After a disappointing loss in the 23-24 playoffs, blowing a 17-point lead and somehow being unable to secure the win, many Lions fans quickly turned to the next year and blamed the struggles on having a young and inexperienced roster. Many of the starters only have one or two years of experience in the NFL. Entering the new season the Lions had the best odds to win the Super Bowl with barely losing any key players and signing many experienced players, many fans prayed that this would be the year to secure their first Super Bowl in Franchise history.
After an impressive record of 15-2 in the regular season, the Lions secured the number one seed in the NFC and achieved an impressive undefeated record in the NFC North despite two other teams making the playoffs. The last thing Lions fans saw was a generational quarterback on the Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels to come into Detroit and shock the world, resulting in an upset for the Lions. David Smith, a lifelong Lions fan and Latin teacher at South, could not believe the game’s outcome and worried that the team was only getting older and the time to win was running out.
“I was disappointed with how the Lions played against the Commanders,” Smith said. “I know we will still have a good team and all but I think with so many talented players needing contract extensions it is going to be hard to keep every single player.”
In addition to an aging roster, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who many people think are key to our success, have been hired by other NFL teams. Johnson will be the Head Coach of the Chicago Bears, and Glenn will be the Head coach of the New York Jets. Luke Scott ’26, a Lions season ticket owner and an attendee of the loss against the Commanders, thinks that the team is not all doomed, as people say.
“I feel like people are exaggerating the Lions situation,” Scott said. “Even though our assistant coaching is gone people don’t realize that the players score the touchdowns and not the coaches, and we still have Dan Campbell who I know will find a good replacement.”
Although some fans are choosing to panic about the loss of players and coaches, other fans like Luke Parent ’26 are looking forward to the future season and better success in the future.
“I think people should be excited for next year,” Parent said. “What people don’t remember is that the Lions had 16 people on the IR (injury reserve) when we played the Commanders in the divisional round. Even if you have a superstar offense which the Lions had, it would be very difficult to stop your opponent from scoring with third stringers.”
