The Detroit Lions were the best team in the NFL during the regular season last year. They finished the season with a 15-2 record, but were eliminated in their first playoff game by the Washington Commanders.
It was a tough way to end what had been a special season. Dan Campbell and company have done nothing but allow that playoff loss to fuel them all offseason long.
Unfortunately, during the offseason, the Lions suffered a few key losses.
Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions reacts during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Both coordinators left the team for head coaching jobs. Ben Johnson ended up with the Chicago Bears and Aaron Glenn took the head coaching position for the New York Jets.
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Those two losses will be tough for Detroit. However, the team still has the talent to be one of the best teams in the NFL.
Former NFL star quarterback Cam Newton recently weighed in on the Lions. He was asked about whether or not the losses of both coordinators would be too much for the team to overcome. Newton’s response was very clear.
“Absolutely not,” Newton said. “See the thing about great teams, you know, they just reload. Next man up, even with the coaches. People forget oftentimes … the head coach of the Buffalo Bills who’s doing an exceptional job, Sean McDermott, any time you have success, anybody who has success or is a part of that success knows that opportunities come from that. Do you know how many head coaches have coached under the regime of Bill Belichick? A lot. It’s a breeding ground. So, when you have coaches or the coaching carousel, we want to know how ya’ll are winning. So, we pluck.”
Newton makes a great point. Detroit is a winning football team and losing coordinators is a part of the business when team’s win.
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To replace Johnson and Glenn, Campbell went out and brought in John Morton to be their new offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard to be their new defensive coordinator. Both coaches should be good replacements for the Lions.
As for the roster, Detroit did lose some key pieces. Carlton Davis III left in free agency, Za’Darius Smith has not been re-signed, Kevin Zeitler left in free agency as well, and Frank Ragnow decided to retire.
While there are some things for the Lions to overcome this season, Newton is confident in their ability to do so.
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