Watching the Super Bowl is a lot less exciting when your team isn’t part of it—and for the Detroit Lions, that feeling is all too familiar. The franchise has yet to make a Super Bowl appearance, and after Super Bowl LX concluded with the Seattle Seahawks defeating the New England Patriots 29–13 on Sunday, February 8, Detroit made its presence felt in a different way.

The Lions wrapped up their season earlier, finishing on January 4 with a narrow 19–16 road victory over the Chicago Bears. While ending the year with a win provided a small bright spot, the overall 2025–26 campaign was largely disappointing. Detroit finished at the bottom of the NFC North standings.

According to ESPN data, the Lions closed the regular season at 9–8 and failed to qualify for the playoffs. That result stood in sharp contrast to the previous year, when Detroit dominated the NFC North and finished with the conference’s top overall record. The turnaround from one season to the next was dramatic.

After the season finale against Chicago, head coach Dan Campbell reflected on the setback with perspective. He explained that he believes challenges can ultimately lead to positive outcomes, emphasizing that it’s up to him and general manager Brad Holmes to turn the situation into something constructive with the players they trust moving forward. Campbell acknowledged that while the final win felt good, the season needed to be evaluated honestly.

In the wake of the Super Bowl, the Lions shared a message on social media by reposting content from the NFL’s official X account. The post focused on motivation and appreciation, highlighting the idea that belief itself can be a powerful force and thanking NFL coaches for their efforts.

That sense of belief may be crucial heading into the 2026–27 season. Detroit recently hired Drew Petzing as its new offensive coordinator in January 2026. However, Petzing’s prior stint with the Arizona Cardinals raised some concerns, as the team struggled to a 3–14 record during the 2025–26 season, per NFL data.

Despite the challenges, Campbell remains confident in the direction of the team. Speaking to reporters after the Bears game, he pointed to moments when all three phases—offense, defense, and special teams—came together when it mattered most. He noted that the team controlled possession through extended drives and responded effectively whenever adversity hit, whether through defensive stops or timely offensive answers.

Campbell emphasized that this type of complementary football is a hallmark of successful teams, adding that Detroit hadn’t consistently played that way in recent weeks. Still, he viewed the performance as a reminder of what the Lions are capable of when everything clicks.