The Detroit Lions had a phenomenal season in 2024, until they crashed out of the playoffs on their home field against Jayden Daniels, without winning a game in the postseason. Injuries devastated their Super Bowl chances, and they’re now facing an even bigger challenge in 2025.
Adam Schefter’s segment on ESPN this week focused on the Detroit Lions and their uphill battle for the upcoming season. Dan Campbell has seen major changes to both his staff and his roster, but the Lions are still expected to be a contender in the NFC.
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Schefter’s concern with the 2025 Detroit Lions, with a lot to overcome
Make no mistake, this is still a very good football team. General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have spent the last few years building not only a winning roster but a winning mentality in Detroit.
This is one of the most competitive stretches they’ve had in franchise history, and the 2024 season was one of the better opportunities they’ve had to end their run as the only team in the NFC to never make it to a Super Bowl.
Detroit boasted a 15-2 record heading into the playoffs, but crippling injuries on the defensive side of the ball were eventually too difficult to ignore. They lost countless starters to season-ending injuries, including Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Malcolm Rodriguez, Carlton Davis, and more, and while struggling to apply pressure on rookie Jayden Daniels in the playoffs, they were sent home.
Now, in 2025, the franchise will face major challenges in overcoming the sheer volume of personnel poached by other teams, both on and off the field.
Adam Schefter explained that “Even though Detroit failed to win a playoff game, the Lions were treated like they did.”
“The Lions lost eight assistant coaches this offseason, including both their coordinators, with former Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson becoming the head coach of the division rival Chicago Bears, and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn becoming the head coach of the New York Jets.”
He continued: “It wasn’t just coaches either. It was players. Perennial Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow retired. Guard Kevin Zeitler left for Tennessee in free agency. Cornerback Carlton Davis departed for New England, and defensive end Za’Darius Smith was released.”
The Lions have been raided for their talent, and they’ve reached a point similar to any good team, where they’re unable to keep and pay everybody for their high level performances on the field.
That said, the core of the team is still very much intact. They still have one of the best running back duos in the league, Amon-Ra St. Brown is as clutch as anybody at wide receiver, and Sam LaPorta continues to develop as one of the league’s best tight ends.
The franchise has invested in young talent defensively too, with superstars such as safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph showing impressive development in recent years.
Aidan Hutchinson’s status as the 2025 season approaches
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was the biggest casualty of the 2024 season, suffering a horrifying lower leg injury while caught up in traffic around the line of scrimmage.
Hutchinson was adamant he would fight to play in the Super Bowl, but even in recent weeks, it’s clear that the injured leg has been through a rigorous healing process, and Hutchinson is fighting to get it back to full strength.
The star pass rusher is entering his fourth year in the NFL, with two seasons left on his current contract. The Lions picked up his fifth-year option, meaning Hutchinson will want to continue to prove his value ahead of a potential major payday.
The former Michigan star posted 11 sacks in each of his first two seasons in the league, and already had eight in the first five games of the most recent season before it was cut short by the injury. Five of those eight sacks came in the same Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Detroit are hoping he’ll be a full go for Week 1 of the 2025 season, and fans will be hoping he’s able to rediscover his best form after recovering from the injury.
