In the high-stakes world of the NFL, the “what have you done for me lately” mentality often leads to impulsive decisions.

Following a frustrating 2025 season that saw the Detroit Lions finish 8–8 and miss the playoffs, the calls for change are predictable. However, moving on from Head Coach Dan Campbell and Quarterback Jared Goff would be a historic mistake for a franchise that has only recently escaped the wilderness of mediocrity.

Here is why the Detroit Lions must retain their leadership core.

1. The Historical Context: From 0–16 to 15–2
To understand why Campbell and Goff are the right leaders, one must remember where this team started. Before their arrival, the Lions were a symbol of institutional failure.

The Campbell Era Ascent: Campbell inherited a broken culture and a roster devoid of talent. Within three seasons, he led them to their first division title in 30 years (2023) and a franchise-best 15–2 record in 2024.

The Playoff Breakthrough: Under this duo, the Lions didn’t just make the playoffs; they hosted multiple home playoff games for the first time in history and reached the NFC Championship. One “down” year at .500 does not erase the foundation of a championship contender.

2. Jared Goff is an Elite Producer, Not the Problem.
Critics point to Goff’s turnovers in the 2025 finale against Minnesota, but the broader data tells a different story. In 2025, Goff remained one of the most productive passers in the league:

  Top-Tier Stats: Goff finished the season with 4,233 passing yards and 33 touchdowns (ranking 2nd in the NFL).
  Elite Efficiency: Until the final weeks, Goff maintained a passer rating of 106.97, proving he is more than a “bridge” quarterback—he is a top-10 signal-caller.

Contractual Reality: Moving on from Goff is financially ruinous. A release would trigger nearly $70 million in dead money. Replacing him with an aging free agent or an unproven rookie would be a massive downgrade in a “win-now” window.

3. Dan Campbell’s Culture is Irreplaceable
The Lions’ identity is built on Campbell’s “grit” philosophy. In 2025, the team was hamstrung by the departure of both offensive and defensive coordinators to head coaching jobs and a regression in offensive line play.

  Accountability: After the Week 17 loss, Campbell didn’t make excuses. He stated, “I’m going to be looking at a lot of things… I’m always going to look at myself first.” This leadership is why players like Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown have flourished into All-Pros.

  Continuity over Chaos: Teams that cycle through coaches every time they miss the playoffs (like the Browns or Jets of old) remain in a perpetual state of rebuilding. Keeping Campbell ensures the Lions remain a destination for top talent.
4. Identifying the Real Culprits: The Trenches

The 2025 struggles were not a failure of coaching or quarterbacking alone; they were a failure in the trenches.

Offensive Line Regression: Aside from Penei Sewell, the line struggled with age and injuries. Goff, a classic pocket passer, was under constant duress.

Turnover Anomaly: The six-turnover game in Week 17 was an outlier for a team that had the fewest turnovers in the league for most of the season.
Conclusion.

The Detroit Lions are no longer the “Same Old Lions.” They are a team that just experienced their first setback after three years of exponential growth. Dan Campbell has proven he can build a winner, and Jared Goff has proven he can execute a high-octane offense at an MVP level.

Instead of blowing up the ship, the Lions should use their high 2026 draft picks to bolster the offensive line and defensive secondary. The Super Bowl window is still open—but only if Detroit stays the course.

Would you like me to analyze potential 2026 NFL Draft targets that could fix the Lions’ offensive line issues?