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Detroit Lions 2025 NFL Season Preview

[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine.Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

A spate of injuries marred the Detroit Lions’ dream season in 2024, with six defensive starters and several key backups landing on injured reserve by season’s end. Not coincidentally, Detroit allowed 30-plus points in four of its final six games, including the home playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

But after rolling to a 15-2 regular season and earning the NFC’s No. 1 seed with the league’s highest-scoring offense, there’s no need for an overhaul here. Instead, head coach Dan Campbell’s team is ready to run it back with its talented young core, returning 20 of 22 starters in pursuit of the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth. As linebacker Derrick Barnes says, “This is a winning program now. We’ve built a culture where going to the playoffs is not going to be enough for us.”

More NFL team previews

AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots

AFC North:Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers

AFC South:Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans

AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders

NFC East:Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants

NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings

NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints

NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks

Offense

Ben Johnson took the head-coaching job in Chicago in January after turning down other opportunities the previous two seasons. So the Lions are breaking in a new offensive coordinator for the second time in Campbell’s tenure in Detroit. The good news: New play-caller John Morton was heavily involved in building this offense around quarterback Jared Goff as a special assistant under Johnson in 2021. And after spending the past two seasons as pass game coordinator with the Denver Broncos, he’ll have arguably the NFL’s best arsenal at his disposal now.

Jared Goff

It’s led by Goff, an MVP finalist last season who ranked second in the league in passing yards, completion percentage and quarterback rating. The 30-year-old is in his prime and just beginning a contract extension that could run through 2028. But more importantly, Goff has developed a strong rapport with the skill-position talent surrounding him, from wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams to tight end Sam LaPorta to the backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

The NFL’s best running back duo combined for 3,016 scrimmage yards and 32 touchdowns in 2024, with Montgomery’s hard-nosed running style setting the tone for the Lions’ offense and Gibbs emerging as one of the league’s most dynamic weapons. Only Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley had more runs of 10-plus yards than Gibbs last season. Look for the Lions to find more ways to involve last year’s rookie project, Sione Vaki, in the offense as well.

They all benefit by playing behind one of the league’s best offensive lines, anchored by a pair of All-Pros in right tackle Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow. The Lions lost guard Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans in free agency, but they expect second-round pick Tate Ratledge to push for a starting job over either veteran mainstay Graham Glasgow or second-year brawler Christian Mahogany. Keeping beloved line coach Hank Fraley, a candidate for coordinator jobs elsewhere, was another coup for Campbell.

No tight end in NFL history has more receptions in his first two seasons than LaPorta, who remains a trusted third-down and red-zone target for Goff. The Lions also utilized Brock Wright’s in-line strength, operating out of 12 personnel nearly a third of the time last season, the third-highest rate in the league.

Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a huge contract extension and turned in another All-Pro season, while Jameson Williams’ 1,000-yard breakout added another big-play dimension to Detroit’s high-powered offense. Williams had four TD catches of 50-plus yards, and Morton has made no secret about wanting to emphasize explosive plays in his scheme. Goff’s search for a reliable No. 3 option finally landed on Tim Patrick, a late-preseason pickup whose big catch radius and clutch earned him plenty of praise and another contract this spring. They’re backed by another reliable vet in Kalif Raymond, as well as third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa.

Defense

It’s nearly impossible to gauge the improvements Detroit made defensively last season. The Lions lost two front-seven starters for the season in Week 2, then lost star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg in their fifth game. An opportunistic unit continued to make do despite dwindling sack production, but eventually the attrition was too much.

Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions.

Aidan Hutchinson

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Hutchinson should be full-go before training camp, and by September, the Lions could make the former No. 2 overall pick the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. The Lions also re-signed Marcus Davenport to play the big-edge role opposite Hutchinson, but a search for more pass-rush help is ongoing.

So is the transition to a new coordinator after Aaron Glenn also landed a head-coaching gig with the New York Jets. Kelvin Sheppard, the high-energy linebackers coach groomed to be Glenn’s successor, figures to keep the same aggressive approach and man-heavy coverage schemes.

Underrated defensive tackle Alim McNeill may not be ready to start the season as he rehabs a torn ACL from last December. But the Lions added more depth alongside vet DJ Reader by signing former Arizona Cardinal Roy Lopez and drafting another run-stuffer in first-rounder Tyleik Williams.

They’re backed by a deep linebacker corps that was also decimated by injuries last season. Alex Anzalone is the leader, but emerging star Jack Campbell is a tackling machine, and Barnes, who fills a versatile SAM role, is back on a new contract after missing most of last season with torn knee ligaments.

The Lions made Kerby Joseph the NFL’s highest-paid safety in April after he led the league with nine interceptions last season. But he’s not the only ball hawk on the back end, where he’s paired with ultra-productive Brian Branch, who earned a Pro Bowl nod after making the switch from nickel last season.

The Lions boasted the NFL’s No. 1 third-down defense and allowed the second-lowest completion percentage. And while they lost top corner Carlton Davis III to the New England Patriots, they moved quickly in free agency to replace him with D.J. Reed, whose physical, in-your-face game seems tailor-made for this defense. The key will be whether Terrion Arnold can take the next step toward filling the No. 1 role after the 2024 first-round pick experienced some growing pains as a rookie. Amik Robertson remains the feisty nickel, while Avonte Maddox — fresh off a Super Bowl title with the Philadelphia Eagles — and 2024 second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw add depth.

Specialists

A revolving door at placekicker finally stopped on the unlikeliest story, as Jake Bates went from brick salesman to UFL standout to rookie sensation with the Lions in the span of 18 months. Bates made his first 19 field goals as a rookie and finished 26-of-29, including a league-high four go-ahead or game-tying field goals in the final two minutes or overtime.

Punter Jack Fox remains a serious weapon for the Lions, earning first-team All-Pro honors after setting an NFL record for net punting average. Raymond finished third in punt return average, and the Lions’ coverage units were top five again under coordinator Dave Fipp.

Final Analysis

The Lions know it’ll be hard to match the regular-season success from a year ago — especially since they’re saddled with the second-toughest schedule in the league, with road trips to face Kansas City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Rams. Campbell wants his team to stay true to its blue-collar identity and embrace the challenge. “We’re competitive, I’m competitive,” he says. “So yeah, I love the thought of it, man. This is going to be a meat grinder.” If the Lions can survive it, they’ve got the talent to win it all and plenty of hunger to match.