| Team: | Detroit Lions |
| Year: | 1998 |
| Record: | 5–11 |
| Division Place: | 4th NFC Central |
| Coach: | Bobby Ross |
| General Manager: | Chuck Schmidt |
| Owner: | William Clay Ford Sr. |
| Stadium: | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Uniform: | File:NFC-Throwback2-Uniform-DET.PNG |
| Shortnavlink: | Lions seasons |
The 1998 Detroit Lions season was their 69th in the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve upon their previous season's output of 9–7 and did not make a repeat playoff appearance, instead posting their third 5–11 mark in seven seasons.[1] This was the last season Barry Sanders would play in the NFL.
| Additions | Subtractions | |
|---|---|---|
| C Jim Pyne (Buccaneers) | WR/KR Glyn Milburn (Bears) | |
| LB Allen Aldridge (Broncos) | DT Shane Bonham (49ers) | |
| LB Rob Fredrickson (Raiders) | TE Pete Metzelaars (retirement) | |
| DT Mike Wells (Lions) |
See main article: 1998 NFL draft.
| Tutu Atwell | Wide receiver | Minnesota | |
| Kerlin Blaise | Guard | Miami (FL) | |
| Lamar Campbell | Cornerback | Wisconsin | |
| Kywin Supernaw | Defensive back | Indiana | |
| Travis Reece | Running back | Michigan State | |
| Corey Thomas | Wide Receiver | Duke |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 6 | at Green Bay Packers | L 19–38 | 0–1 | Lambeau Field | 60,102 | |
| 2 | September 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 28–34 (OT) | 0–2 | Pontiac Silverdome | 66,354 | |
| 3 | September 20 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 6–29 | 0–3 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 63,107 | |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 27–6 | 1–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 74,724 | ||
| 5 | October 4 | at Chicago Bears | L 27–31 | 1–4 | Soldier Field | 66,944 | |
| 6 | Bye | ||||||
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | W 27–20 | 2–4 | Pontiac Silverdome | 77,932 | ||
| 8 | October 25 | Minnesota Vikings | L 13–34 | 2–5 | Pontiac Silverdome | 77,885 | |
| 9 | November 1 | Arizona Cardinals | L 15–17 | 2–6 | Pontiac Silverdome | 66,087 | |
| 10 | November 8 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 9–10 | 2–7 | Veterans Stadium | 66,785 | |
| 11 | November 15 | Chicago Bears | W 26–3 | 3–7 | Pontiac Silverdome | 63,152 | |
| 12 | November 22 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 28–25 | 4–7 | Raymond James Stadium | 64,265 | |
| 13 | November 26 | W 19–16 (OT) | 5–7 | Pontiac Silverdome | 78,139 | ||
| 14 | December 6 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 22–37 | 5–8 | Alltel Stadium | 70,717 | |
| 15 | L 13–35 | 5–9 | 3Com Park | 68,585 | |||
| 16 | December 20 | Atlanta Falcons | L 17–24 | 5–10 | Pontiac Silverdome | 67,143 | |
| 17 | December 27 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 10–19 | 5–11 | Raven Stadium | 68,045 | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
See also: 1998 Green Bay Packers season and Lions–Packers rivalry.
See also: 1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season.
Barry Sanders retired as the second leading rusher in NFL history.