Season statistics
| Offense | Defense |
| Record | Playoff record | Total yards | Pass yards | Rush yards | Turnovers | First downs | Total yards | Pass yards | Rush yards | Turnovers | First downs |
| 9-7-0 | 0-1 | 6105 | 3532 | 2573 | 29 | 322 | 5263 | 3289 | 1974 | 27 | 283 |
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The Detroit Lions' sixty-eighth season was in 1997, playing their home games at Pontiac Silverdome. During the offseason they hired Bobby Ross to lead the team. During his time in the NFL he was head coach for five years. They finished the year 9-7-0 in the regular season but they lost their first playoff game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-10. At the end of the season, Barry Sanders was awarded with the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
Games
Playoffs
1997 Detroit Lions Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Bobby Ross Offensive Coordinator: Sylvester Croom Defensive Coordinator: Larry Peccatiello Quarterbacks Coach: Marc Trestman Wide Receivers Coach: Jerry Sullivan Offensive Line Coach: Jack Henry Tight Ends Coach: Bob Palcic, Frank Falks Offensive Assistant Coach: Stan Kwan Offensive Quality Control Coach: John Misciagna Defensive Line Coach: Brian Baker Linebackers Coach: Gary Moeller Defensive Secondary Coach: Dick Selcer Defensive Assistant Coach: Don Clemons Defensive Quality Control Coach: Dennis Murphy Special Teams Coach: Chuck Priefer Assistant Special Teams Coach: Stan Kwan Strength and Conditioning Coach: Bert Hill, Don Clemons General Manager: Chuck Schmidt Director of Pro Scouting: Kevin Colbert College Scout: Thomas Dimitroff Area Scout: Russ Bolinger, Dirk Dierking, Thomas Dimitroff, Scott McEwen, Jim Owens Part-Time Scout: Allen Hughes, John Williams Administrative Assistant: John Misciagna, Barbara Mouthaan, Beth Gay, Terri Kimble, Helen Misener