The Detroit Lions just wrapped up a 2025 season that felt like a cold bucket of water to the face. Honestly, after that 15-2 run in 2024, nobody expected a 9-8 finish and a "vacation" during the playoffs. But here we are. The Detroit Lions latest news isn't about playoff brackets or Super Bowl odds anymore; it’s about a massive internal audit that’s already claiming jobs and shifting the roster.
Dan Campbell didn’t mince words during his season-ending presser. He graded himself a "freaking F." That’s not just coach-speak for "we lost a few." It’s a signal that the status quo in Allen Park is officially dead. If you’ve been following the team, you know the grit is still there, but the execution? That vanished somewhere between the Week 6 loss to the Chiefs and the Week 17 heartbreaker against Minnesota.
The Offensive Coordinator Search: It’s Mike McDaniel or Bust?
The biggest bombshell in the Detroit Lions latest news is the vacancy at offensive coordinator. John Morton is out, and the search for a replacement is getting spicy. The name on everyone’s lips right now is Mike McDaniel. Yeah, the former Dolphins head coach.
Reports indicate the Lions interviewed McDaniel this past Tuesday. He’s the "white whale" of this coaching cycle. While he’s also taking meetings with the Bucs and potentially looking at head coaching gigs in Baltimore or Atlanta, the Lions offer something unique: a ready-made offense with Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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- Mike Kafka: The Giants' interim head coach is the other major finalist. He’s seen as a more "stable" pick compared to McDaniel’s high-variance genius.
- The Play-Calling Question: Dan Campbell hasn't decided if he’ll keep calling plays in 2026. If he lands a big fish like McDaniel, he almost certainly hands over the headset.
Brad Holmes has been clear about what he wants in the next OC. He’s looking for "complementary football"—something Aidan Hutchinson publicly complained was missing in 2025. The defense would get a stop, and the offense would go three-and-out. It was exhausting to watch.
Roster Moves: Who is Staying and Who is Packing?
The "clean out" has already started. The Lions recently signed nine players to reserve/future contracts to fill out the 90-man offseason roster. We’re talking about guys like Malik Cunningham and Ahmed Hassanein. Hassanein is a particularly interesting one; he’s a defensive end who spent his rookie year on the shelf with a pectoral injury. The team basically views 2026 as his "true" rookie debut.
Then there’s the David Montgomery situation. This one hurts. Brad Holmes admitted the team will have "conversations" about potentially trading Montgomery. It’s a classic NFL move—he’s a veteran with a shrinking role because Jahmyr Gibbs has turned into a superstar. Gibbs ended the year with 264 carries and 77 catches. He’s the engine now. Montgomery is still great, but the Lions might prefer the draft capital.
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The Injury Dust-Up
One thing that flew under the radar in the Detroit Lions latest news was Sam LaPorta’s health. He was walking, in his own words, "like an 80-year-old" before finally opting for season-ending surgery. Losing him and Brock Wright at the same time basically killed the middle of the field for Jared Goff.
Campbell defended the medical staff, calling the 2025 injury plague "freak accidents." But when your All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell and your defensive anchor Alim McNeill are both missing the season finale, you have to wonder if the "grit" style of practice is taking too high a toll.
Why the "Not That Far Off" Narrative Might Be True
Despite the 9-8 record, the Lions were actually a few bounces away from the division title. Five of their eight losses were by a single possession. You change one play in that Packers game or the Vikings loss, and Detroit is hosting a playoff game.
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- Jared Goff’s Stability: Goff quietly had a career year in some metrics, throwing 34 touchdowns. He’s "going nowhere," according to Campbell.
- The Jack Campbell Leap: Jack Campbell finished as a First-Team All-Pro. He’s the real deal and the clear leader of the defense moving forward.
- The Salary Cap: Detroit is still in a healthy spot. They aren't in "cap hell" like some of their NFC North rivals, which means Brad Holmes can be aggressive in free agency to fix the secondary.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Outlook
A lot of fans think the Lions "collapsed." It’s more accurate to say they stagnated. The offensive line, usually the team's greatest strength, struggled with consistency. Taylor Decker is weighing retirement. Frank Ragnow has been in and out of the lineup.
If the Lions don’t draft a tackle high in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’re playing with fire. You can’t have Goff—who is essentially a statuesque pocket passer—playing behind a leaky front five.
Actionable Steps for Lions Fans to Follow This Offseason
Don't just wait for training camp. The next three months will define the next three years of this franchise. Here is what you should be watching:
- Monitor the OC Hire: If it’s McDaniel, expect a heavy emphasis on Gibbs in the passing game. If it’s Kafka, expect a more traditional, West Coast-style approach.
- Watch the Fifth-Year Options: The team has some big decisions coming up on rookie contracts. Decisions made in February and March will tell you who the front office views as "foundational" versus "expendable."
- The Combine and Free Agency: The secondary is still the weak link. Look for the Lions to target a high-end cornerback in free agency rather than relying solely on the draft. D.J. Reed and Avonte Maddox were good additions, but they need a true "shutdown" corner to compete with the likes of Justin Jefferson.
The window isn't closed, but it’s definitely creaking. Sheila Hamp sent a letter to season-ticket holders saying "it’s not a time for drastic change," but the moves in the coaching staff suggest otherwise. The Lions are done being the "lovable losers" or the "scrappy upstarts." In 2026, it’s about proving that 2024 wasn’t a fluke and 2025 was just a very loud wake-up call.