1981 Detroit Lions season

The 1981 Detroit Lions season was their 52nd in the league. The team failed to improve upon their previous season's record of 9–7, winning eight games. The Lions started off the first four games even at 2–2. In the fourth game of the season, starting quarterback Gary Danielson suffered a dislocated wrist, which ended his season. Backup quarterback Jeff Komlo finished the game and was named the starter for the next week. In the next two games, Komlo struggled. The Lions lost both of those games. Head Coach Monte Clark made the decision to give third-string quarterback Eric Hipple start on a Monday Night game against the Chicago Bears. In front of approximately 71,000 fans, Clark's gamble paid off as the Lions defeated the Bears 48–17.

1981 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Monte Clark
Home field	Pontiac Silverdome
Results
Record	8–8
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	2 RB Billy Sims DT Doug English
AP All-Pros	2 RB Billy Sims (2nd team) DT Doug English (2nd team)

Star halfback Billy Sims continued to play solid football, amassing 1,888 total yards in total offense while scoring a team-high 14 touchdowns. The Lions had a chance to win the division on the last day against Tampa Bay, but lost and finished in second place in the NFC Central with an 8–8 record. The team missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1981 NFL draft

1981 Detroit Lions Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College
Round	Selection
1	16	Mark Nichols	WR	San Jose State
2	46	Curtis Green	DE	Alabama State
3	72	Don Greco	G	Western Illinois
4	99	Tracy Porter	WR	LSU
5	129	Larry Lee	DE	North Carolina State
6	155	Sam Johnson	DB	Maryland
7	182	Lee Spivey	OT	SMU
8	211	Bob Niziolek	TE	Colorado
9	238	Hugh Jernigan	DB	Arkansas
9	240	Dave Martin	DB	Villanova
10	264	Andy Cannavino	LB	Michigan
11	294	Willie Jackson	DB	Mississippi State

Undrafted free agents

1981 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Bob Stachowicz	Quarterback	Michigan State

Roster

1981 Detroit Lions roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 16 Gary Danielson 17 Eric Hipple 19 Jeff Komlo Running backs (RB) 24 Dexter Bussey 31 Ken Callicutt 32 Rick Kane 25 Horace King 20 Billy Sims 38 Vince Thompson Wide receivers (WR) 48 Robbie Martin 86 Mark Nichols 89 Tracy Porter 87 Freddie Scott 39 Leonard Thompson Tight ends (TE) 81 David Hill 82 Bob Niziolek 80 Ulysses Norris

Offensive linemen (OL) 76 Karl Baldischwiler T 73 Russ Bolinger G 72 Chris Dieterich T 70 Keith Dorney T 61 Homer Elias G 65 Amos Fowler C 64 Larry Lee G 55 Tom Turnure C Defensive linemen (DL) 60 Al Baker DE 77 Curley Culp DT 71 Steve Furness DT 74 Joe Ehrmann DT 78 Doug English DT 79 William Gay DE 62 Curtis Green DE 75 Dave Pureifory DE

Linebackers (LB) 53 Garry Cobb 57 Ken Fantetti 51 James Harrell 50 Terry Tautolo 59 Charlie Weaver 52 Stan White Defensive backs (DB) 40 Jimmy Allen SS 27 Luther Bradley CB 45 Jeff Delaney 26 Hector Gray 35 Alvin Hall SS 28 James Hunter FS 44 Wayne Smith CB Special teams 3 Eddie Murray K 1 Tom Skladany P

Reserve 67 Don Greco G (IR) -- DeWayne Jett WR (IR) 84 Jesse Thompson WR (IR) 54 Steve Towle LB (IR) 30 Ray Williams RB (IR) Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Attendance
1	September 6	San Francisco 49ers	W 24–17	1–0	63,710
2	September 13	at San Diego Chargers	L 28–23	1–1	51,264
3	September 20	at Minnesota Vikings	L 26–24	1–2	45,350
4	September 27	Oakland Raiders	W 16–0	2–2	77,919
5	October 4	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 28–10	2–3	71,733
6	October 11	at Denver Broncos	L 27–21	2–4	74,816
7	October 19	Chicago Bears	W 48–17	3–4	71,273
8	October 25	Green Bay Packers	W 31–27	4–4	76,063
9	November 1	at Los Angeles Rams	L 20–13	4–5	61,814
10	November 8	at Washington Redskins	L 33–31	4–6	52,096
11	November 15	Dallas Cowboys	W 27–24	5–6	79,694
12	November 22	at Chicago Bears	W 23–7	6–6	50,082
13	November 26	Kansas City Chiefs	W 27–10	7–6	76,735
14	December 6	at Green Bay Packers	L 31–17	7–7	54,481
15	December 12	Minnesota Vikings	W 45–7	8–7	79,428
16	December 20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 20–17	8–8	80,444
Note: Intra-division games are in bold text

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs 7 0 3 0 10 • Lions 7 10 3 7 27 Date: November 26 Location: Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan Game start: 12:30 p.m. Game weather: Indoors (dome) TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Scoring summary 1 DET David Hill 10 yard pass from Eric Hipple (Eddie Murray kick) DET 7–0 1 KC Billy Jackson 4 yard run (Nick Lowery kick) Tie 7–7 2 DET Eddie Murray 34 yard field goal DET 10–7 2 DET Freddie Scott 40 yard pass from Eric Hipple (Eddie Murray kick) DET 17–7 3 KC Nick Lowery 33 yard field goal DET 17–10 3 DET Eddie Murray 46 yard field goal DET 20–10 4 DET Billy Sims 4 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) DET 27–10

Standings

NFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(3)	9	7	0	.563	6–2	9–3	315	268	W1
Detroit Lions	8	8	0	.500	4–4	6–6	397	322	L1
Green Bay Packers	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–7	324	361	L1
Minnesota Vikings	7	9	0	.438	4–4	6–6	325	369	L5
Chicago Bears	6	10	0	.375	2–6	2–10	253	324	W3