By Sunday 
In Detroit, hope has been high. The Lions, long defined by near-misses and heartbreak, finally clawed their way into contender status over the past two seasons. But now, heading into 2025, there’s one question echoing louder than the roar of Ford Field: Are the Lions quietly slipping backward?
One of the team’s most passionate followers, 97.1 The Ticket’s Marc Ryan, thinks so—and he’s not sugarcoating a single word of it.
“I Don’t Think the Lions Had a Good Offseason”
Marc Ryan didn’t ease into his July 5th broadcast. Instead, he dropped a bucket of cold water on Lions Nation:
“I can’t avoid this anymore. I do not think the Lions had a good offseason in any way, shape or form,” Ryan said.
The criticism? It starts with missed opportunities in the draft. Detroit made efforts to trade up for top pass-rusher James Pearce Jr., but it didn’t happen. Free agency didn’t do much to soothe concerns either—particularly on the defensive front, where the Lions were 23rd in sacks last year.
Za’Darius Smith? Still not in Honolulu blue. The pass rush, Ryan argues, hasn’t been addressed in a meaningful way.
Life After Ben Johnson: Can Goff Thrive?
Perhaps the biggest X-factor in this year’s puzzle is Jared Goff, and what life will look like without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who’s now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Ryan pointed out a critical truth:
“Everyone knows that the best football of Jared Goff’s career was played with a head coach of the Chicago Bears.”
That’s not shade—just context. Goff has thrived under Johnson’s creative play-calling. Without him, it’s fair to wonder if that rhythm can be replicated under a new OC. History shows that teams replacing both coordinators generally perform only one game worse the following year, but Goff’s success feels particularly tethered to his former play-caller.
The Ragnow Shock: Offensive Line Now a Wildcard
Then came the gut punch: Frank Ragnow’s sudden retirement.
Add in the departure of Kevin Zeitler, and the Lions’ once-bulldozing offensive line looks a little less intimidating. Ryan called it plainly:
“The offensive line, folks, could be offensive, with everything that was lost.”
For a team built on grit in the trenches, that’s a serious warning. Games are still won in the trenches, and Detroit’s offensive foundation is suddenly under renovation.
A Transition Year in Disguise?
If you ask Ryan, 2025 isn’t “the year.” It’s the bridge—a season to evaluate long-term pieces, test a new OC, and reconfigure a depleted O-line. He even questioned whether Detroit is sold on Jameson Williams as a franchise wideout.
“I see this as a transition season for Detroit… re-tooling the offensive line, establishing, ‘Do we want Jameson Williams here long-term or not?’”
Let the Heat Come
To his credit, Ryan welcomed the backlash if he’s wrong:
“Should the Detroit Lions win the Super Bowl this year, I want you to give me the greatest amount of hell…”
That’s the kind of energy you expect from a guy who bleeds blue and silver.
Conclusion: Concern, Not Collapse
Let’s be clear: no one’s burying the Lions. This isn’t a rebuild—it’s a recalibration. But for a team with Super Bowl expectations, even small steps backward feel seismic.
If 2025 turns into a stumble, it won’t be because the talent vanished—it’ll be because the chemistry and consistency took a hit. For now, the Motor City faithful would do well to watch carefully… because the warning lights are blinking.