1972 Detroit Lions season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Detroit Lions 1972 8–5–1 2nd NFC Central Joe Schmidt Did not qualify Lions seasons The 1972 Detroit Lions season was their 43rd in the National Football League (NFL). The team improved on their previous season's output of 7–6–1, winning eight games.1972 Detroit Lions The team missed the playoffs for the second straight season. It would also be the team's last winning season until 1980 Linebacker Wayne Walker established a new team record for games played at 200. It was also the final season for longtime defensive back Dick LeBeau. Offseason NFL draft 1972 NFL draft 1972 Detroit Lions 1 16 Herb Orvis DE Colorado yes 3 65 Ken Sanders DE Howard Payne from Philadelphia yes 6 145 Charlie Potts DB Purdue yes 7 172 Charles Stoudmire WR Portland State no 8 197 Henry Stuckey DB Missouri no 9 224 Bill McClintock DB Drake no 10 249 Jim Teal LB Purdue yes 11 276 Bob Waldron DT Tulane no 12 301 Paul Bradley WR SMU no 13 328 John Kirschner TE Memphis State no 14 353 Eric Kelley OT Whitworth no 15 380 Steve Roach LB Kansas no 16 405 Leon Jenkins DB West Virginia yes 17 432 Mike Tyler DB Rice no no Notes Detroit traded QB Greg Barton to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second- and third-round selections (40th and 65th) and second-round selection in 1971. Detroit traded the 40th selection received from Philadelphia to Atlanta in exchange for RB Paul Gipson. Detroit traded its second-round selection (41st) to Atlanta in exchange for CB Rudy Redmond, RB Sonny Campbell and Atlanta's fourth-round selection in 1973. Detroit traded its third-round selection (68th) to Philadelphia in exchange for QB Bill Cappleman. Detroit traded its fourth-round selection (93rd) to Dallas in exchange for WR Ron Jessie. Detroit traded its fifth-round selection (120th) to Los Angeles in exchange for DT Dick Evey. Personnel Staff / Coaches 1972 Detroit Lions Owner - William Clay Ford, Sr. Vice President / General manager - Russ Thomas Executive Vice President - Edwin J. Anderson Treasurer - Newton S. Peters Publicity Director / Business Manager - Lyall Smith Assistant Publicity Director - Elliott Trumbull Equipment manager - Roy Marklem Assistant equipment manager - Charles "Rip" Collins Head coach – Joe Schmidt Offensive Coordinator / Backs - Bill McPeak Offensive Line - Chuck Knox Wide Receivers - Johnny North Defensive Coordinator / Secondary - Jim David Defensive Line / Linebackers / Special teams - Jim Martin Trainer - Kent Falb Assistant Trainer - Dave Smith https://archive.org/details/lions-1972-media-guide-detroit-c/page/n3/mode/2up 1972 Detroit Lions official guide July 11, 2026 https://www.profootballarchives.com/1972nfldet.html#gsc.tab=0 1972 Detroit Lions ProFootballArchives.com July 11, 2026 Final roster 1972 Detroit Lions roster Quarterbacks 11 Greg Landry 19 Bill Munson Running backs 40 Nick Eddy 24 Mel Farr 42 Altie Taylor 38 Bill Triplett 34 Mickey Zofko Wide receivers 86 Al Barnes wide receiver 89 Ron Jessie 25 Earl McCullouch 49 Larry Walton Tight ends 87 Craig Cotton 88 Charlie Sanders Offensive linemen 54 Ed Flanagan American football C 76 Rocky Freitas T 68 Frank Gallagher American football G 58 Gene Hamlin C 64 Gordon Jolley T 66 Bob Kowalkowski G 67 Rocky Rasley G 71 Chuck Walton G Defensive linemen 73 Bob Bell American football DT 74 Larry Hand DE 83 Jim Mitchell defensive lineman DE 80 Herb Orvis y DT 82 Ken Sanders American football y DE 71 Bob Tatarek DT Linebackers 53 Mike Lucci MLB 50 Paul Naumoff OLB 55 Wayne Walker linebacker OLB 59 Charlie Weaver OLB 51 Adrian Young American football MLB Defensive backs 20 Lem Barney CB 44 Dick LeBeau FS 27 Charlie Potts y SS 45 Al Randolph FS 46 Rudy Redmond CB 28 Mike Weger FS Special teams 12 Errol Mann K 18 Herman Weaver P Reserve lists 48 Sonny Campbell RB IR 62 Ed Mooney LB IR 36 Steve Owens American football RB IR 47 Wayne Rasmussen S IR 84 Joe Schmiesing DT IR 57 Jim Teal y LB IR 65 Dave Thompson American football C IR 72 Larry Woods DT IR 75 Jim Yarbrough T offensive lineman IR Taxi Squad 17 Bill Cappleman QB 77 John Gordon American football y DT 81 John Hilton American football TE 31 Leon Jenkins y CB 21 Jim Thrower S 40 active, 9 reserve, 5 practice / taxi squad rookies in italics Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Attendance 1 September 17 New York Giants W 30–16 54,418 2 September 24 Minnesota Vikings L 10-34 54,418 3 October 1 at Chicago Bears W 38–24 55,701 4 October 8 at Atlanta Falcons W 26–23 58,850 5 October 16 Green Bay Packers L 23-24 54,418 6 October 22 San Diego Chargers W 34–20 54,371 7 October 30 at Dallas Cowboys L 24-28 65,378 8 November 5 Chicago Bears W 14–0 54,418 9 November 12 at Minnesota Vikings L 14-16 49,784 10 November 19 New Orleans Saints W 27–14 53,752 11 November 23 New York Jets W 37–20 54,418 12 December 3 at Green Bay Packers L 7-33 56,263 13 December 10 at Buffalo Bills T 21–21 41,583 14 December 17 at Los Angeles Rams W 34–17 71,761 Season summary Week 13 at Bills 1972 Buffalo Bills season Detroit Lions 1972 2; text-align:center collapsed Week Thirteen: Detroit Lions (7–5) at Buffalo Bills (3–9) December 10 1:00 p.m. EST Lions 0 7 7 7 Bills 0 7 7 7 War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York 41,583 32 F C Box Score First quarter No scoring Second quarter DET – Earl McCullouch 9-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Lions 7–0. Drive: BUF – J.D. Hill 58-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). Tie 7–7. Drive: Third quarter BUF – Bob Chandler 39-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). Bills 14–7. Drive: DET – Nick Eddy 36-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Tie 14–14. Drive: Fourth quarter BUF – Jan White 2-yard pass from Dennis Shaw (John Leypoldt kick). Bills 21–14. Drive: DET – Ron Jessie 37-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Tie 21–21. Drive: Top passers DET – Greg Landry – 8/25, 150 yards, 3 TD BUF – Dennis Shaw – 18/32, 239 yards, 3 TD Top rushers DET – Greg Landry – 9 rushes, 46 yards BUF – O.J. Simpson – 27 rushes, 116 yards Top receivers DET – Ron Jessie – 2 receptions, 51 yards, TD BUF – J.D. Hill – 8 receptions, 129 yards, TD Standings See also 1972 in Michigan References External links 1972 Detroit Lions at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1972 Detroit Lions at JT-SW.com 1972 Detroit Lions at The Football Database Category:Detroit Lions seasons Detroit Lions Detroit Lions Category:1972 in Detroit