1997 Detroit Lions season
| 1997 Detroit Lions season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | William Clay Ford Sr. |
| General manager | Chuck Schmidt |
| Head coach | Bobby Ross |
| Home stadium | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC Central |
| Playoffs | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 10–20 |
| All-Pros | 4
|
| Pro Bowlers | 5 |
| 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 having one of the greatest seasons for a running back in NFL history. He became 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. The Lions scored 379 points in 1997, the fourth-most of any team in the league.