| Team: | Detroit Lions |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Record: | 3–13 |
| Division Place: | 4th NFC North |
| Coach: | Marty Mornhinweg |
| General Manager: | Matt Millen |
| Owner: | William Clay Ford Sr. |
| Stadium: | Ford Field |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | None |
| Uniform: | NFC-Throwback-Uniform-DET.PNG |
| Shortnavlink: | Lions seasons |
The 2002 season was the Detroit Lions' 73rd in the National Football League (NFL). It was the Lions’ inaugural season at the new Ford Field in Downtown Detroit and their first in the city since the team left Tiger Stadium after the 1974 season. Following the season, Marty Mornhinweg was fired and Steve Mariucci was hired as the Lions' head coach. The Lions entered the 2002 season looking to improve on their 2–14 record from 2001 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
They improved on their record, winning 3 games. However, the new stadium didn't help the team overall, and they continued to disappoint, beginning the season with three consecutive losses. By week 9, the Lions had a 3–5 record after a win over the Dallas Cowboys. However, after that win, the Lions lost their remaining 8 games to finish the season 3–13 and failed to reach the playoffs. The Lions also went 0–8 on the road for the second straight season. As a result, Marty Mornhinweg was fired after the season. In his 2 seasons as head coach, the Lions went 5–27 for a winning percentage of .156.
| Signings | Departures | |
|---|---|---|
| G Ray Brown (49ers) | QB Charlie Batch (Steelers) | |
| FS Corey Harris (Ravens) | LB Scott Kowalkowski (retirement) | |
| WR Bill Schroeder (Packers) | WR Johnnie Morton (Chiefs) | |
| TE Mikhael Ricks (Chiefs) | DE Tracy Scroggins (retirement) | |
| TE David Sloan (Saints) |
See main article: 2002 NFL draft.
| Eddie Drummond | Wide receiver | Penn State | |
| Antwan Lake | Defensive tackle | West Virginia | |
| James Mungro | Running back | Syracuse | |
| Kris Ryan | Fullback | Penn |
In addition to their regular games against NFC North rivals, the Lions under the NFL's new scheduling formula played games against teams from the NFC South and from the AFC East. They also played the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals, who had the fourth best records from 2001 of the teams placed in their respective divisions.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8 | at Miami Dolphins | L 21–49 | 0–1 | Pro Player Stadium | 72,216 | |
| 2 | September 15 | L 7–31 | 0–2 | Ericsson Stadium | 71,951 | ||
| 3 | September 22 | Green Bay Packers | L 31–37 | 0–3 | Ford Field | 61,505 | |
| 4 | September 29 | New Orleans Saints | W 26–21 | 1–3 | Ford Field | 60,023 | |
| 5 | Bye | ||||||
| 6 | October 13 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 24–31 | 1–4 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 64,013 | |
| 7 | October 20 | Chicago Bears | W 23–20 | 2–4 | Ford Field | 60,421 | |
| 8 | October 27 | at Buffalo Bills | L 17–24 | 2–5 | Ralph Wilson Stadium | 72,710 | |
| 9 | November 3 | Dallas Cowboys | W 9–7 | 3–5 | Ford Field | 61,789 | |
| 10 | November 10 | at Green Bay Packers | L 14–40 | 3–6 | Lambeau Field | 63,313 | |
| 11 | November 17 | New York Jets | L 14–31 | 3–7 | Ford Field | 61,720 | |
| 12 | November 24 | at Chicago Bears | L 17–20 | 3–8 | Memorial Stadium | 62,375 | |
| 13 | November 28 | L 12–20 | 3–9 | Ford Field | 62,109 | ||
| 14 | December 8 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 20–23 | 3–10 | Sun Devil Stadium | 28,640 | |
| 15 | December 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 20–23 | 3–11 | Ford Field | 61,942 | |
| 16 | December 22 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 15–36 | 3–12 | Georgia Dome | 69,307 | |
| 17 | December 29 | Minnesota Vikings | L 36–38 | 3–13 | Ford Field | 60,233 | |