The 1971 Detroit Lions season was their 42nd in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 10–4, winning only seven games.
Mired in adversity, the 1971 season turned especially tragic for the Lions and the NFL when, during their week 6 game hosting the Chicago Bears, wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed on the playing field. Unresponsive, Hughes was pronounced dead later that day of heart failure. Since 1971, no Detroit player has worn Hughes' #85 jersey, save by special permission of the Hughes family, although his number 85 is not officially retired by the Lions.
Offseason
NFL draft
Notes
Detroit traded QB Greg Barton to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' second-round selection (30th) and second- and third-round selections in 1972. Detroit traded DE Denis Moore to Philadelphia in exchange for the Eagles' sixth-round selection (150th). Detroit traded its tenth-round selection (256th) to Philadelphia in exchange for DB Len Persin.
Personnel Staff / coaches
Roster 1971 Detroit Lions final roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams Reserve lists
Taxi Squad
40 active, 9 reserve, 4 practice / taxi squad
rookies in italics
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 Minnesota Vikings L 13–16 0–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418 2 September 26 at New England Patriots W 34–7 1–1 Schaefer Stadium 61,057 3 October 3 Atlanta Falcons W 41–38 2–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418 4 October 10 Green Bay Packers W 31–28 3–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418 5 October 17 at Houston Oilers W 31–7 4–1 Astrodome 45,885 6 October 24 Chicago Bears L 23–28 4–2 Tiger Stadium 54,418 7 at Green Bay Packers T 14–14 4–2–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,961 8 November 7 at Denver Broncos W 24–20 5–2–1 Mile High Stadium 51,200 9 November 14 Los Angeles Rams L 13–21 5–3–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418 10 November 21 at Chicago Bears W 28–3 6–3–1 Soldier Field 55,049 11 November 25 Kansas City Chiefs W 32–21 7–3–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418 12 December 5 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–23 7–4–1 Tiger Stadium 54,418 13 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–29 7–5–1 Metropolitan Stadium 49,784 14 December 19 at San Francisco 49ers L 27–31 7–6–1 Candlestick Park 45,580 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Season summary
Week 6
Chuck Hughes became the first NFL player to die on the field during a game.
References
External links 1971 Detroit Lions at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1971 Detroit Lions at JT-SW.com 1971 Detroit Lions at the Football Database