The good: We saw third-year linebacker Jack Campbell develop into one of the top MIKE linebackers, earning a First-Team All-Pro selection to go along with his first Pro Bowl nod after finishing second in the NFL with 176 tackles (89 solo) with nine tackle for loss, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Campbell has a ton of versatility, and his play style just fits in Detroit. He’s become the unquestioned leader in the center of Detroit’s defense and had nine games this season with 10-or-more tackles, tied for the third-most in a season by a Lions player since 1994.
Detroit’s linebacker group, along with the defense overall, was a very good tackling unit in 2025. Detroit had the third fewest missed tackles in the NFL this season with 76. Only New England (71) and Kansas City (75) had fewer. Low missed tackle numbers correlate to limiting yards after the catch and Detroit’s 1,539 yards allowed after the catch were the second fewest in the NFL behind only Buffalo (1,539).
While Campbell led the Lions in tackles, he was followed by fellow linebackers Alex Anzalone (95) and Derrick Barnes (78) who were second and third on the team. Barnes had career highs in sacks (4.0), tackles for loss (6) and passes defended (3) and was three tackles short of his career high there.