Lions Loyalist Raises Red Flag Over Detroit

One of the Detroit Lions‘ biggest supporters has rung the alarm for the franchise ahead of the 2025 season.

Despite being favorites to three-peat as NFC North division champions, the Lions’ offseason has left many questioning how impactful Detroit will be in the postseason.

97.1 The Ticket’s Marc Ryan took inventory of Detroit’s offseason, which has seen far more departures than arrivals, and admittedly took off the rose-tinted glasses.

Lions Radio Host Marc Ryan Argues Detroit Did Not Do Enough to Stay in Super Bowl Window

Opening his July 5 show with a diatribe on Detroit’s offseason, Ryan argued that the Lions did not do enough to preserve their potential as Super Bowl contenders.

“I can’t avoid this anymore. I do not think the Lions had a good offseason in any way, shape or form,” Ryan said. “The reports were out there that they tried to trade up in the draft to get James Pearce out of Tennessee. … They didn’t land him. Za’Darius Smith, where is he? They’ve done literally nothing to improve the pass rush, where they were 23rd in sacks last year. ‘Well, Marc, what about Aidan Hutchinson coming back?’ In what form? In what form is he returning?”

Although offering an encouraging stat in support, Ryan also entertained the possibility that Jared Goff takes a step back with Ben Johnson leaving for the Chicago Bears.

“Everyone knows that the best football of Jared Goff’s career was played with a head coach of the Chicago Bears. ‘Well, Marc Ryan, are you saying that he can’t do it with a new coordinator?’ Well, I will say something in support of what Jared Goff can do here, and that is that five times in NFL history a team has had to replace both coordinators in the same offseason. The team the next year was an average of only one game worse. That bodes well, but in Jared Goff’s case, I thought Ben Johnson was a huge part of his success,” Ryan said.

Frank Ragnow’s Abrupt Retirement the Canary in the Coal Mine for Detroit?

 The biggest concern beyond play-callers for Detroit is the offensive line after Frank Ragnow‘s abrupt retirement on June 2.

“The offensive line, folks, could be offensive, with everything that was lost. Defections, unexpected retirements. Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, boom, out of here,” Ryan said. “The schedule, the most difficult road schedule, bar none, in the history of the National Football League, no hyperbole there. I’m not trying to be fatalistic in any shape or form, and I’m not trying to kill your mojo or play both sides of the fence here.”

To close his case, Ryan welcomed any backlash he may receive if the Lions win it all in 2025.

“I’m not gonna kiss your butt. Should the Detroit Lions win the Super Bowl this year, I want you to give me the greatest amount of hell that you’ve ever given any host here on this station. I don’t deserve to enjoy it if they were to win a Super Bowl this year, because I’m telling you right now that I don’t believe they’re a Super Bowl contender,” Ryan said. “That’s the reality of the situation. I see this as a transition season for Detroit. New offensive coordinator, developing guys on the offensive line, re-tooling the offensive line, establishing, ‘Do we want Jameson Williams here long-term or not?’ I see this as a transition year for the Detroit Lions.”