2025 NFC North Preview: Detroit Lions Football

Detroit, Michigan — The 2025 NFL regular season looms as a defining campaign for the Detroit Lions. Fresh off a franchise-best 15–2 record in 2024, the club enters Year 5 of the Dan Campbell-Brad Holmes era with its sights set squarely on the Super Bowl. The rebuild is long over. The Lions are contenders, and expectations across Detroit have shifted from hopeful to urgent.

With quarterback Jared Goff at the helm, a changing of the guard in the coordinator ranks, and a roster brimming with playmakers, the Lions are built for another run at NFL glory. The question is no longer whether this team can compete—it’s whether it can finish the job.

Coaching Shake-Up: New Voices, Familiar Feel

The offseason brought major changes to Campbell’s staff. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, architect of Detroit’s high-scoring attack, left for a head-coach job with the Chicago Bears. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn also departed, taking over the New York Jets.

Detroit filled both posts internally. On offense, the Lions hired John Morton, who had previously worked as a senior offensive assistant in Detroit in 2022 before spending the past two seasons as Denver’s passing game coordinator. Morton now takes over play-calling duties in his first year as a full-time NFL offensive coordinator.

On defense, the Lions promoted Kelvin Sheppard. A former linebacker who played eight NFL seasons, Sheppard joined Detroit’s staff in 2021 as outside linebackers coach, took over the entire linebackers group in 2022, and steadily built his reputation as a teacher and motivator. Now, in his first season as defensive coordinator, he inherits a unit that must take the next step for Detroit to finally break through.

The moves reflect Campbell’s philosophy of promoting from within and rewarding familiarity. Both Morton and Sheppard have earned the trust of the locker room, but their ability to transition from position specialists to full-time coordinators will be tested immediately.

Offensive Preview: Goff, Gibbs, and St. Brown Lead the Way

Quarterback Jared Goff has silenced doubters and cemented himself as one of the league’s most consistent passers. Ranked No. 15 on the NFL’s Top 100 list entering the season—his highest mark to date—Goff remains the engine of Detroit’s offense. His steady hand and efficient decision-making pair perfectly with the Lions’ balance of power and finesse.

That balance is fueled by a loaded cast of playmakers. Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as one of the NFL’s most dynamic young running backs, equally dangerous between the tackles and catching passes out of the backfield. Amon-Ra St. Brown, already among the league’s elite receivers, is Goff’s most trusted target and the heartbeat of the passing game. Jameson Williams, meanwhile, enters his most pivotal year yet, tasked with becoming a reliable deep threat to complement St. Brown’s precise routes.

Morton inherits a system that ranked among the league’s best in yards per play and scoring efficiency. His mission is less about reinventing and more about sustaining tempo and creativity. With one of the NFL’s top offensive lines, the Lions’ attack is built to remain among the league’s elite.

Defensive Preview: Hutchinson Returns, Sheppard Takes Over

Defensively, the spotlight is on Aidan Hutchinson. The former No. 2 overall pick suffered a season-ending injury in 2024, leaving a void in Detroit’s pass rush. Now healthy, Hutchinson is back to reclaim his spot as the defense’s tone-setter. His return not only bolsters the pass rush but also frees up teammates across the front seven to make plays.

Sheppard’s promotion ensures continuity in scheme. The Lions under Glenn emphasized aggression and physicality—principles Sheppard fully embraces. The key will be converting pressure into production, particularly against playoff-caliber quarterbacks. Detroit’s secondary remains a question mark, but a rejuvenated Hutchinson could help cover those gaps by collapsing pockets and forcing mistakes.

Five years into the Campbell-Holmes era, the defense no longer has the luxury of patience. For Detroit to take the leap, Sheppard’s group must deliver in the biggest moments.

The Next Step: From Contender to Champion

Detroit’s rebuild is over, and patience has given way to expectation. This is a roster built to win now. To break through and reach the Super Bowl, several factors must align:

• Coordinator Transitions: Morton and Sheppard need to prove they can not only maintain but elevate their respective units.
• Goff’s Efficiency: Goff’s steady play has carried Detroit far. In Year 5, he must continue that efficiency while mastering Morton’s wrinkles.
• Hutchinson’s Impact: A fully healthy Hutchinson could transform Detroit’s defense into a championship-caliber unit.
• Road Tests: With early road trips to Baltimore and Kansas City, the Lions will face playoff atmospheres before October. How they handle those environments may dictate postseason seeding.

The Lions are no longer underdogs. Anything short of a deep playoff run will be viewed as a disappointment.

2025 Schedule at a Glance

Detroit faces one of the NFL’s most challenging slates in 2025—ranked among the toughest for any team—packed with high-stakes road tests and prime-time matchups.

• Week 1: at Green Bay Packers – Sept. 7, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears – Sept. 14, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens – Sept. 22, 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday Night Football, ESPN/ABC)
• Week 4: vs. Cleveland Browns – Sept. 28, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 5: at Cincinnati Bengals – Oct. 5, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs – Oct. 12, 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday Night Football, NBC)
• Week 7: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Oct. 20, 7:00 p.m. ET (Monday Night Football, ESPN/ABC)
• Week 8: Bye
• Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings – Nov. 2, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 10: at Washington Commanders – Nov. 9, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles – Nov. 16, 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday Night Football, NBC)
• Week 12: vs. New York Giants – Nov. 23, 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers – Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving Day), 1:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 14: vs. Dallas Cowboys – Dec. 4, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday Night Football, Prime Video)
• Week 15: at Los Angeles Rams – Dec. 14, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
• Week 16: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – Dec. 21, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings – Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), 4:30 p.m. ET (Netflix)
• Week 18: at Chicago Bears – Jan. 3 or 4 (flex date/TBA)

The slate is loaded with national-stage opportunities. Thanksgiving against Green Bay, a Christmas Day clash in Minnesota, and road trips to Baltimore, Kansas City, and Philadelphia will test Detroit’s mettle. These matchups aren’t just games—they’re measuring sticks for whether the Lions are ready to make the leap from NFC finalist to Super Bowl contender.

Final Word

Five years ago, Campbell and Holmes took over a franchise searching for identity and credibility. They’ve delivered both. Now, with a franchise quarterback, star playmakers on both sides of the ball, and a roster built to contend, the Lions’ mission is no longer about growth. It’s about results.

The 2025 season represents Detroit’s clearest shot yet at the Super Bowl. The roster is ready. The culture is ingrained. The fan base is hungry. In Year 5, the only thing left for the Lions to do is win the games that matter most.