Detroit Lions
| Portsmouth Spartans |
| 1930 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 8th NFL | The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932 |
| 1931 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2nd NFL |
| 1932 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3rd NFL | # |
| 1933 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| Detroit Lions |
| 1934 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1935 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1st NFL West | Won NFL Championship (Giants) |
| 1936 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3rd NFL West | -- |
| 1937 | 7 | 4 | 0 | T-2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1938 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1939 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3rd NFL West | -- |
| 1940 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3rd NFL West | -- |
| 1941 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 3rd NFL West | - |
| 1942 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5th NFL West | -- |
| 1943 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3rd NFL West | -- |
| 1944 | 6 | 3 | 1 | T-2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1945 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1946 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 5th NFL West | -- |
| 1947 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 5th NFL West | -- |
| 1948 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 5th NFL West | -- |
| 1949 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4th NFL West | -- |
| 1950 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4th NFL NFC | -- |
| 1951 | 7 | 4 | 1 | T-2nd NFL NFC | -- |
| 1952 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1st NFL NFC | Won National Conference Playoff (L.A. Rams)
Won NFL Championship (Browns) |
| 1953 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1st NFC West | Won NFL Championship (Browns) |
| 1954 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1st NFL West | Lost NFL Championship (Browns) |
| 1955 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 6th NFL West | -- |
| 1956 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1957 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1st NFL West | Won Western Conference Playoff (49ers)
Won NFL Championship (Browns) |
| 1958 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 5th NFL West | -- |
| 1959 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 5th NFL West | -- |
| 1960 | 7 | 5 | 0 | T-2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1961 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1962 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2nd NFL West | -- |
| 1963 | 5 | 8 | 1 | T-4th NFL West | -- |
| 1964 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4th NFL West | -- |
| 1965 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 6th NFL West | -- |
| 1966 | 4 | 9 | 1 | T-6th NFL West | -- |
| 1967 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 3rd NFL Central | -- |
| 1968 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 4th NFL Central | -- |
| 1969 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2nd NFL Central | -- |
| 1970 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) |
| 1971 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1972 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1973 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1974 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1975 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1976 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1977 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1978 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1979 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 1980 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1981 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | -- |
| 1982 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8th NFC Conf. | Lost First Round (Redskins) |
| 1983 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) |
| 1984 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1985 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1986 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1987 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 1988 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1989 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1990 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | -- |
| 1991 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys)
Lost Conference Championship (Redskins) |
| 1992 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 1993 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1st NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) |
| 1994 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) |
| 1995 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 2nd NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) |
| 1996 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 1997 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Buccaneers) |
| 1998 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 1999 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NFC Central | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Redskins) |
| 2000 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4th NFC Central | -- |
| 2001 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 5th NFC Central | -- |
| 2002 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4th NFC North | -- |
| 2003 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th NFC North | -- |
| 2004 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 3rd NFC North | -- |
| 2005 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 3rd NFC North | -- |
| 541 | 32 | (including NFL playoffs)
#=The result of the 1932 NFL Playoff Game to determine the NFL champion between the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans counted in the standings.Current roster* 7 Dutch Clark, QB (1963)
* 35 Bill Dudley, HB (1966)
* 22 Bobby Layne, QB (1967)
* 50 Alex Wojciechowicz, C, LB (1968)
* 14 Jack Christiansen, DB (1970)
* 56 Joe Schmidt, LB (1973)
* 81 Dick "Night Train" Lane, DB (1974)
* 28 Yale Lary, DB, P (1979)
* 37 Doak Walker, HB (1986)
* 20 Lem Barney, DB (1992)
* 76 Lou Creekmur, G, T (1996)
* 20 Barry Sanders, RB (2004)Retired numbers*Dutch Clark (7)
*Lem Barney (20)
*Billy Sims (20)
*Barry Sanders (20)
**Note: The #20 was retired specifically for Sanders, but most people recognize the retired number as representing Barney and Sims, both of whom are noteworthy Lions, as well.
*Bobby Layne (22)
*Doak Walker (37)
*Joe Schmidt (56)
**Note: The #56 was unretired with Schmidt's blessing when the Lions acquired linebacker Pat Swilling from the Saints. No player has worn it since Swilling left.
*Chuck Hughes (85)
**Note: Hughes died of a heart attack during a game on October 24, 1971, and his number was unofficially retired in that no player has worn it since. Receiver Kevin Johnson wore #85 during his stint in Detroit after asking permission from the Hughes family as he had worn that number throughout his professional career.
*Charlie Sanders (88)
**Note: The #88 has been in and out of the rotation in recent years. Currently, it is being used by wide receiver Mike Williams.Other notable alumni{|valign="top"
*Eric Andolsek
*Jerry Ball
*Lomas Brown
*Roger Brown
*Jeff Chadwick
*Harry Colon
*Chip Cox
*Keith Dorney
*Mel Farr
*Alex Karras
*Erik Kramer
*Greg Landry|width="35"|valign="top"
*Dick LeBeau
*Chuck Long
*Earl Morrall
*Herman Moore
*Rodney Peete
*Milt Plum
*Robert Porcher
*Glenn Presnell
*Chris Spielman
*Pat Swilling
*Mike Utley
*Wayne Walker |
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