A former cornerstone of Detroit’s defense has cautioned that the Lions risk losing their way if swift changes aren’t made. Tyson Alualu, who played a key role in Detroit’s rise from perennial underachievers to legitimate championship hopefuls, believes the franchise now finds itself at a defining moment.

Following a frustrating 9–8 season that ended without a playoff berth, questions have swirled around what caused such a sharp drop-off. According to Alualu, the issues trace back to the sideline. The offseason exits of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn created a leadership vacuum that proved far more damaging than anticipated.

Their replacements, John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard, stepped into difficult roles, but the shift in direction disrupted a team that had been aiming for the Super Bowl. Alualu acknowledged that losing both coordinators at once inevitably affects performance, noting that even capable coaches need time to identify what best suits their personnel.

He emphasized that Detroit’s defining strength had been its culture, suggesting that maintaining a strong nucleus of players is essential to preserving the standards that made the team successful in the first place. That foundation, he believes, can guide both coaches and veteran leaders moving forward.

Detroit’s 2025 season was marked by razor-thin defeats, including a last-second loss to Minnesota and a narrow setback against Philadelphia. Alualu pointed out that many of those games easily could have gone the other way, changing the entire narrative of the year.

Despite the disappointment, he remains optimistic about the Lions’ long-term outlook. He praised the depth along the defensive line, the presence of experienced contributors, and the emergence of younger players who fit the team’s physical identity. In his view, the problem wasn’t a lack of experience.

Instead, Alualu attributed much of the downturn to unfortunate timing—key injuries and unlucky breaks that piled up at the worst moments. If the team can learn from the setbacks and regain its footing, he believes Detroit is still positioned to remain competitive across the league for years ahead.