After the Lions blew a 17-point halftime lead in the NFC Championship last year, coach Dan Campbell told the players:This may have been our only shot. “
A year later, after exiting the playoffs without even returning to the conference title game, the Lions have real work to do to prevent Campbell’s prophecy from being fulfilled.
As noted by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Pressthe lions Lost five assistant coaches in the six days since he lost at home in the divisional round against the Commanders.
Gone are offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, defensive line coach Terrell Williams, receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and assistant quarterbacks coach JT Barrett.
Ultimately, more could go. Everything will have to be replaced.
Fortunately for the Lions, they had a year to prepare for the potential promotions earned by Johnson and Glenn. The Lions certainly won’t stray into the challenge of reloading the coaching staff unprepared.
But things will be very different in 2025. Will they be better? Will they be that good?
The selection still has a lot of talent. Bad luck on the injury front went a long way toward derailing what seemed to be destiny. Still, a franchise that waited decades to become a top dog must now deal with the growing pains that come with competing at a high level.
They have 22 players due to unrestricted free agents. Other teams — starting with Johnson’s Bears and Glenn’s Jets — could target more than a few of them.
Regardless, the Lions still have quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, receiver Jameson Williams, running back David Montgomery, tight end Sam Laporta and four of the five starting offensive linemen under contract . And defensive end Aidan Hutchinson returns to anchor a defense that, if healthy, should be better than it will be in 2024.
Building the current team was harder than maintaining it will be. But maintaining the roster and reshaping the coaching staff will be the biggest challenges for a 15-2 team that needed until Week 18 to win the division and then went one-and-done in the postseason.
Add a schedule with 11 games against 2024 playoff teams (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, And the 2025 will be a much different experience for the Lions. The compelling question will be whether the next postseason will have a different ending.
The first big hurdle will come.