Detroit’s season has unraveled dramatically, ending a three-year run of playoff appearances after a flat 23–10 loss to division rival Minnesota on Christmas Day.
Midway through the season, the Lions appeared to be in control. A dominant 44–22 victory over Washington pushed them to 6–3 and served as payback for the previous year’s postseason defeat.
During that game, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown drew attention after scoring a touchdown and breaking into a dance associated with former President Donald Trump. St. Brown later said he believed Trump was in the building, though Trump did not arrive until well after kickoff.
The celebration sparked online criticism, and the moment took an even stranger turn when St. Brown was struck in the face afterward, an incident that led to an arrest.
Since that point, Detroit has gone just 2–5, a slide that continued with their Christmas loss — a game played amid controversy after Terry Bradshaw and Michael Strahan were barred from participating in the holiday broadcasts.
Despite the team’s struggles, St. Brown has continued to perform at an elite level. He was recently selected to his fourth straight Pro Bowl after once again topping 100 receptions.
The Lions’ downturn, however, cannot be pinned on him.
Injuries have ravaged the roster, particularly on defense. The secondary has been hit hard, with Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Terrion Arnold all sidelined on injured reserve. The offense has also been short-handed, missing key contributors Sam LaPorta and Taylor Decker.
The problems extend beyond injuries. Detroit underwent major coaching turnover in the offseason, losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets. Their replacements have struggled to fill the void. Offensive coordinator John Morton was eventually relieved of play-calling duties, with head coach Dan Campbell taking over. Meanwhile, quarterback Jared Goff’s efficiency has dropped to its lowest level in years.
After falling short against San Francisco in the 2023 NFC Championship Game, Campbell warned that returning to that stage would not be easy. While he stopped short of calling it a last chance, he openly acknowledged how rare such opportunities are and how much harder it becomes to repeat that success.
His words now seem prophetic. Detroit has been unable to recapture the same edge or momentum, and what once looked like a promising Super Bowl window has slammed shut far sooner than expected.
