The Detroit Lions are heading into a critical, perhaps defining, offseason full of personal and existential themes. As the team grapples with the disappointment of a playoff absence, starting left tackle Taylor Decker is contemplating retirement following his tenth NFL season. As a devoted father of the home-schooled Ethan, he has had tremendous influence on the Lions’ most successful seasons of late. The team enjoyed their first division championship and their first trip to the NFC title game since the early 1990s.
On Black Friday of 2025, Decker signed her first pro contract and was given a physical by the team. This move made clear his willingness to examine his future in the sport. With the Lions having signed nine players to contracts totaling nearly $1 billion since spring 2024, the organization is making substantial investments in its roster but is acutely aware of the need for strategic changes.
General manager Brad Holmes didn’t pull any punches in his self-review for this season as he graded himself an “F.” To start, he added, what a sad result. He adamantly stands by the fact that the team’s not far from competing for a Super Bowl this coming season. “Bottom line is, if we’re not in the dance and we’re not competing for a championship, it’s a failure,” he stated. This self-critique highlights just how desperately improvement is needed, though—as the Lions try to return to their winning ways, the clock is ticking.
The Lions’ offense demonstrated potential during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, leading the NFL with an impressive average of 33.2 points per game in 2024 and recording an average of 373.2 net yards per game in 2025. The failure to convert that success into postseason contention has long-since started eating at those within the organization.
Penei Sewell, though, an All-Pro tackle, as he received first-team, this past season of 2025. He stressed the immediate priority for the team to find out what its identity is going to be as they move forward. “Going into this offseason, we’ve just got to find who we are and get our swagger back, get our confidence back,” Sewell remarked. That notion of personal and group growth is what Campbell stressed as the Lions get set to head into a new season.
Jack Campbell became a key contributor during the 2025 season, indicating his development and promising upside. The Lions’ coaching staff hopes to build on such performances while addressing the areas that led to their early exit from playoff contention.
These recent triumphs came on the heels of winning 27 regular-season games the past two seasons. Yet the disappointment still hangs over the organization like a dark cloud. Gibbs voiced this sentiment by stating, “Obviously there’s something missing. I mean we’re out [of] the playoffs, so there had to be something.” This recognition represents a new awareness, shared by players and ownership, that changes need to happen.
Holmes reflects on the offseason approach. He understands that effective leadership and careful implementation will be key to their strategy. “There has to be leadership, there has to be detail-oriented,” he explained. There has to be mastery of the space. This commitment helps develop honest and dynamic leadership among the faculty. What will be most important is that they learn from past mistakes and don’t make them again.
Holmes, a consummate teacher, candidly shares what he’s learned along the way. He further emphasizes that it’s absurd to think former drafts can be expected to address our current problems. “It would be irresponsible for us to just go into [the offseason] thinking that, ‘Well, we drafted a developmental player a couple of years ago. He’s going to be the guy,’” he said. This recognition reflects the urgent need for preemptive action instead of waiting to respond after bad choices have already been made.
Debate over Decker’s long-term future is getting hot as well. Holmes said he did not want to second-guess Decker’s decision. There can’t be any doubt that it requires immediate attention this offseason. It’s been a chronic need in recent seasons. To lose Decker would be a seismic shift for the team. His experience and leadership on the offensive line makes a huge impact on their success.
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