1981 Detroit Lions season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Detroit Lions 1981 8–8 2nd NFC Central Monte Clark Pontiac Silverdome Did not qualify 2 RB Billy Sims DT Doug English 2 RB Billy Sims (2nd team) DT Doug English (2nd team) Lions seasons The 1981 Detroit Lions season was their 52nd in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's record of 9–7, winning eight games.1981 Detroit Lions The Lions started off the first four games even at 2–2. In the fourth game of the season, starting quarterback Gary Danielson suffered a dislocated wrist, which ended his season. Backup quarterback Jeff Komlo finished the game and was named the starter for the next week. In the next two games, Komlo struggled. The Lions lost both of those games. Head Coach Monte Clark made the decision to give third-string quarterback Eric Hipple start on a Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears. In front of approximately 71,000 fans, Clark's gamble paid off as the Lions defeated the Bears 48–17. Star halfback Billy Sims continued to play solid football, amassing 1,888 total yards in total offense while scoring a team-high 14 touchdowns. The Lions had a chance to win the division on the last day against Tampa Bay, but lost and finished in second place in the NFC Central with an 8–8 record. The team missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season. After the season, Jimmy Allen and Luther Bradley retired. Offseason NFL draft 1981 NFL draft 1981 Detroit Lions Draft Draft order Player name Position College Round Selection 1 16 Mark Nichols WR San Jose State 2 46 Curtis Green DE Alabama State 3 72 Don Greco G Western Illinois 4 99 Tracy Porter WR LSU 5 129 Larry Lee DE North Carolina State 6 155 Sam Johnson DB Maryland 7 182 Lee Spivey OT SMU 8 211 Bob Niziolek TE Colorado 9 238 Hugh Jernigan DB Arkansas 9 240 Dave Martin DB Villanova 10 264 Andy Cannavino LB Michigan 11 294 Willie Jackson DB Mississippi State Undrafted free agents + 1981 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBob StachowiczQuarterbackMichigan State Roster 1981 Detroit Lions 16 Gary Danielson 17 Eric Hipple 19 Jeff Komlo 24 Dexter Bussey 31 Ken Callicutt 32 Rick Kane 25 Horace King American football 20 Billy Sims 38 Vince Thompson y 83 Robbie Martin y 86 Mark Nichols American football y 89 Tracy Porter wide receiver y 87 Freddie Scott American football, born 1952 39 Leonard Thompson American football 81 David Hill tight end 80 Ulysses Norris 76 Karl Baldischwiler T 73 Russ Bolinger G 70 Keith Dorney T 61 Homer Elias G 65 Amos Fowler C 68 Tommie Ginn G 64 Larry Lee American football y G/C 55 Tom Turnure C 60 Al Baker DE 74 Joe Ehrmann DT 78 Doug English DT 71 Steve Furness DT 79 William Gay defensive lineman DT 62 Curtis Green y DE 75 Dave Pureifory DE 53 Garry Cobb OLB 57 Ken Fantetti MLB 51 James Harrell American football OLB 50 Terry Tautolo MLB 52 Stan White linebacker OLB 40 Jimmy Allen American football FS 27 Luther Bradley SS 26 Hector Gray American football CB 35 Alvin Hall safety y FS 28 James Hunter American football CB 23 Ray Oldham SS 44 Wayne Smith defensive back CB  3 Eddie Murray American football K  1 Tom Skladany P 77 Curley Culp DT IR 72 Chris Dieterich T IR 67 Don Greco y G IR -- Willie Jackson no y CB IR -- DeWayne Jett no WR IR 84 Jesse Thompson American football WR IR 54 Steve Towle LB IR 30 Ray Williams American football WR IR Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance 1 September 6 San Francisco 49ers W 24–171–0 63,710 2 September 13 at San Diego Chargers L 28–231–1 51,264 3 September 20 at Minnesota Vikings L 26–241–2 45,350 4 September 27 Oakland Raiders W 16–02–2 77,919 5 October 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 28–102–3 71,733 6 October 11 at Denver Broncos L 27–212–4 74,816 7 October 19, 1981 Chicago Bears W 48–173–4 71,273 8 October 25 Green Bay Packers W 31–274–4 76,063 9 November 1 at Los Angeles Rams L 20–134–5 61,814 10 November 8 at Washington Redskins L 33–314–6 52,096 11 November 15 Dallas Cowboys W 27–245–6 79,694 12 November 22 at Chicago Bears W 23–76–6 50,082 13 November 26, 1981 Kansas City Chiefs W 27–107–6 76,735 14 December 6 at Green Bay Packers L 31–177–7 54,481 15 December 12, 1981 Minnesota Vikings W 45–78–7 79,428 16 December 20 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 20–178–8 80,444Note: Intra-division games are in bold text Week 13 Chiefs 7 0 3 0 Lions 7 10 3 7 November 26 Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan 12:30 p.m. Indoors (dome) Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen NBC yes 1 DET David Hill 10 yard pass from Eric Hipple (Eddie Murray kick) DET 7–0 1 KC Billy Jackson 4 yard run (Nick Lowery kick) Tie 7–7 2 DET Eddie Murray 34 yard field goal DET 10–7 2 DET Freddie Scott 40 yard pass from Eric Hipple (Eddie Murray kick) DET 17–7 3 KC Nick Lowery 33 yard field goal DET 17–10 3 DET Eddie Murray 46 yard field goal DET 20–10 4 DET Billy Sims 4 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) DET 27–10 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com Standings References Category:Detroit Lions seasons Detroit Lions Detroit Lions