Dan Campbell predicates success as starting with a solid, consistent run game. Off of that, quarterback Jared Goff is then able to utilize more of what has made him successful, play-action passing.

In his end-of-season press conference Monday, Campbell spoke openly about the bitter taste of falling short. The Lions missed the postseason at 9-8 after winning two playoff games in 2023 and going 15-2 a year ago. "Not good enough. We didn't get in. We underachieved," Campbell said. "So, not good. I'd give myself a freaking F."

The Detroit Lions went 9-8 and missed the NFL playoffs by half a game, but expect changes to the roster and coaching staff for 2026.

The Lions' season got off to a wobbly start with a double-digit loss in Green Bay, but Campbell's club turned things around, going 5-2 before a Week 8 bye. However, inconsistencies along the offensive line and defensive injuries led to a dismal stretch run, including three straight December losses that eliminated the Lions from the playoffs.

The Lions received a score of 44.2, which beat out, among other teams, the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and the Kansas City Chiefs to be ranked fourth. In part, this comes from their near-season-long sellout figures, with their attendance for home games being at 99.88%, or being within a few hundred seats of a sellout.

I guess one of the good things if I did do that, you don’t have to worry about somebody else leaving. You don’t have to worry about your play-caller leaving."

The 2025 NFL season for the Detroit Lions came to a disappointing close on Sunday night despite picking up their second win of the campaign over the rival Chicago Bears and former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.