The Detroit Lions' 2025 NFL season was a remarkable journey that concluded with unexpected disappointment. Under head coach Dan Campbell, the team achieved a franchise-record 15–2 regular-season record, securing their second consecutive NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. This impressive performance included a franchise-record 11-game winning streak and a league-leading average of 33.2 points per game. The Lions' offense was led by quarterback Jared Goff, who delivered a standout season, being one of the most accurate QBs in the league, evening setting two new NFL records for the most pass attempts without an incompletion, and the most passing yards without an incompletion in a single game. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery provided a dynamic rushing attack, while wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged as a reliable target. Defensively, the Lions made significant strides even with all of their injuries, finishing in the top 10 for the first time since 2015.
Despite their regular-season success, the Lions' playoff run was short-lived. In the Divisional Round, they were upset by the Washington Commanders, 45–31. The game featured a high-scoring first half, with both teams combining for 52 points—the highest-scoring second quarter in NFL history. However, the Lions couldn't overcome multiple turnovers, including three interceptions by Goff. This early playoff exit marked only the second time in NFL history that a 15-win team lost in the first round, joining the 2011 Green Bay Packers. Despite the disappointing end, the 2025 season was a historic one for the Lions and it won't be the last.
How to Move Forward
You can't blame Dan Campbell for how the Lions season ended. The injury bug also plagued this team and trying to will a team to a championship is difficult when half your starters are on the bench. Listen, the sky is bright for this team. They have the caliber to get to and possibly win a Super Bowl, there are just some small adjustments that need to be made to get there.
Fire the Strength+Conditioning and Rehab Staff
It raises some eyebrows when your team is already experiencing injuries before the season begins. It's even more eye-opening when you have over 20 players on injury reserve towards the end of the season. Maybe this season was just cursed, it was all coincidental, or the fact the bye week for the Lions was Week 4, but this was just too many to ignore. Every casual fan can say they should fire everyone, but this can be justifiable. Any staff must adapt to a team's schedule and account for how much rest and recovery a team needs to dig deep in the trenches and have a team relatively healthy for a deep playoff run. A refreshed rehab and conditioning staff could do the trick to prevent those such injuries from happening to as many players as they did this season.
Promote from Within
With the losses of OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn for head coaching jobs to the Chicago Bears and New York Jets respectively, the dynamic offensive and defensive schemes of the Lions would be extremely hard to replace. Hiring John Morton as OC is an exception in my opinion, as he has had stints on the Lions staff before as the Senior Offensive Assistant in 2022. Morton was the key instrument as the QB coach for the Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix, helping his progression and allowing Nix to collect accolades such as the second-most passing touchdowns (29), third-most completions (376) and eighth-most passing yards (3,775) by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. Morton is familiar with the Lions game and a warm welcome back should be given to him. The promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to DC from linebackers coach is a perfect plan for the Lions, as Sheppard was the student under Aaron Glenn and will carry a more aggressive Lions defense into the 2025-26 season. Lions need to keep promoting from within, as this will not change their identity in the slightest.
The Free Agency
Any GM has hard decisions to make on who they want to stay and who they let go when it comes to free agency. With 31 free agents to test out the market, the Lions need to start making some strategic decisions on who they think is most valuable to add to their team. For example, one standout is fresh in my mind, and hear me out on this: Trey Lance. With the addition of Lance, the Lions can use him the way the Pittsburgh Steelers used Justin Fields: keep the defense guessing. Jared Goff is not an improviser and can't run to save his life. He is a pocket passer, and when the pocket breaks, he is going down. The addition of Lance could be a hidden gem for the Lions, as he is quick on his feet and an improviser with the means of getting the ball out quickly. A fresh start for Trey Lance could be key here for him, and the Lions can use his talent to ensure that Goff doesn't take huge hits as often. Another key component to take from the free agency is a cornerback, one that can back up Terrion Arnold. Yes, I know Arnold was a rookie, but he needs help in his growth. Someone to assist him in the backfield could prove to be valuable in his development and become one of the best young corners in the league.
The Draft
I will not go into detail on who the Lions should draft, but the trenches are a top priority. With the losses of McNeil and Hutchinson during the season, the pass rush of the Lions dwindled. Fully healthy, the Lions have one of the best defensive lines in the league, but that's fully healthy. With rookies taking reps alongside the vets, this is an extremely valuable position for the Lions to gain and huge for rookie development. Losing players always happens in a season, but with the Lions boosting the trenches in the draft, it allows them to take losses they can afford if DL injuries happen.
The 2025-2026 Season
It is the little details that the Lions need to clean up, nothing too drastic. This team has all the talent in the world to make a deep playoff run. It is a matter of staying healthy, and staying the course as Dan Campbell would say. This team can make it to the Super Bowl, it is now a matter of when. Maybe next season or the season after, but it is coming. The Lions are not a one-and-done team either. They are now a force that can make deep runs and still be a huge threat to any team in the NFL.
