1988 Detroit Lions season

1988 Detroit Lions season
OwnerWilliam Clay Ford Sr.
General managerRuss Thomas
Head coachDarryl Rogers
Wayne Fontes
Home fieldPontiac Silverdome
Results
Record4–12
Division place4th NFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersLB Mike Cofer
P Jim Arnold
AP All-ProsP Jim Arnold (2nd team)

The 1988 Detroit Lions season was the 59th season in franchise history. The team fell a step further from their 4–11 record in the strike-affected 1987 season, losing 12 of 16 games and suffering their fifth successive losing record. Head coach Darryl Rogers, who had served since 1985, was fired after 11 games and replaced by defensive coordinator Wayne Fontes.[1]

The 1988 Lions’ offense was historically inept; their 3,405 offensive yards gained is the second-lowest all-time in a 16-game season, and the lowest total of the 1980s.[2] Their 220 points scored (13.75 per game) is the fifth-fewest of the 1980s.[3] They scored 20 or more points only three times all season.

  1. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 114
  2. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Total Yds.
  3. ^ In a 16-game season, Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1980 to 1989, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For.