The 1940 Detroit Lions season was their 11th in the league.
The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6–5, winning only five games.
[1] They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
Due to a dispute between new Lions owner Fred Mandel and Detroit Tigers owner Walter Briggs, the Lions played the entire 1940 home schedule at University of Detroit Stadium.
[2]