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Lions Ripped Apart By Former Player For What They Did To Him (Look)

The Detroit Lions have turned a corner with Dan Campbell. After decades of being a doormat in the NFL, they have not only shattered franchise records, but become a force in the NFC. While their 2025 campaign ended with a subpar 9-8 record, the two seasons prior to that showcased how much talent their have on their roster.

However, one former player is extremely upset with how the team has treated him since his departure.

Sep 14, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Former Lions’ OL Taylor Decker Lets The Public In On What’s Been Going On

The Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker posted on social media about “surprising” conversations with the team that led him to request his release:

“In my weeks since notifying the team of my return there have been numerous discussion. Many of which were a surprise to me, and we could not find common ground. Therefore I decided to request my release,” Decker wrote on March 6.

Decker and the Lions both knew that retirement was clearly an option for the veteran left tackle who had publicly discussed how injuries and time away from family had started to wear on his 10-year football career. But according to Decker, in his pair of exit interviews with the team in January, two things were made clear for both sides:

The Lions wanted him back

Decker was not interested in taking a pay cut

However, when the two sides reconvened after Decker announced he’d be returning for an 11th season, he was blindsided when the team told his agent that the only way he’d be returning was if he was on a pay cut.

There wasn’t much discussion after that. Decker turned the offer down before the two sides even discussed numbers.

Earlier in the week, Lions general manager Brad Holmes offered his side of the situation, insisting the only thing that could have been considered surprising was the timing of Decker’s public announcement of his return. Although Decker said he talked to coach Dan Campbell the day before about his decision and tried to reach out to Holmes, but he did not get a responding call or text.

“I think a lot of those situations that happen, it all starts with communication and what you communicate with the player, what you communicate with the player’s agent, and so it starts there,” Holmes said. “There was really no surprises. Again, you don’t know when a player is going to put something out. So if you want to say there was a surprise, maybe it was that a surprise, but in terms of the decisions that he made, I wouldn’t say that that’d be a surprise.”

Detroit Lions Taylor Decker

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (68) takes the field during introduction before the between Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023.

Taylor Decker’s NFL Career

Decker was a first round pick for Detroit in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. He spent his entire 10 year career with the Lions and was a key part of their turn around in recent years.

Over the course of his career he started every single game he appeared in (140), was a pro bowler in 2024, and caught two touchdown passes during his career. He became a fan favorite throughout the decade he spent with the Lions.

This type of communication (or lack there of) has shocked fans and analysts alike.

It will be interesting to see if the two sides can mend the relationship in the months/years to come.