The Detroit Lions once appeared to be firmly in control of the NFC North. Sitting at 5–2 before their bye week, they looked like a team headed for another division crown. That momentum, however, quickly disappeared. Offensive production dropped off, defensive injuries mounted, and the coaching staff struggled to stabilize things.

Dan Campbell even stepped in to handle play-calling duties for struggling coordinator John Morton, but the move failed to spark improvement. The breaking point came on Christmas Day, when Detroit committed six turnovers in a crucial loss to Minnesota.

Lions’ Postseason Chances Slip Away
As the weeks go by, many Lions supporters are finally acknowledging what’s been obvious for a while: losing Ben Johnson has had a major impact on the offense. Losing a top-tier coordinator was always going to hurt, but Campbell’s failure to land a capable replacement has compounded the problem.

According to CBS Sports reporter Jonathan Jones, Detroit is preparing for yet another shakeup at offensive coordinator. Instead of targeting an established name, Campbell may take a more risky approach.

Sources around the league believe Campbell will once again be searching for a new offensive coordinator and could look to Johnson’s coaching tree, just a year after Johnson left Detroit.

That strategy comes with serious risk.
History shows that trying to recreate a successful coach by hiring one of his assistants rarely works as planned. Great play-callers are often unique, and success doesn’t always transfer through proximity.

Campbell’s internal candidates include quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El, both of whom worked closely with Johnson during his time in Detroit.

There’s also speculation that Campbell could explore a move for Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle by offering him full play-calling responsibilities—though Chicago would have the authority to block such a move.
There is a chance one of these options pays off. Randle-El has built a strong résumé over many years in the league and appears ready for a bigger role. Barrett, meanwhile, has earned respect for his work with quarterbacks and has a track record of success both as a player and a coach.

Even so, expecting either to replicate Johnson’s results would be unrealistic. At this point, Campbell’s approach feels more reactive than strategic. Instead of chasing the past, Detroit may need a more grounded and proven solution moving forward.