during a game.

References
  1. "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  2. "1971 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
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