After the Lions squandered a 17-point halftime lead in last year’s NFC Championship, Coach Dan Campbell told his players, “This may have been our only shot.”
One year later, after failing to reach the conference title game and being eliminated from the playoffs, the Lions have significant work ahead to prevent Campbell’s warning from becoming reality.
As reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions have lost five assistant coaches in the six days since their divisional round loss to the Commanders. The departed coaches include offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, defensive line coach Terrell Williams, receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, and assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett.
There could be more departures, and all of these roles will need to be filled.
Luckily for the Lions, they had a year to prepare for the likely promotions of Johnson and Glenn. It’s clear they won’t approach this coaching shakeup unprepared.
However, things will look different for the Lions in 2025. The key questions will be: Will they be better? Will they be as strong?
The roster still boasts significant talent, but injuries played a major role in derailing what seemed to be a promising season. Now, a franchise that spent decades trying to become a contender must face the growing pains that come with sustained success.
22 players are set to become unrestricted free agents, and other teams—particularly Johnson’s Bears and Glenn’s Jets—could be targeting several of them.
Despite this, the Lions still have key players under contract: quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, running back David Montgomery, tight end Sam LaPorta, and four of their five starting offensive linemen. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson will return to lead a defense that, if healthy, could improve in 2025.
Building the current team was challenging, but maintaining the roster and reshaping the coaching staff will be the primary obstacles for a 15-2 team that needed until Week 18 to clinch the division before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
With a schedule that includes 11 games against 2024 playoff teams (Vikings twice, Packers twice, Steelers, Buccaneers, at Eagles, at Commanders, at Ravens, at Chiefs, at Rams), two games against Johnson’s Bears, and a trip to Cincinnati, the Lions’ 2025 season will be a much tougher test. The key question will be whether they can achieve a different outcome in the postseason.
The first challenge, however, will be simply making it there.
