Despite some offseason departures, the Detroit Lions remain one of the NFL’s top contenders heading into the 2025 season—and Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer has laid out exactly why fans shouldn’t expect a slump.
Answering a mailbag question about whether the Lions got worse this offseason, Breer pointed to the team’s strong foundation of young, ascending talent. Players like Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch have already shown promise with plenty of upside ahead. Meanwhile, defensive stars Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill are returning healthy, which should instantly elevate the unit.
“The roster is loaded with ascending, young talent,” Breer said. “Better health will mean a better defense, and natural growth could make the team more talented on both sides of the ball. They have until December and January to get to a point where a real run is possible—and I still think it is.”
Breer also highlighted that Detroit had a full year to prepare for the possibility of losing both coordinators, giving them time to steady the ship with new hires and keep their momentum.
Head coach Dan Campbell agreed, saying the Lions’ recent OTAs helped get both new coaches and players on the same page. Campbell praised how the team has already adjusted to defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s system and offensive tweaks from new OC Johnny Morton.
“It was really just to get an introduction on what we’re doing,” Campbell explained. “I like where we’re at offensively. Players will stay in shape over the break. When we get to training camp, we’ll hit the ground running.”
With an energized core, improved health, and a head start on integrating new coaches, the Lions are poised to pick up right where they left off—and maybe even make a deeper playoff push in 2025.
NFL Insider Explains Why Lions Are Primed to Stay Among NFL’s Elite in 2025
