3 Costly Mistakes That Doomed the Detroit Lions Before the 2025 Season Even Began
The Detroit Lions’ 2025 NFL season came to an abrupt and painful end following a 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, a game that effectively eliminated their playoff hopes. Adding insult to injury, the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Green Bay Packers meant a Lions victory would have kept postseason dreams alive.
Instead of preparing for January football, Lions general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell were left conducting a full post-mortem—trying to understand how a promising season unraveled before it ever truly began.
Dan Campbell Takes Accountability After Lions’ Collapse
Following the loss, Campbell made it clear that no one—including himself—was above scrutiny.
“I’m going to be looking at a lot of things because I do not like being home for the playoffs,” Campbell told ESPN. “Everybody’s involved, including myself.”
That mindset defines the Lions’ culture, but accountability alone doesn’t erase the mistakes that contributed to Detroit’s downfall.
Injuries, Inconsistency, and a Crumbling Foundation
Several factors combined to derail the Lions’ season:
A severely weakened offensive line
Too many injuries to elite players
Inadequate depth across key positions
Inconsistent play on offense, defense, and special teams
As a result, week-to-week performance became unpredictable. After opening the season with a 27-13 loss to Green Bay, Detroit rattled off four straight wins. However, a Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs exposed cracks that never fully healed.
While the Lions bounced back with a dominant 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—holding them out of the end zone entirely—the momentum didn’t last.
False Hope Fueled by Past Success
Memories of Detroit’s historic 2024 season created a false sense of confidence. Fans believed this team could once again overcome adversity. But reality hit hard.
A brutal loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers—sealed by controversial late penalties—marked the point of no return. Injuries, inexperience, and poor execution finally caught up to the Lions, and even the normally optimistic Campbell sounded deflated afterward.
Three Mistakes That Doomed the Lions’ 2025 Season
This isn’t an indictment of Brad Holmes or Dan Campbell. Their leadership rebuilt this franchise. However, several critical decisions likely set the Lions back before the season even started.
Mistake #1: Not Drafting an Offensive Lineman in the First Round
The Lions entered the 2025 NFL Draft needing offensive line help, especially after losing Kevin Zeitler. Despite that, Detroit passed on North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel, who was selected 18th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
Zabel went on to allow just two sacks in 15 games and quickly established himself as a high-end NFL pass protector.
Instead, the Lions selected defensive tackle Tyleik Williams at No. 28. While Williams has shown promise—posting 17 tackles, one sack, and three pass defenses—Detroit’s offensive line instability proved far more damaging.
Second-round pick Tate Ratledge played well, starting all 15 games and earning solid PFF grades. Still, with the retirement of Frank Ragnow and injuries up front, Detroit needed immediate elite reinforcements—not just developmental success.
Mistake #2: Failing to Address EDGE Depth Early
Detroit hoped Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal would complement Aidan Hutchinson, but injuries made that plan unworkable.
Instead of drafting an EDGE early, Holmes waited until the sixth round to select Ahmed Hassanein, who suffered a preseason pectoral tear and never played a snap in 2025.
Meanwhile, EDGE Donavan Ezeiruaku—taken by the Dallas Cowboys—delivered immediate production, including multiple sacks, pressures, and a forced fumble.
Veteran Al-Quadin Muhammad stepped up admirably, recording 12 sacks and 52 pressures, but relying on late additions instead of long-term depth left the Lions exposed.
Mistake #3: Missed Opportunities in Free Agency
Detroit’s biggest misstep may have come in free agency.
While the Chicago Bears aggressively rebuilt their offensive line—signing center Drew Dalman and trading for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson—the Lions failed to match that urgency.
Detroit’s marquee signing was cornerback D.J. Reed, who struggled after a hamstring injury and posted one of the league’s lowest coverage grades upon return.
Other free-agent additions produced mixed results:
Roy Lopez emerged as a solid contributor
Rock Ya-Sin played efficiently in coverage
Kenny Yeboah was lost for the season
Grant Stuard and Avonte Maddox offered limited impact
One can’t help but wonder how different the season might have looked had Detroit invested in veteran offensive linemen to stabilize the trenches.
Final Thoughts: Lessons Learned for the Lions’ Future
The Detroit Lions took a step backward in 2025, but the foundation remains strong. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have proven they can build a contender.
This season’s failure will sting—but it also provides clarity.
If the Lions address offensive line depth, EDGE support, and free-agency priorities, there’s every reason to believe Detroit will return stronger, tougher, and far more prepared in 2026.
The post-mortem is painful—but necessary. And history suggests the Lions will respond.
