1977 Detroit Lions season

The 1977 Detroit Lions season was their 48th in the National Football League (NFL). The team matched their previous season's output of 6–8.[1] The team missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season. The Lions struggled offensively, scoring a mere 183 points while finishing in third place with a 6–8 record for the second straight season.

1977 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Tommy Hudspeth
General manager	Russ Thomas
Owner	William Clay Ford, Sr.
Home field	Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record	6–8
Division place	3rd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

The 1977 coaching staff included 25-year-old assistant special teams and offensive assistant coach Bill Belichick. Belichick would later win two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator with the New York Giants following the 1986 and 1990 seasons, and six more as head coach of the New England Patriots.

Personnel

Staff

1977 Detroit Lions staff

	Front office President – William Clay Ford, Sr. Executive Vice President and General Manager – Russ Thomas Vice President and Assistant General Manager – Roger Lehew Head coaches Head Coach – Tommy Hudspeth Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks/Receivers – Ed Hughes Offensive Backfield – Wally English Offensive Line – John Payne Offensive Assistant – Bill Belichick			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line – Fritz Shurmur Linebackers – Rollie Dotsch Defensive Backfield – Burnie Miller Special teams coaches Special Teams – Floyd Reese Assistant Special Teams – Bill Belichick Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Floyd Reese

[2]

Roster

1977 Detroit Lions roster

	Quarterbacks 16 Gary Danielson 11 Greg Landry Running backs 43 Andy Bolton 24 Dexter Bussey 44 Marv Hubbard 32 Rick Kane 25 Horace King 34 Eddie Payton Wide receivers 89 Luther Blue 86 J. D. Hill 45 Ray Jarvis 39 Leonard Thompson Tight ends 81 David Hill 87 Bill Larson 88 Charlie Sanders		Offensive linemen 60 Lynn Boden G 73 Russ Bolinger G 76 Rocky Freitas T 71 Craig Hertwig T 68 Mark Markovich C 63 Jon Morris C 75 Jim Yarbrough T Defensive linemen 78 Doug English DT 83 Jim Mitchell DE 88 Herb Orvis DT 72 Ernie Price DE 82 Ken Sanders DE 77 John Woodcock DT		Linebackers 58 Tony Daykin 52 Jim Laslavic 50 Paul Naumoff 55 Ed O'Neil 57 Garth Ten Napel Defensive backs 20 Lem Barney CB 28 James Hunter CB 26 Dick Jauron FS 23 Levi Johnson CB 42 Reggie Pinkney 31 Randy Rich 40 Charlie West SS 21 Walt Williams CB Special teams 17 Mitch Hoopes P 10 Steve Mike-Mayer K 11 Wilbur Summers P		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 18	at Chicago Bears	L 30–20	51,530
2	September 25	New Orleans Saints	W 23–19	51,458
3	October 2	Philadelphia Eagles	W 17–13	57,236
4	October 9	at Minnesota Vikings	L 14–7	45,860
5	October 16	Green Bay Packers	W 10–6	78,452
6	October 23	at San Francisco 49ers	L 28–7	39,392
7	October 30	at Dallas Cowboys	L 37–0	63,160
8	November 6	San Diego Chargers	W 20–0	72,559
9	November 13	at Atlanta Falcons	L 17–6	47,461
10	November 20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 16–7	49,751
11	November 24	Chicago Bears	L 31–14	71,373
12	December 4	at Green Bay Packers	L 10–9	56,267
13	December 11	at Baltimore Colts	W 13–10	45,124
14	December 17	Minnesota Vikings	L 30–21	78,572

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Minnesota Vikings^(3)	9	5	0	.643	6–1	8–4	231	227	W1
Chicago Bears^(4)	9	5	0	.643	6–1	8–4	255	253	W6
Detroit Lions	6	8	0	.429	2–5	4–8	183	252	L1
Green Bay Packers	4	10	0	.286	2–5	4–7	134	219	W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2	12	0	.143	0–4	2–11	103	223	W2

References

1. 1977 Detroit Lions
2. "Executive and coaching staff profiles". 1977 Detroit Lions Media Guide. pp. 3–10.