DETROIT – The season never ends in the NFL.
The NFL Owners’ Meetings are underway in Florida as the Detroit Lions start building for the 2025 season.
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Dan Campbell stepped up to the microphone on Tuesday (April 1) to share his thoughts on the Lions’ offseason and what’s to come this season for Detroit.
Four topics stood out as Campbell held court with the media.
Moving on from last season
From 15 wins to winning the NFC North again, the Lions did many great things last year, which made their season-ending after only one game a surprise.
This team fell short of their Super Bowl goal, but Campbell is using that past to motivate his team into the future with multiple players back in 2025.
“We played bad at the wrong time,” Campbell said. “(You have to be) careful tweaking things. We’ve got to play better in that moment, but it also means we can’t stay the same. We all know that that’s not good for anybody.”
Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn moving on
The biggest offseason losses for the Lions came on the coaching staff. Multiple assistants departed for other teams, including the two coordinators.
Ben Johnson moved to Chicago to be the Bears’ head coach, while Aaron Glenn took over as the Jets’ head coach.
When it comes to Glenn’s tenure in New York, Campbell strongly endorses his capabilities as a head coach.
“He’s an unbelievable leader, an even better person,” Campbell said. “He’s the type of guy that makes people want to rally around him. If he can’t, nobody can,” Campbell said when asked about if Glenn can turn New York into a winning team."
Johnson is staying in the division. He’s a new rival for Campbell, but he hopes the former Lions offensive coordinator is the best in Chicago.
“He’s somebody I’ve always believed in and could be in the seat he’s getting ready to be in,” Campbell said. “I’m happy for him. I want him to do well.”
Identity of Team
With those departures, Campbell made it clear that this team goes far beyond the coaches calling the plays.
Campbell made sure that people know it’s the players in Detroit who make this team go, and plenty of talent is returning for this season and beyond.
“The nuts and bolts of what we are, of course, we’ve got our coaches. This offense is Jared Goff, (Amon-Ra) St. Brown, (Jahmyr) Gibbs, (David) Montgomery. It’s Frank (Ragnow), it’s (Penei)Sewell, it’s (Taylor) Decker. I can keep going. It’s Jamo (Jameson Williams)," Campbell said.
“The defense is (Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch, it’s Alim (McNeill), it’s freaking Alex (Anzalone), it’s TA (Terrion Arnold), it’s Kerby (Joseph), it’s (Brian)Branch. It’s now (D.J.) Reed. I can keep going. It’s (Derrick) Barnes. That’s what we are. We can say, ‘Well, this is our scheme, this is what we run.’ No, they’re the ones who make it what it is. So, that’s our playbook, it’s those guys."
Bottom line: The Lions have multiple returning players on both sides of the ball and Campbell expects no drop-off there.
Tough Schedule
The Lions play one of the toughest schedules in the NFL in 2025. The road schedule is daunting, with non-division games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, and Baltimore Ravens.
A test, but one Campbell is looking forward to.
“This is a meat grinder, and I’ve said this before – we could be a better team than we were last year and have more losses,” Campbell said. There’s a chance that could happen, but that’s OK. The bottom line is this: it doesn’t matter. Just get your a** in the playoffs. Just get in, and then it’s about the matchups and making the most of that day."
