The Detroit Lions are walking a razor-thin line as the 2025 NFL regular season winds down. They still have a path to winning the NFC North, but they’re also in danger of missing the NFL playoffs entirely. That’s how tight the race has become.
What makes this week especially emotional is the setting. Sunday marks the final regular-season home game at Ford Field, and unless the Lions shock the league by winning the division and hosting a playoff game, this could be the last time several key players suit up in Detroit.
The NFL is a business, and every offseason brings tough decisions. Not everyone on the field Sunday will be back in Honolulu blue next year.
Here are five Detroit Lions players who could be playing their final game at Ford Field.
Alex Anzalone
This feels like a breakup that’s been quietly approaching for a while.
The Lions are already well-stocked at linebacker with Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez ready for expanded roles. Talent isn’t the concern — cap space and future planning are.
Anzalone pushed for a contract extension during the offseason, and Detroit declined. In the NFL, that often signals the direction a team is heading. With Anzalone likely to draw more money on the open market than the Lions want to spend, this could be his final run through the Ford Field tunnel.
He’s been instrumental in Detroit’s culture change, but this season may be the end.
Chances of Returning in 2026: 20%
Marcus Davenport
Marcus Davenport’s stint with the Lions has been defined more by injuries than impact.
When healthy, the upside is obvious, but availability matters — especially for a team with playoff aspirations. Unless Davenport makes a major splash over the final weeks of the season (and possibly in the playoffs), Detroit is unlikely to bring him back at his current price point.
A return isn’t impossible, but it would almost certainly require a low-cost, prove-it deal.
Chances of Returning in 2026: 20%
Taylor Decker
This is the most unpredictable name on the list.
Decker has openly acknowledged that retirement is on his mind. He hasn’t committed either way, and much could depend on how the season ends.
If the Lions miss the playoffs, does Decker want that to be the final chapter of his career? Or does that disappointment push him to return for one more run?
Even Decker may not know the answer yet. But depending on Sunday’s outcome, this could be an emotional night for one of Detroit’s longest-tenured players.
Chances of Returning in 2026: 51%
Graham Glasgow
This one feels like the possible end of an era in the trenches.
The Lions have a clear long-term vision for their offensive line, and Glasgow doesn’t quite fit that future timeline. Financially, the writing may already be on the wall.
Glasgow is currently set to carry an $8.4 million cap hit in 2026, a number that simply doesn’t align with Detroit’s roster-building strategy. A return would likely require a significant restructure, and even that feels unlikely.
Chances of Returning in 2026: 15%
Kalif Raymond
This is the toughest one emotionally.
Kalif Raymond has been a fan favorite, a spark plug, and a tone-setter for the Lions’ offense and special teams. His impact goes beyond the stat sheet.
But age and roster evolution are working against him. Raymond will be 32 years old entering the 2026 season, and the Lions are clearly shifting toward younger, more explosive playmakers. Isaac TeSlaa is already carving out a larger role, which further clouds Raymond’s future in Detroit.
He’s been outstanding in his role — but the NFL rarely slows down for sentiment.
Chances of Returning in 2026: 20%
Bottom Line
This is what makes late-season NFL football so powerful.
Every snap matters. Every jog off the field could be the last time a familiar face plays at Ford Field in a Lions uniform. Detroit still has everything to play for, but regardless of how the season ends, change is coming.
For a handful of Lions veterans, Sunday may not just be another game — it could be a final goodbye in Detroit.
