# 2008 Detroit Lions season
The 2008 [Detroit Lions](https://www.edgepedia.org/detroit-lions) season was the 79th season of the Detroit Lions franchise in the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) and the season in which the team became the first in NFL history to finish with a 0-16 record, losing every game under third-year head coach [Rod Marinelli](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-marinelli).[1](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1492/2008-detroit-lions-schedule) • [2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2008.htm) The Lions finished last in the NFC North with 268 points scored and 517 allowed, a net margin of minus 249 points.[3](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/standings/2008/reg)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final record | 0-16-0, 4th of 4 in the NFC North; 0-8-0 at home and 0-8-0 on the road[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2008.htm) • [1](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1492/2008-detroit-lions-schedule) |
| Points | 268 scored, 517 allowed, net minus 249[3](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/standings/2008/reg) |
| Head coach | Rod Marinelli, in his third season; fired on December 29, 2008, the day after the final loss[1](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1492/2008-detroit-lions-schedule) • [4](https://www.nfl.com/_amp/marinelli-you-can-t-go-0-16-and-expect-to-keep-your-job-09000d5d80dbc543) |
| Management change | Team president, general manager, and CEO Matt Millen, in those roles since 2001, was fired on September 24, 2008, after an 0-3 start[5](https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/2008/di2008-09-25.pdf) |
| Quarterbacks | Jon Kitna suffered a season-ending injury after four games; Dan Orlovsky made seven starts and led the team with 1,616 passing yards[6](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/lions/2008) • [7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg) |
| Leading offensive players | Calvin Johnson 1,331 receiving yards; Kevin Smith 976 rushing yards[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg) |
| Historical standing | First 0-16 team in NFL history; the 2017 Cleveland Browns later matched the record[2](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2008.htm) • [8](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/the-worst-nfl-team-each-season-since-1966) |
## Season overview
The season was the third under head coach Rod Marinelli, who had been hired in 2006, and it began with hopes of improving on the team's 7-9 record of 2007.[1](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1492/2008-detroit-lions-schedule) Instead the Lions lost their opener 34-21 to the [Atlanta Falcons](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-falcons) and never won, dropping all sixteen regular-season games.[9](https://www.detroitlions.com/schedule/2008/) The team's only non-loss of the year was its bye week in Week 4.[9](https://www.detroitlions.com/schedule/2008/)
**Quarterback instability shaped the season.** [Jon Kitna](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-kitna) opened the year as the starter but suffered a season-ending injury after four games.[6](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/lions/2008) [Dan Orlovsky](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-orlovsky) then made seven starts, throwing for 1,616 yards with 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, while [Daunte Culpepper](https://www.edgepedia.org/daunte-culpepper) added five starts and threw for 786 yards with 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg) • [6](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/lions/2008)
The season ended on December 28, 2008, with a 31-21 loss to the [Green Bay Packers](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-bay-packers) at [Lambeau Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/lambeau-field), the game that made the Lions the first team in NFL history to complete a season at 0-16.[9](https://www.detroitlions.com/schedule/2008/) • [10](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/137197-the-real-worst-team-of-all-time-the-1976-bucs-or-the-2008-lions)
## Coaching and management changes
**Matt Millen's dismissal came first.** Millen had served as team president, general manager, and CEO since 2001, and after an 0-3 start to the 2008 season, which left his overall record with the Lions at 31-84, he was fired on September 24, 2008.[5](https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/2008/di2008-09-25.pdf) Fans had publicly demanded his removal for years, including a December 2005 demonstration at [Ford Field](https://www.edgepedia.org/ford-field) with a large "FIRE MILLEN" banner.[5](https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/2008/di2008-09-25.pdf)
**Marinelli followed after the finale.** On Monday, December 29, 2008, one day after the season ended, the Lions fired Marinelli, who acknowledged that a team cannot go 0-16 and expect to keep its coach.[4](https://www.nfl.com/_amp/marinelli-you-can-t-go-0-16-and-expect-to-keep-your-job-09000d5d80dbc543) Across his three seasons in Detroit he compiled a 10-38 record and won only one of his final 24 games.[4](https://www.nfl.com/_amp/marinelli-you-can-t-go-0-16-and-expect-to-keep-your-job-09000d5d80dbc543)
## Game results
The Lions lost to the Atlanta Falcons (34-21), Green Bay Packers (48-25), [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers) (31-13), [Chicago Bears](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bears) (34-7 and 27-23), [Minnesota Vikings](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-vikings) (12-10 and 20-16), Houston Texans (28-21), Washington Redskins (25-17), Jacksonville Jaguars (38-14), Carolina Panthers (31-22), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (38-20), Tennessee Titans (47-10 on Thanksgiving), Indianapolis Colts (31-21), New Orleans Saints (42-7), and the Packers again in the finale (31-21).[9](https://www.detroitlions.com/schedule/2008/) Several losses were close, including the two defeats by a combined five points against Minnesota, but none produced a win.[9](https://www.detroitlions.com/schedule/2008/)
## Team statistics
The offense ranked 30th in the league with 268.3 yards per game, including 83.3 rushing yards per game.[11](https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/263695/lions-and-tigers-and-bobcats-the-worst-teams-in-sports-history) For the season the Lions gained 4,292 total offensive yards, while their defense allowed 6,470 yards, 2,754 rushing and 3,907 passing.[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg) The defense recorded 30 sacks and forced 19 interceptions, and the team finished with a turnover ratio of minus 9.[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg)
[Calvin Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/calvin-johnson) led the receiving corps with 1,331 yards, far ahead of the next receiver, Shaun McDonald, who had 332.[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg) [Kevin Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-smith) led the running game with 976 yards, and Rudi Johnson added 237.[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg) On defense, Paris Lenon led the team with 81 tackles, Dewayne White had a team-best 6.5 sacks, and Leigh Bodden recorded 1 interception.[7](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg)
## Historical context and legacy
The 0-16 record placed the 2008 Lions alongside the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went 0-14 as a first-year expansion team, as winless full-length seasons, and the Lions were the first winless team since the schedule was expanded to sixteen games in 1978.[12](https://www.nfl.com/news/those-1976-buccaneers-know-all-about-losing-09000d5d80da4a52) The 2017 Cleveland Browns later became the second team to finish 0-16.[8](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/the-worst-nfl-team-each-season-since-1966)
The Associated Press later described 2008 as the moment the Lions "hit rock bottom," coming during the worst nine-season stretch by the franchise since World War II, and the team won only one playoff game from 1958 through the 2022 season.[13](https://apnews.com/article/dfb0d2fa6603ddb2cebd79084ed126aa) • [14](https://apnews.com/article/1334998b7fef34932051aa101f713c2f)
## References
1. [2008 Detroit Lions, Pro Football History.com](https://pro-football-history.com/season/1492/2008-detroit-lions-schedule)
2. [2008 Detroit Lions Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2008.htm)
3. [Lions Standings 2008, Detroit Lions official site](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/standings/2008/reg)
4. [Marinelli: 'You can't go 0-16 and expect to keep your job', NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/_amp/marinelli-you-can-t-go-0-16-and-expect-to-keep-your-job-09000d5d80dbc543)
5. [Daily Iowan, 2008-09-25](https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/2008/di2008-09-25.pdf)
6. [2008 Detroit Lions, Pro Football Rewind](https://profootballrewind.com/teams/lions/2008)
7. [Detroit Lions Team Stats 2008, official site](https://www.detroitlions.com/team/stats/2008/reg)
8. [The Worst NFL Team Each Season Since 1966, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/the-worst-nfl-team-each-season-since-1966)
9. [Lions Historical 2008 Schedule, Detroit Lions official site](https://www.detroitlions.com/schedule/2008/)
10. [The Real Worst Team Of All Time: The 1976 Bucs Or The 2008 Lions?, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/137197-the-real-worst-team-of-all-time-the-1976-bucs-or-the-2008-lions)
11. [Lions and Tigers and Bobcats? The worst teams in sports history, ESPN](https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/263695/lions-and-tigers-and-bobcats-the-worst-teams-in-sports-history)
12. [Those 1976 Buccaneers know all about losing, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/those-1976-buccaneers-know-all-about-losing-09000d5d80da4a52)
13. [Lions finally giving fans a chance to cheer for a winner, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/dfb0d2fa6603ddb2cebd79084ed126aa)
14. [Lions winning in ways they haven't in Super Bowl era, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/1334998b7fef34932051aa101f713c2f)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2010 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license