2005 Detroit Lions season
| 2005 Detroit Lions season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | William Clay Ford Sr. |
| General manager | Matt Millen |
| Head coach | Steve Mariucci (fired on November 28, 4-7 record) Dick Jauron (interim, 1-4 record) |
| Home stadium | Ford Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 5–11 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC North |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | DT Shaun Rogers |
| Uniform | |
The 2005 season was the Detroit Lions' 76th in the National Football League (NFL), their 72nd as the Detroit Lions, their fourth playing home games at Ford Field, and the third and final under head coach Steve Mariucci. The Lions failed to improve on their 6–10 record from 2004, dropping one more game than last year, and missed the postseason.
Following a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Lions fired head coach Steve Mariucci, naming defensive coordinator and former Chicago Bears head coach Dick Jauron as their interim coach. Mariucci compiled a 15–28 record with the Lions.
The team started 3–3 before dropping 2 of their last 10 and finishing 5–11. The team finished bottom-tier in offense and below-average in defense. Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers was the only Lion named to the Pro Bowl, finishing his season with 5.5 sacks, 41 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles including a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The passing game was headed by both fourth-year starter Joey Harrington and veteran Jeff Garcia, starting 11 and 5 games respectively. Harrington finished with 2,021 passing yards while throwing for 12 interceptions, matching last season's total. The receiving game was led by Roy Williams, while the run game was led by sophomore Kevin Jones.