Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Dan Campbell
Offensive Coordinator: Drew Petzing
Defensive Coordinator: Kelvin Sheppard
Special Teams Coordinator: Dave Fipp
2025 Summary (W-L Record: 9-8)
After 2 years of being one of the best teams football, including the 2024 season when they went 15-2 and held the #1 seed in the NFC, the Lions took a step back in 2025. They had 6 fewer wins last season and technically finished in last place in the competitive NFC North due to a tie-breaker with the Vikings.
There wasn’t just one thing that led to the Lions’ disappointing season. But if I had to pinpoint it, I’d say the biggest factors were the changes to the offensive line, having two new coordinators, and injuries.
The Lions have some really good skill players, but it’s their offensive line that set them apart in 2023 and ‘24. Last year however, everything changed on the interior.
Center Frank Ragnow retired. Right guard Kevin Zeitler moved on in free agency. Both were instrumental to the running game.
The Lions filled the holes with Graham Glasnow moving from left guard to center, Christian Mahogany moving from the bench to left guard, and then-rookie Tate Ratledge taking over at right guard. That’s 3 positions manned by 3 new players inside.
The results were somewhat predictable. Detroit went from 13th in pressure % allowed and 10th in sacks allowed to 25th and 18th respectively.
Jared Goff has become an excellent quarterback in Detroit, but he still needs lots of time and space in the pocket, especially in front of him. I wouldn’t say his play dropped off last year. He still had a tremendous season. But he did have a couple more games than the year before where he just didn’t look right. Pressure was a part of that.
The running game is where you saw a more profound effect. It’s not that it became ineffective or anything as a result of the new O-line. It just became less dynamic compared to the year before:
Less consistent, more negative runs, fewer explosive runs.
Having two new coordinators calling plays on both sides of the ball didn’t help matters either. And this wasn’t just new coordinators replacing any old play-callers.
They were replacing Ben Johnson on offense, who is one of the best minds in the game, and Aaron Glenn on defense. While Glenn may have struggled with the Jets last season as head coach (like just about every coach in Jets history), he played a pivotal role in the rise of the Lions via his defensive play-calling.
On top of all that, Detroit faced a ton of injuries on defense last year. It was arguably as bad as the year before if not worse.
In retrospect, it’s no surprise that they won 6 fewer games than the year before.
Key Additions
RB Isiah Pacheco
WR Greg Dortch
WR Cedrick Wilson, Jr.
TE Tyler Conklin
C Cade Mays
RT Blake Miller (1st Rd, 17th Overall)
OT Larry Borom
OG Ben Bartch
C Juice Scrugg
DL Jay Tufele
EDGE D.J. Wonnum
EDGE Derrick Moore (2nd Rd, 44th Overall)
EDGE Payton Turner
LB Jimmy Rolder (4th Rd, 118the Overall)
LB Damone Clark
CB Roger McCreary
CB Keith Abney (5th Rd, 157th Overall)
S Chuck Clark
S Christian Izien
Key Losses
RB David Montgomery
WR Kalif Raymond
TE Anthony Firkser
TE Shane Zylstra
LT Taylor Decker
C Graham Glasgow
LG Kayode Awosika
LT Dan Skipper
OL Trystan Colon
DL D.J. Reader
DL Roy Lopez
EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad
EDGE Marcus Davenport
LB Alex Anzalone
CB Amik Robertson
CB Terrion Arnold
Biggest Questions Entering 2026
Will the O-line be better this season?
Similar to last season, the Lions will have 3 new players in 3 new positions on their offensive line. But that’s more of a welcome thing this year after a down 2025.