As we near training camp, position battles start to become the main focus. And in Detroit, there never seems to be a bigger competition than the backup quarterback job. Jared Goff is running unopposed for the starting job, but there is plenty of intrigue behind him.
With our 2025 Detroit Lions roster review continuing, let’s focus in on Hendon Hooker, how his career has progressed, and what that may look like in this upcoming season.
Previous previews:QB Jared Goff,RB Sione Vaki, RB Jahmyr Gibbs,WR Jameson Williams, WR Kalif Raymond, TE Sam LaPorta, OL Colby Sorsdal, OT Giovanni Manu,OT Penei Sewell, G Graham Glasgow, EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Brodric Martin, DL Pat O’Connor, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, LB Grant Stuard,CB Ennis Rakestraw, CB Terrion Arnold, DB Brian Branch, K Jake Bates
Hendon Hooker
Expectations heading into 2024
After essentially redshirting his rookie season, Hooker was expected to compete for the backup job—with some serious hope he had progressed a lot in what limited practices he got in at the end of 2023.
His main competition for the backup job was veteran Nate Sudfeld, and there was a strong battle between the two brewing in training camp. There was little doubt Hooker would make the team, but it wasn’t clear if he’d win the backup job or if he’d struggle and necessitate Sudfeld making the 53-man roster as the primary backup.
Actual role in 2024
3 games (0 starts) — 33 offensive snaps
Stats: 6-of-9, 62 yards, 86.3 passer rating
PFF overall grade: 74.1 (Did not qualify for ranking)
PFF passing grade: 72.8
Hooker had an up-and-down training camp, but it was enough for him to win the job outright. Sudfeld was cut and not kept on the practice squad, while the Lions added another young quarterback in Jake Fromm to serve as the third string.
That, alone, showed a strong amount of faith in Hooker. The Lions didn’t feel the need of a polished, veteran emergency option.... well, until the playoffs.
Detroit had seemingly always planned to sign Teddy Bridgewater once the semi-retired quarterback was done coaching his high school team. That’s exactly what they did, and Bridgewater was anointed the backup for the Lions’ playoff game against the Commanders. Coach Dan Campbell insisted that wasn’t a knock on Hooker’s development.
“It doesn’t mean we’re disappointed in Hooker. That’s not what this means,” Campbell said. “It just means this gives us somebody that’s played a lot in the NFL. We’re getting ready for the playoffs, so it’ll be good to get him back in the fold with us.”
Quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell took it a step further, insisting they would be comfortable if Hooker needed to step in.
#Lions QB Mark Brunell said Detroit would absolutely trust Hendon Hooker to appear in a playoff game if necessary.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) December 26, 2024
That’s not how it played out, though. Goff did end up missing one series, and it was Bridgewater—not Hooker—who stepped in.
Still, coaches seemed happy about Hooker’s progress throughout the season, and, again, the lack of a veteran quarterback in the team’s depth for the majority of the season seems to imply they trusted Hooker on some level.
Outlook for 2025
This year, the Lions have once again added veteran competition for Hooker, and general manager Brad Holmes insists it will be a true battle for the backup position.
“Still got high hopes for (Hooker), but nobody’s gonna be given a job either,” Holmes said this spring. “So if Hendon wants to be the number two quarterback, then win the No. 2 quarterback job.”
When Hooker showed up at OTAs this spring, he did seem to impress both his coaches and his teammates.
“Every year, he is just going to get better. We’ve already seen it in just the couple of weeks that we’ve been on the field,” Brunell said. “He’s throwing the ball better, his footwork is better. And he understands there are concepts. This has been really good for him.
“And, as we go, the kid—because of his focus and his attitude and his work ethic—he’s naturally just going to become a better quarterback. When he gets out there in preseason, I imagine he’s going to get a lot of reps, and you’ll see a better version of him than you did last year. I’m excited about that. I’m really pleased with Hendon.”
“He’s done great, man,” Goff said in May. “He’s been fun to watch, and certainly early on in OTAs, seeing how much he’s matured and he’s grown, it seems to be slowing down a little bit for him now.”
It’s one thing to do it in practice without pads or full contact, but it’s another to do it in a game. Thankfully, Hooker will have extra chances to put that growth on display with the Lions playing in the extra Hall of Fame preseason game. Given that Detroit hasn’t played much, if any, starters in the preseason, we should see at least four halves of football from Hooker this exhibition season, and it will be the most important football Hooker has played in the NFL to date.