The Detroit Lions aim to keep their strong momentum going under head coach Dan Campbell in 2025, despite losing key members of the coaching staff during the offseason.
Campbell had to appoint new offensive (John Morton) and defensive coordinators (Kelvin Sheppard) in January after Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn left to take head-coaching roles — in Chicago and New York, respectively. He’s also filled out the staff with fresh position coaches and assistants, placing trust in new voices to guide a roster that returns most of the core that won the NFC North and earned the top seed in the 2024 playoffs.
The Lions hope Campbell — their energizing leader — has brought in the right minds to keep the team competitive in the NFC and in the Super Bowl race for 2025. However, some uncertainty remains over how well his new staff will perform under pressure.
With training camp approaching in July, here are three bold predictions for how things could unfold for the Lions during the 2025 campaign:
Goff delivered a superb 2024 campaign, totaling 4,629 passing yards and a personal-best 37 touchdowns while completing 72.4% of his throws — the second-best mark in the league. His consistent quarterbacking was a huge reason the Lions reached 15 wins and repeated as division champs. He even finished fifth in MVP voting, showing how critical he was to their offensive success.
But with Johnson gone from the play-calling role, there are questions about how well Goff and Morton — a 55-year-old offensive veteran — will work together. Morton helped shape a system that highlighted rookie Bo Nix’s strengths in Denver last year, but Goff isn’t as mobile. He’s also coming off a brutal playoff loss, throwing three picks and completing under 60% of his passes — a finish that raised doubts about his ceiling.
Even if Goff and Morton build chemistry quickly, there’s a strong possibility Goff takes a step back in 2025.
The Lions played much of last season without their top edge threat — Hutchinson — on defense. He had 7.5 sacks in the first five games before suffering a gruesome injury to his left leg (tibia and fibula) in a Week 5 clash with the Cowboys, forcing him out for the year.
Luckily for Detroit, Hutchinson has been cleared for a 2025 return after a spring medical review and is expected to bring a much-needed spark back to their front line. The 24-year-old will be motivated after missing so much time, and the Lions could further inspire him with a contract extension before the season kicks off. Even without a deal, he’ll return as a star player on a title-contending squad. If he rediscovers his early 2024 form, he’ll be a strong candidate for Comeback Player of the Year.
The Lions may experience early turbulence adjusting to their new coaching hires in 2025. First-time play-callers will need a learning curve to find rhythm, fix scheme issues, and install their concepts. Players, too, might take time to get used to new systems and language, though Campbell’s stability as head coach could ease the growing pains.
Even with some likely hiccups, Detroit’s talent base is too deep to ignore. Nearly all of the team’s core contributors return, and their established chemistry should reduce miscommunications stemming from the staff changes. Plus, the Lions are set to regain several injured contributors from last year, including Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and Alim McNeill.
Though every other NFC North team improved its roster this offseason, Detroit still has a great chance to remain the division’s top team — if it stays healthy.
