By Blessing 
Not long ago, the Detroit Lions struggled to find stability at quarterback. From Joey Harrington to Scott Mitchell and Charlie Batch, several names tried — and failed — to claim the title of franchise quarterback. Then came Matthew Stafford, who brought some stability throughout the 2010s. And now, Jared Goff has not only stepped up but guided the Lions into a new era of success — their most promising stretch since the 1950s.
Goff is firmly entrenched as Detroit’s starting quarterback, but behind him, things aren’t as clear. One name that’s been in the spotlight lately: Hendon Hooker, a former draft pick who now finds himself fighting for his place on the roster as July rolls in.
Hendon Hooker Fighting to Stick with the Lions
Detroit took a chance on Hendon Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, hoping to develop him into a reliable backup or potential future starter. His college stats from Tennessee were impressive — 6,080 yards, 58 touchdowns, and only five interceptions over two seasons. Despite suffering a torn ACL in his final college year, the Lions believed his accuracy and decision-making were worth the investment.
The team has shown before that they’re willing to be patient with injured players — just look at Jameson Williams, who was drafted in 2022 while recovering from an injury. The expectation was that Hooker would use his rookie year to heal and get acclimated to the NFL. That’s exactly what happened. He essentially “redshirted” his first year, only appearing in three games in 2024 and completing 6 of 9 passes for 62 yards — all in garbage-time situations.
But the red flags began to show when the Lions added veteran Teddy Bridgewater late in the 2023 season. During the playoff game against Washington, when Goff temporarily exited, it was Bridgewater — not Hooker — who took the snaps. That moment said a lot.
Getting passed over for another QB is one thing. But losing snaps to a veteran who had been retired and coaching high school football earlier that year? That’s a bitter pill to swallow.
This offseason, Detroit added more competition by signing Kyle Allen. It was a move that sent a clear message. While quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell offered encouraging words about Hooker’s development during OTAs, not everyone’s convinced. Sports Illustrated’s Vito Chirco cast doubt on whether either Allen or Hooker is capable of handling the backup job.
“Just as was the case last year, if the Lions have to go to their backups…for any extended period of time, they’ll be in trouble,” Chirco wrote. “I do believe Hooker is more prepared now than he was a season ago to come into a game and relieve Goff (or even spot start for him). However, I still believe Detroit would be playing with fire if it had to rely upon its backups.”
Even Winning the Backup Job Might Not Be Enough
The concern isn’t just about whether Hooker can beat out Kyle Allen in training camp — it’s whether either of them is good enough to be Goff’s backup at all. Chirco added that “99 percent” of other teams would also be in trouble if their starter went down, but that doesn’t make Detroit’s situation any less concerning.
There’s also the matter of Hooker’s age. He turns 27 this year, which is older than most second-year quarterbacks. His rookie season, lost to injury and recovery, could’ve been a critical development year. Now, he’s older and still fighting for relevance.
Even if Hooker edges out Allen in camp, there’s no guarantee the Lions won’t go shopping for a new QB. If neither option impresses, a move on the trade market wouldn’t be surprising.
As training camp approaches, Hooker’s time in Detroit feels increasingly uncertain. With the calendar turning to July, he’s not just battling for playing time — he may be battling for his NFL future.