| 1942 Detroit Lions season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Bill Edwards and Bull Karcis |
| Home field | Briggs Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 0–11 |
| Division place | 5th NFL Western |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1942 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 13th season in the National Football League. The Lions suffered the first winless season since Cincinnati went 0–8 in 1934.[1] This was the first NFL season during U.S. involvement in World War II, which led to player shortages, and thus a depletion of talent. The Lions were hit especially hard by the loss of star halfback Byron “Whizzer” White and tackle Tony Furst.[2] Head coach Bill Edwards was sacked after three games,[2] but the decision had no effect on the Lions’ fortunes.
While there were talks of suspending play, it was ultimately decided to allow all professional sports to continue as morale boosters on the home front.[3] It would remain the only winless season for the Lions until 2008.[4][5]
- ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 301
- ^ a b Barnas, Jo-Ann; ‘Missing Their Engine Parts: War Machine Hampered the 1942 Lions, Who Went 0–11’; The Washington Post, December 9, 2001, p. D1A
- ^ "The 1942 Lions were a winless, toothless mess". Detroit Athletic. November 22, 2015. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
- ^ Haney, Jeff (November 20, 2008). "All-defeated or undefeated? Unlikely - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ Bak, Richard (November 22, 2015). "The 1942 Lions were a winless, toothless mess". Vintage Detroit Collection. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
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