By Blessing 
As the Detroit Lions gear up for the 2025 NFL season, the buzz around their offseason changes has sparked plenty of debate. With a wave of coaching staff departures and key player losses, fans and analysts alike are wondering: have the Lions taken a step back?
In a recent Sports Illustrated NFL mailbag, senior writer Albert Breer responded to this exact concern. The question posed to him was whether Dan Campbell’s Lions have regressed following a turbulent offseason.
There’s no denying that Detroit has experienced significant turnover. They lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, two pivotal pieces of their recent success. Add to that the exits of defensive line coach Terrell Williams and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, and it’s clear this team won’t look quite the same.
On top of the coaching changes, the Lions were dealt a major blow with center Frank Ragnow announcing his retirement — a tough loss for the offensive line and the team as a whole.
Despite these setbacks, Breer remains optimistic. He highlighted the work of general manager Brad Holmes, who has quietly built a youthful, resilient roster. “Still, the roster is loaded with ascending, young talent,” Breer pointed out. “And Detroit had a full year to prepare for the potential that they’d lose both coordinators.”
That young talent includes rising names like Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch — all showing promise and room for growth. Meanwhile, stars like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill are on track to return from injury, potentially restoring Detroit’s defense to its earlier form. “The defense that rolled out there in the playoffs was a shell of its Week 1 self,” Breer noted.
Although the Lions still have a way to go before the regular season begins, there’s no rush. Training camp kicks off in late July, giving Dan Campbell and his staff valuable time to fine-tune the roster.
“So better health will certainly mean a better defense,” Breer added, “and natural growth could make the team more talented on both sides of the ball. Plus, they have until December and January to get all this to a point where a real run at it all is possible. And I still think it is.”
In short, the Lions may look different — but that doesn’t mean they’re doomed. With youth, health, and time on their side, Detroit could still be a serious contender.