The good: 2025 was a solid year across the board for Detroit’s special teams unit.

The Lions finished ninth in the NFL in average starting field position after a kickoff (31.1-yard line) and 10th in opponent starting field position (29.9).

Jack Fox continues to be one of the league’s elite punters in his sixth season. His 42.8 net average ranked in the top 10 and his two touchbacks were the third fewest.

Veteran wide receiver and punt returner Kalif Raymond had the second lowest punt return average (7.5) of his career, but his 241 punt return yards allowed him to pass Mel Gray for the franchise record of 1,948 punt return yards.

Jake Bates reached 135 points scored on the season (54 XP & 27 FG) which are the second-most points a kicker has produced in a season in franchise history, trailing only his team record of 142 points scored in 2024. He’s only the fourth player in NFL history to produce at least 135 points in each of the first two seasons of a player’s career – Brandon Aubrey (Dallas, 2023-24), Tyler Bass (Buffalo, 2020-21), Harrison Butker (Kansas City, 2017-18).

A couple of individual coverage performances deserve to be recognized. First is linebacker Jack Campbell, who despite being an All-Pro MIKE linebacker on defense, wanted to play special teams and cover kicks. He’s the first NFL player since 1994 to produce a season with at least 165 defensive tackles and 10 special teams tackles.

Grant Stuard led the Lions with 14 special teams tackles followed by Trevor Nowaske (12), Tyrus Wheat (11) and Sione Vaki (10).

“One guy who I think is a very, very good player in this league on special teams – I mean he’s a dynamic player and he doesn’t get talked about a lot, some but not as much as some guys – Vaki has really had a great year for us,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said at the end of the season.

“And I mean he’s just a unique athlete. Explosive, powerful, strong, he’s an offender technically. I know he played both in college, but his ability to make tackles and play in coverage is exceptional for that position of running back. And so, he’s been a great player for us this season. I think he’s had a really good year.”

Detroit also led the NFL this season with the highest percentage of 20-plus yard kickoff returns at 93.9 percent. The Lions were called for 15 penalties on special teams, which ranked ninth fewest. For comparison, Tennessee was flagged for 36 special teams penalties.