After finishing as the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2024, the injury-riddled Lions suffered a one-and-done exit in the playoffs. Expectations were high for another strong showing in 2025, a year in which Dan Campbell proceeded with several new faces on his coaching staff.
The expected departures of Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn and others during last year’s head coaching hiring cycle led to questions about Detroit’s ability to remain among the league’s elite this time around. Many members of the Lions’ core were still present, but the team battled inconsistency throughout the season. Detroit salvaged a 9-8 record by upsetting Chicago in Week 18, but the three-game losing streak which preceded it ensured a return to the playoffs would not be possible.
That leaves Campbell, general manager Brad Holmes and Co. with a number of crucial decisions to make over the coming weeks. A few notable staffing changes have already taken place, but several ascending players currently face an uncertain future beyond 2026. With cap maneuvering and a potential offensive line rebuild on the way, the Lions figure to be busy managing a number of in-house situations this spring.
Coaching/front office moves:
- Fired offensive coordinator John Morton
- Hired Drew Petzing as OC replacement
- Added former Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka to staff
- Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard interviewed for Dolphins’ head coaching position
Campbell elected to go internal with one coordinator move last offseason but tapped Morton as an outside hire. The latter faced the tall task or replicating the success enjoyed under Ben Johnson, who led Detroit to three straight top-five finishes in scoring during his OC tenure. Under Morton – who worked with the Lions in 2022 – the team managed to finish fourth in points. A substantial regression in the running game proved to be a problem, however.
Not a bad analogy of the Lions offseason outlook. However as lifelong Lions fan and season ticket holder, we can assume Holmes is going to address the Center position first and foremost. This is a team that in the past dominated others with the run game and a lot of that success was up the middle. The loss of Ragnow and Zeitler exposed us big time. Linderbaum should be the main focus of the offseason. The Lions can restructure the contracts of Goff, Sewell, and St. Brown, thus creating 40 million in salary cap, they can walk away from Anzalone, Raymond and Reader, and bring back Lopez, Muhammad, and Rodriguez on a smaller cap hits than those departing made in 2025. They will trade Montgomery for a late round pick and allow Decker to go ahead and retire and replace him with a first round pick. Decker’s play has been average the past couple of years at best, and to see him and his projected salary leave would be a blessing. They also need to bring in another TE who can be active in the passing game (Nijoku) in case Laporta’s back is a long term issue and sign an experienced CB in free agency to compete with Arnold and company. They also need to add a Safety early in the draft who can start day 1, because the long term injury prognosis on Branch and Joseph’s doesn’t look good. Finally, they need some depth on the O-Line and a reunion of Zeitler makes the most sense to compete with the two young guards that struggled this past season. With these moves, along with the last place schedule the Lions play in 2026, they should win at least 12 games next season and keep the Super Bowl hopes alive. (schedule – Home – bears, packers, vikings, saints, bucs, patriots, jets, titans, and giants – Road – bears, packers, vikings, falcons, bills, panthers, dolphins, cardinals)
0.0% chance Linderbaum is leaving Ravens. Thats a pipe dream. Team should be focused on McGovern or the draft, with a cheaper veteran insurance policy.
Also agree Zeitler isnt coming back. He will retire before leaving TEN.
With the 2026 schedule, if Lions don’t make it to Super Bowl, Campbell should find the same fate as John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott. The finish to the past season with a chance to make playoffs was
horrible. Don’t want to hear about injuries either, Ravens and Bills were both plagued by it. Also Linderbaum is not worth 100 million for 5 years. Ravens will either let him walk or tag him.
All the years of the Lions were a bad bad team , you are ready to show Campbell the door if it’s SB or bust ? Did you forget you play in the NFC with the Seahawks, Rams , 49ners , Eagle , Packers, Bears and the Vikings? Good thing you’re not the GM
It depends, does he have competitive seasons or does the team decline to 5-12 in back-to-back years?
Bob K
Lions were supposed to be the best team in NFC the past 2 years and fell short. Too much 4th down gambling cost team big against Niners in 23 and how do you lose to Commanders at home last season. Blew chance for playoffs this season
Bills and Ravens both screwed by refs along with a missed field goal against Pitt cost Harbaugh his job. McDermott getting fired even worse. Just saying Campbell better have team at top next year or he will be on hot seat. I do like his Applebee’s ads.
As for rest of NFC, Lions have talent to beat any of them and should be favorites over most. Is Campbell’s tough guy act wearing thin?
Aggressively going for it on 4th is fine when there are low expectations. Maturity as a coach says you know when to put points on the board. Like throughout the 2nd half of the NFC Championship in SF.