Detroit Lions Face a Pivotal Offseason After Underwhelming 2025 Campaign
For decades, a 9-8 season in Detroit would’ve been something to celebrate-maybe even a sign of progress. But that’s not the standard anymore.
These aren’t the same old Lions. Not the ones your dad used to grumble about over Thanksgiving dinner.
Not even the ones who made a surprise playoff push a few years ago. The 2025 Detroit Lions wrapped up the season with a winning record, sure-but in the context of recent success, that record feels more like a letdown than a step forward.
And that shift in perception? That’s a testament to just how far Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have taken this franchise since stepping in back in 2021.
They’ve built a team that expects to win, not just hope to. A team that made it to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and racked up 15 wins in 2024.
That kind of success recalibrates expectations. And with higher expectations comes less patience for falling short.
The 2025 season ended without a playoff berth, and while the record wasn’t disastrous, the performance didn’t match the talent on this roster-particularly on offense. That’s where the frustration starts to creep in.
Grading the Season: A Harsh but Fair Assessment
With only the Super Bowl left on the calendar, teams across the league are being evaluated on how their seasons measured up. And for the Lions, the grade was blunt: D-.
That’s not a typo. It’s a stinging mark for a team that was supposed to be a contender.
Injuries certainly played a role, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But this team still had its starting quarterback and top three offensive weapons available for all 17 games.
That kind of continuity on offense should’ve translated into more wins-especially in the moments that mattered most. But time and again, the Lions came up short when the pressure was on.
One of the biggest issues? The absence of the coordinators who helped fuel the team’s 2024 success.
Their departures left a noticeable void-on both sides of the ball. Add to that a lack of defensive depth, and it’s easy to see how this season unraveled.
The concern now is whether this group has already hit its ceiling. As one analyst put it: “This core may have peaked.”
A Moment of Reflection-and a Call to Evolve
It’s a sobering thought, especially for a team that not long ago seemed on the verge of something special. After that NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers two years ago, Dan Campbell acknowledged just how hard it is to get back to that stage.
It wasn’t false humility-it was the hard truth. And now, two seasons later, that warning feels eerily prescient.
There’s no question this team still has talent. But there’s also a sense that something intangible might be missing. The fire, the edge, the belief that they can push through adversity and make another deep playoff run-it didn’t feel like it was there this year.
Now comes the next phase of the Campbell-Holmes era. The foundation is still strong, but the formula needs tweaking. Whether it’s a shift in practice philosophy, a more impactful hire at offensive coordinator, or a roster shake-up to address depth concerns, evolution is the name of the game.
The Lions have already proven they can build a contender. The next challenge?
Sustaining it-and taking the next step. Because in Detroit, 9-8 isn’t good enough anymore.
And that’s a sign of real progress, even if this season didn’t feel like it.