1947 Detroit Lions season

The 1947 Detroit Lions season was their 18th in the league. The team improved on their previous season's output of 1–10, winning three games. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 12th consecutive season.

1947 Detroit Lions season
Head coach	Gus Dorais
Results
Record	3–9
Division place	5th NFL Western
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

Before the season

Draft

Main article: 1947 NFL Draft

1947 Detroit Lions draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	2	Glenn Davis *	HB	Army	1946 Heisman Trophy winner
2	12	Russ Thomas	T	Ohio State
3	14	Jim Kekeris	T	Missouri
4	24	Charley Hoover	C	Vanderbilt
5	26	Bob Chappuis	TB	Michigan	Remained in college
6	36	Bernie Gallagher	G	Penn	Signed with Los Angeles Dons (AAFC)
7	46	Ed Grain	G	Penn	Joined the AAFC
8	56	Harvey James	C	Miami (FL)
9	66	Kale Alexander	T	South Carolina	Remained in college
10	76	Bump Elliott	B	Michigan	Remained in college
11	86	Pete Sullivan	T	Detroit
12	96	LaVerne Camarata	B	Iowa State
13	106	Walt Vezmar	G	Michigan State
14	116	Dick Hagen	E	Washington
15	126	J.W. Meeks	B	East Texas State
16	136	Reed Nilsen	C	BYU
17	146	Tommy James *	DB	Ohio State
18	156	Ralph Maugham	E	Utah State
19	166	Buryl Baty	B	Texas A&M
20	176	Elmer Madar	E	Michigan	Signed with the Baltimore Colts (AAFC)
21	186	J. T. White	E	Michigan
22	196	Carl Schuette	LB	Marquette
23	206	Steve Cipot	T	St. Bonaventure
24	216	Bill Cadenhead	B	Alabama
25	226	Jim Cody	T	East Texas State
26	236	Earl Maves	WB	Wisconsin	Played for Lions in 1948
27	246	Bill Hillman	B	Tennessee
28	256	Arch Kelly	E	Detroit
29	266	Bob Tulis	T	Texas A&M
30	276	Howard McAfee	T	Tulane
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Game recap
1	September 21	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 10–17	0–1	Forbes Field	Recap
2	September 28	at Chicago Cardinals	L 21–45	0–2	Comiskey Park	Recap
3	October 5	at Boston Yanks	W 21–7	1–2	Fenway Park	Recap
4	October 12	Los Angeles Rams	L 13–27	1–3	Briggs Stadium	Recap
5	October 19	at Chicago Bears	L 24–33	1–4	Wrigley Field	Recap
6	October 26	at Green Bay Packers	L 17–34	1–5	City Stadium	Recap
7	November 2	New York Giants	W 35–7	2–5	Briggs Stadium	Recap
8	November 9	Chicago Cardinals	L 7–17	2–6	Briggs Stadium	Recap
9	November 16	Washington Redskins	W 38–21	3–6	Briggs Stadium	Recap
10	November 23	at Los Angeles Rams	L 17–28	3–7	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	Recap
11	November 27	Chicago Bears	L 14–34	3–8	Briggs Stadium	Recap
12	December 7	Green Bay Packers	L 14–35	3–9	Briggs Stadium	Recap
13	Bye
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL Western Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Chicago Cardinals	9	3	0	.750	7–1	306	231	W2
Chicago Bears	8	4	0	.667	4–4	363	241	L2
Green Bay Packers	6	5	1	.545	5–3	274	210	L1
Los Angeles Rams	6	6	0	.500	4–4	259	214	W2
Detroit Lions	3	9	0	.250	0–8	231	305	L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Players

• Stan Batinski, guard
• Ben Chase, guard
• Ted Cook, end
• Ted Cremer, end
• Bob DeFruiter, halfback
• Robert Derleth, tackle
• Chuck DeShane, guard
• Bill Dudley, halfback
• Jack Dugger, tackle
• Leon Fichman
• John Greene, end
• George Hekkers
• Ralph Heywood, end
• Bill Hillman
• Bob Ivory
• Tommy James, defensive back
• Elmer Jones, guard
• Pete Kmetovic, halfback
• Les Lear, tackle
• Clyde LeForce, quarterback
• Elmer Madarik, halfback
• Joe Margucci, halfback
• Kelly Mote, end
• Reed Nilsen
• Bill O'Brien, halfback
• Mitchell Olenski, tackle
• Merv Pregulman, center
• Ken Reese
• Floyd Rhea, offensive lineman
• Dave Ryan, quarterback
• John Sanchez, tackle
• Cecil Souders, end
• Ed Stacco, tackle
• Dick Stovall, center
• Steve Sucic
• Frank Szymanski, center
• Russ Thomas, tackle
• Walt Vezmar, guard
• Bill Ward, guard
• Joe Watt, halfback
• Bob Westfall, fullback
• Bob Wiese, back
• Camp Wilson, fullback
• Roy Zimmerman, quarterback

External links

• 1947 Detroit Lions at Pro Football Reference
• 1947 Detroit Lions at jt-sw.com