1997 Detroit Lions season

1997 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford Sr.
General managerChuck Schmidt
Head coachBobby Ross
Home fieldPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record9–7
Division place3rd NFC Central
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Buccaneers) 10–20
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros
4
  • WR Herman Moore (1st team)
  • RB Barry Sanders (1st team)
  • DE Robert Porcher (1st team)
  • K Jason Hanson (2nd team)
Uniform

The 1997 Detroit Lions season was their 68th in the National Football League (NFL).

The Lions rebounded from a disastrous 1996 season, finishing 9–7 and qualifying for the playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons – the best stretch in franchise history.

Bobby Ross replaced Wayne Fontes as head coach. The highlight of the season was Barry Sanders becoming the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season. Sanders shared the 1997 Associated Press MVP Award with Packers quarterback Brett Favre.

As a team, the Lions set an NFL rushing record, gaining 5.51 yards per rushing attempt.[1] The Lions scored 379 points in 1997, the fourth-most of any team in the league.[2]