The Detroit Lions kicked off the 2025 season with high hopes that stretched far beyond just making it to January. After being a popular pick for the Super Bowl in the last couple of years, the Lions now find themselves on the outside looking in, plagued by injuries, a revamped coaching staff, and a season that fell apart.
With just the final week of the regular season left, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero have pointed out that the focus around the league is already shifting to teams that didn’t cut, and Detroit is definitely among those franchises bracing for a season of change instead of stability.
Offensive Coordinator Search Looms Large for Dan Campbell
According to Rapoport and Pelissero, Lions head coach Dan Campbell will soon turn his full attention to evaluating internal changes, with the offensive coordinator position again emerging as a focal point. After losing Ben Johnson to a head coaching job last offseason, Detroit never found stability on that side of the ball.
Campbell ultimately took over play-calling duties during the season, a move that underscored the team’s struggles to sustain offensive identity amid a disappointing year.
John Morton, a longtime friend of Campbell who was involved in the offense, said this week, “I’d like to be here,” signaling openness to returning, though potentially in a reduced role. Still, league expectations suggest Campbell is likely to search for a new offensive coordinator once again, a decision that could shape the franchise’s trajectory heading into 2026.
Recent departures and lingering what-ifs heighten the urgency. One notable exit already confirmed is position coach Tyler Roehl, who left Detroit to return to Iowa State as the Cyclones’ lead play-caller. Roehl was clear about his motivation. “This is one that’s very special to me. I want to call plays. That’s my goal,” he said, via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
That opportunity never materialized in Detroit, despite Roehl previously interviewing with Campbell in 2023 before joining the Lions in 2025.
Roehl’s departure adds another layer of pressure. If he thrives as a play-caller in a wide-open Big 12, especially in the new revenue-share era where quick turnarounds are possible via the transfer portal, Campbell’s next offensive hire could face intense scrutiny by comparison.
Complicating matters further is Detroit’s personnel outlook. As of now, only Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright are under contract at tight end for 2026. LaPorta is coming off a back injury that ended his 2025 season, while Wright failed to establish himself as a consistent weapon. Those limitations only magnify the importance of finding the right offensive architect.
The Lions are ranked eighth in offense with an 80.2 grade in PFSN’s NFLÂ Offense Impact Metric.
Campbell is now navigating the reality of regression. Just two years ago, the Lions were on the brink of the Super Bowl, but now they’ve fallen to a regular-season exit, and the expectations remain high. Failing to secure another solid coordinator could intensify the pressure as they head into 2026.
For Detroit, this offseason isn’t just about tweaking the roster; it’s about getting the structure right. And for Campbell, the next decision may be the one that defines how long his vision in the Motor City lasts.
