The 2014 season was the Detroit Lions' 85th in the National Football League (NFL), their 81st as the Detroit Lions and their first under a new coaching staff led by head coach Jim Caldwell. The Lions suffered the passing of long-time owner William Clay Ford Sr., who died on March 9, 2014, at the age of 88, and wore patches with his initials on their jerseys in his honor.Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford Sr. passes away NFL.com, March 9, 2014Lions to wear Ford Sr. jersey patch ESPN, July 21, 2014 After the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Washington Redskins in Week 16, the Lions clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2011. They lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Game 24–20, ending their season. It was their eighth straight playoff loss, tying the Kansas City Chiefs for the longest postseason losing streak in NFL history.
The Lions defense finished second in the NFL in total defense, surrendering just 300.9 yards per game. They also finished third in points per game defense, giving up just 17.6 points a game while leading the NFL in rushing defense, yielding just 69.3 rush yards per game.
Offseason
Coaching staff On December 30, Head coach Jim Schwartz was fired after his fourth losing season in five years.Jim Schwartz fired by Detroit Lions after five seasons NFL.com, December 30, 2013. On January 14, the Lions hired Jim Caldwell as their new head coach. He is the first African American head coach in the franchise's history.Jim Caldwell to be hired by Detroit Lions as next coach NFL.com, January 14, 2014 On January 17, the Lions hired Teryl Austin as defensive coordinator.Detroit Lions hire defensive coordinator, linebackers coach; retain slew of assistants MLive.com, January 17, 2014 On January 18, the Lions hired Ron Prince as assistant head coach and tight ends coach.Detroit Lions add Ron Prince as assistant head coach, tight end coach MLive.com, January 18, 2014 On January 21, the Lions hired Joe Lombardi as offensive coordinator.Detroit Lions hiring Joe Lombardi, Saints QB coach, as offensive coordinator MLive.com, January 21, 2014 On January 25, the Lions hired Robert Prince as receivers coach.Detroit Lions hire ex-Boise State offensive coordinator Robert Prince as receivers coach MLive.com, January 25, 2014
Re-signings Date Player Position Contract SourceMarch 12Kevin OgletreeWide receiver1 year / $795,000Lions re-sign WR Kevin Ogletree prideofdetroit.com, March 12, 2014Joique BellRunning back3 years / $9.3 millionLions agree with RB Joique Bell on a new three-year deal detroitlions.com, March 12, 2014March 14Brandon PettigrewTight end4 years / $16 millionLions agree to terms with TE Pettigrew on new four-year deal detroitlions.com, March 14, 2014March 21Andre FluellenDefensive tackle1 year / $730,000O'Hara: Lions agree to one-year deal with DT Andre Fluellen detroitlions.com, March 21, 2014April 14Rashean MathisCornerback1 year / $565,000Twentyman: Lions agree to terms on a one-year deal with veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis detroitlions.com, April 14, 2014
Additions Date Player Position Previous team Contract SourceMarch 3Corvey IrvinDefensive tackleDallas Cowboys1 year / $730,000Detroit Lions sign ex-Cowboys defensive tackle Corvey Irvin MLive.com, March 3, 2014March 12Golden TateWide receiverSeattle Seahawks5 years / $31 millionGolden Tate, Detroit Lions strike five-year contract NFL.com, March 12, 2014March 13Darryl TappOutside linebackerWashington Redskins1 year / $920,000Free Agent Notebook: Lions sign Tapp; meet with Ihedigbo; sign Martin detroitlions.com, March 13, 2014Vaughn MartinDefensive tackleMiami Dolphins1 year / $795,000March 19Jed CollinsFullbackNew Orleans Saints1 year / $710,000Lions agree to terms with FB Jed Collins detroitlions.com, March 19, 2014March 25James IhedigboSafetyBaltimore Ravens2 years / $3.15 millionSafety James Ihedigbo to join Lions on two-year deal detroitlions.com, March 25, 2014April 2Dan OrlovskyQuarterbackTampa Bay Buccaneers1 year / $920,000Twentyman: Lions find their backup quarterback in Dan Orlovsky detroitlions.com, April 2, 2014April 3J. B. ShugartsOffensive tackleNew York Jets1 year / $420,000Lions add tackle depth to roster detroitlions.com, April 5, 2014April 7Cassius VaughnCornerbackIndianapolis Colts1 year / $730,000Lions sign veteran cornerback detroitlions.com, April 7, 2014April 11Kourtnei BrownDefensive endBuffalo Bills1 year / $420,000Lions claim Kourtnei Brown off waivers detroitlions.com, April 11, 2014April 21Aaron HesterCornerbackDenver Broncos1 year / $420,000Lions sign a pair of defensive backs detroitlions.com, April 21, 2014Nate NessCornerbackCarolina Panthers1 year / $570,000April 22George JohnsonDefensive endMinnesota Vikings1 year / $730,000The Daily Dish: Lions sign DE George Johnson after workout detroitlions.com, April 22, 2014April 25Sherman CarterCenterSan Francisco 49ers1 year / $420,000Lions sign Naaman Roosevelt, Sherman Carter prideofdetroit.com, April 25, 2014Naaman RooseveltWide receiverCleveland Browns1 year / $570,000April 28Jordan ThompsonTight endWest Virginia1 year / $420,000Lions add depth at tight end by signing Jordan Thompson detroitlions.com, April 28, 2014May 12James FranklinQuarterbackMissouriTwentyman: Lions sign 11 undrafted rookie free agents detroitlions.com, May 12, 2014Cornelius LucasOffensive tackleKansas StateAndrew PeacockWide receiverAppalachian StateMohammed SeisayCornerbackNebraskaGabe LynnSafetyOklahomaChad AbramFullbackFlorida StateAlex BullardGuardTennesseeD.J. MorrellGuardOld DominionJustin JacksonLinebackerWake ForestJacob MaxwellTight endLouisiana–LafayetteJerome CouplinSafetyWilliam & MaryMay 16Nate FreesePlacekickerBoston College4 years / $2,279,424Lions sign draft picks Nevin Lawson, TJ Jones prideofdetroit.com, May 16, 2014Caraun ReidDefensive tacklePrinceton4 years / $2,408,880Larry Webster IIIDefensive endBloomsburg4 years / $2,545,050Nevin LawsonCornerbackUtah State4 years / $2,545,050T. J. JonesWide receiverNotre Dame4 years / $2,326,200May 19Gregory HickmanDefensive tackleFlorida International3 years / $1,530,000Lions sign Greg Hickman, release Corvey Irvin prideofdetroit.com, May 19, 2014May 22Travis SwansonCenterArkansas4 years / $2,989,314Lions sign draft pick Travis Swanson prideofdetroit.com, May 22, 2014June 2Kalonji KashamaDefensive endEastern Michigan1 year / –Twentyman: Lions adjust 90-man roster detroitlions.com, June 2, 2014Cody WilsonWide receiverMiami Dolphins1 year / –June 4Kyle Van NoyOutside linebackerBrigham Young4 years / $5.1 millionTwentyman: Lions sign second-round pick Kyle Van Noy detroitlions.com, June 4, 2014June 13Eric EbronTight endNorth Carolina4 years / $12.2 millionTwentyman: Lions sign first-round pick Eric Ebron detroitlions.com, June 13, 2014July 16George WinnRunning backAtlanta Falcons1 year / –The Daily Dish: Lions sign Southfield RB George Winn detroitlions.com, July 16, 2014July 17Garrett ReynoldsGuardAtlanta Falcons1 year / $745,000Detroit Lions sign offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds, former Atlanta Falcon MLive.com, July 17, 2014July 25Drew ButlerPunterChicago Bears1 year / –Detroit Lions add punting depth, sign Drew Butler MLive.com, July 25, 2014July 31Kris ReddingDefensive endWake Forest1 year / –Detroit Lions add DE Kris Redding, waive injured WR Cody Wilson MLive.com, July 31, 2014August 7Drayton FlorenceCornerbackCarolina Panthers1 year / –Detroit Lions sign veteran CB Drayton Florence before practice MLive.com, August 7, 2014October 7Matt PraterPlacekickerDenver Broncos
Departures Date Player Position Note New team SourceFebruary 13Nate BurlesonWide receiverReleasedCleveland BrownsEx-Detroit Lions receiver Nate Burleson agrees to deal with Browns MLive.com, April 6, 2014Louis DelmasSafetyReleasedMiami DolphinsLions release Nate Burleson, Louis Delmas to clear cap room cbssports.com, February 13, 2014March 3Leroy HarrisOffensive guardReleasedLions release Leroy Harris detroitlions.com, March 3, 2014March 13Willie YoungDefensive endUFAChicago BearsWillie Young agrees to three-year deal with Bears prideofdetroit.com, March 13, 2014March 18Israel IdonijeDefensive endUFAChicago BearsDetroit Lions lose both of their left-side DEs to the Bears MLive.com, March 18, 2014April 2Jason Curtis FoxOffensive tackleUFAMiami DolphinsMay 12Cody WilsonWide receiverReleasedLions sign 11 undrafted free agents, release eight players prideofdetroit.com, May 12, 2014Jon MorganLinebackerNate NessCornerbackMatt VeldmanTight endJohn PotterPlacekickerCarlin IslesWide receiverAkwasi Owusu-AnsahCornerbackMay 19Corvey IrvinDefensive tackleReleasedCalgary Stampeders (CFL)May 30Kourtnei BrownDefensive endReleasedJune 2Vaughn MartinDefensive tackleReleasedJune 13Chris HoustonCornerbackReleasedTwentyman: Lions terminate Chris Houston's contract detroitlions.com, June 13, 2014July 16D.J. MorrellGuardReleasedLions release OG D.J. Morrell prideofdetroit.com, July 16, 2014July 17J. B. ShugartsOffensive tackleReleasedLions release OT J.B. Shugarts prideofdetroit.com, July 17, 2014July 18Naaman RooseveltWide receiverReleasedBuffalo BillsLions claim Reese Wiggins off waivers, release Naaman Roosevelt prideofdetroit.com, July 18, 2014July 25Gabe LynnSafetyReleasedLions sign Drew Butler, release Gabe Lynn prideofdetroit.com, July 25, 2014July 28Kalonji KashamaDefensive endReleasedLions waive Kalonji Kashama with injured designation prideofdetroit.com, July 25, 2014July 31Cody WilsonWide receiverReleasedLions sign Kris Redding, waive Cody Wilson prideofdetroit.com, July 31, 2014
Draft
Notes The Lions traded their original fifth-round selection (No. 150 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for wide receiver Mike Thomas. The Lions traded their fifth-round pick (146 overall) to Dallas in exchange for a fifth-round pick (158 overall) and a seventh-round pick (229 overall).Detroit Lions swap fifth-round picks with Dallas Cowboys, pick up seventh-rounder MLive.com, May 10, 2014
Final roster
Staff
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Cleveland Browns W 13–12 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 at Oakland Raiders L 26–27 1–1 O.co Coliseum Recap 3 Jacksonville Jaguars W 13–12 2–1 Ford Field Recap 4 at Buffalo Bills W 23–0 3–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Giants W 35–14 1–0 Ford Field Recap 2 September 14 at Carolina Panthers L 7–24 1–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap 3 September 21 Green Bay Packers W 19–7 2–1 Ford Field Recap 4 September 28 at New York Jets W 24–17 3–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 5 October 5 Buffalo Bills L 14–17 3–2 Ford Field Recap 6 October 12 at Minnesota Vikings W 17–3 4–2 TCF Bank Stadium Recap 7 October 19 New Orleans Saints W 24–23 5–2 Ford Field Recap 8 October 26 at Atlanta Falcons W 22–21 6–2 Wembley Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 9 Miami Dolphins W 20–16 7–2 Ford Field Recap 11 November 16 at Arizona Cardinals L 6–14 7–3 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 12 November 23 at New England Patriots L 9–34 7–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 13 November 27 Chicago Bears W 34–17 8–4 Ford Field Recap 14 December 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–17 9–4 Ford Field Recap 15 December 14 Minnesota Vikings W 16–14 10–4 Ford Field Recap 16 December 21 at Chicago Bears W 20–14 11–4 Soldier Field Recap 17 December 28 at Green Bay Packers L 20–30 11–5 Lambeau Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New York Giants