By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions were one of the most captivating teams in the NFL last season, finishing with an impressive 15-2 record. They entered 2024 with high expectations and lived up to much of the hype, but now the conversation has shifted: Can the Lions maintain their momentum despite losing key pieces of their coaching staff and roster?
NFL analyst Frank Schwab recently weighed in on this very topic during a segment on Inside Coverage. He didn’t hold back his admiration for the Lions’ story, but ultimately, he was skeptical.
“I hate this so much because I’m rooting for the story of the Lions becoming a Super Bowl champion,” Schwab admitted. “I think it would be incredible, but I do have to say retreat.”
Despite having picked Detroit to win it all last season, Schwab believes the team could regress in 2025—not because they lack talent, but because of subtle yet significant erosion. Injuries derailed their playoff hopes last year, but fans have remained hopeful that better health and returning stars like Aidan Hutchinson will keep them on track. Still, Schwab isn’t so sure.
A major factor in his concern? The loss of two top coordinators—Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.
“We underrate losing coordinators,” Schwab said. “There was a reason Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were two of the three or four highest candidates in the pecking order when the coaching carousel came around. These are good coaches—really, really good coaches.”
Ben Johnson, in particular, was seen as a rising offensive mastermind, while Aaron Glenn managed to hold together a battered defense late in the season.
“Aaron Glenn was holding that defense together with Scotch tape by the end of the year. Really impressive for him,” Schwab added.
Beyond the sidelines, the Lions also suffered key losses on the offensive line. The retirement of their standout center hit particularly hard.
“We don’t talk about offensive line a lot, but that retirement was pretty bad for the Lions,” Schwab pointed out. “He was a special player. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 2 center last year.”
Adding to that blow was the departure of guard Kevin Zeitler, another strong performer. Losing two out of three interior offensive linemen raises real concerns about whether Detroit’s running backs—Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery—will find the same success on the ground.
While Schwab doesn’t foresee a dramatic fall from grace, he emphasized that small declines in several areas could have a cumulative impact.
“It just erodes a little bit… your offensive line is not quite as good, your offensive play-calling is not quite as good, your defensive leadership is not quite as good. Everybody’s a year older,” he explained.
The Lions’ schedule in 2025 won’t do them any favors either. A tougher slate means less margin for error.
“You’re getting a little unluckier with the schedule being tougher. It just erodes a little bit to where you’re obviously not 15-2—that’s way too much to ask,” Schwab said. “But then you ask, is this a team that can even get the one seed in the NFC? I think right now my answer is no.”
Even though he’s rooting for Detroit to succeed, Schwab fears this golden era could end with “what ifs” and missed opportunities.
“I want this for the Lions, but I think this is a less effective version of the Lions we’re going to see this year.”