Jan. 11, 2026, 5:15 p.m. ET

Individually, Detroit pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson enjoyed a career-best season. Hutchinson finished with a career-high 14.5 sacks and led the NFL with 100 pressures.

The 6-foot-7, 268-pound defensive end’s 14.5 sacks tied Ezekiel Ansah (2015) for the second-most sacks by a Lions player in a single season, trailing only Robert Porcher (15.0 in 1999).

Of course, the Lions’ season didn’t turn out the way Hutchinson or Detroit wanted it to. The Lions finished 9-8 and missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

On Sunday, Hutchinson was invited to join ESPN’s “Postseason NFL Countdown” alongside host Mike Greenberg and analysts Tedy Bruschi, Randy Moss, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and Adam Schefter.

Hutchinson was asked to reflect on the Lions’ 9-8 finish.

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“As a player, it really felt in those critical games, we were not playing complementary football in those moments, and that’s really on all three phases.

“It was sometimes offense, defense, special teams, it was a collective thing where little parts were letting us down and we were losing these close games. We ended up 9-8, but it just wasn’t enough to get us in. It was unfortunate, but we’re all looking forward to next year,” Hutchinson said.

Asked what needs to happen for the Lions to get where they want to be in 2026, Hutchinson pointed first to the health department.

“To me, defensively, I think it’s get healthy. It’s get our secondary healthy, get all those guys back and I really think we’re going to have a complete defense,” Hutchinson said.

Lions safety Kerby Joseph played in just six games in 2025 as he dealt with a cartilage issue in his left knee. Detroit later lost fellow starting safety Brian Branch to a season-ending torn Achilles. Lions starting cornerback Terrion Arnold played in just eight games and started seven as he dealt with a shoulder injury that eventually landed him on season-ending injured reserve.

While 2025 leaves a sour taste overall, Hutchinson was named a Pro Bowler for the second time in his career and he was one of four Lions to garner All-Pro honors.

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