Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell gave a clear assessment of his performance in 2025.
“Not good enough. We didn’t get in. We didn’t succeed,” Campbell said Monday, via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard . “So, not good. I’d give myself a freaking F.”
Expected to compete for the Super Bowl, the Lions missed the playoffs entirely, finishing the season 9-8 but in the basement of the NFC North for the first time since Campbell’s first season with the club. After back-to-back championships, Detroit is watching the tournament from the sidelines.
“It’s hard to believe that this is it,” Campbell said. “It’s going to be a tough pill to swallow watching these teams in the playoffs. But I think you have to watch them. You have to force yourself to do it because there’s a drive to want to be there, to be a part of it.”
The Lions’ season got off to a rough start with a double-digit loss at Green Bay, but the Campbell club turned things around and went 5-2 by Week 8. However, inconsistency along the offensive line and defensive injuries led to a dismal stretch, including three straight losses in December that eliminated the Lions from the playoffs.
Campbell took over at midseason from OC John Morton, who replaced Ben Jonnson. The Lions coach is considering personnel changes, including going full-time in 2026. Detroit may be looking at more offensive line changes, with left tackle Taylor Decker considering retirement. The Lions also have questions about free agents, with the likes of linebacker Alex Anzalone, cornerback Amik Robertson and defensive linemen DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport all leaving.
Campbell has led a complete turnaround of a once-moribund franchise to the point where a 9-8 season is considered a disappointing campaign. Detroit’s failure to take a step forward a year after earning the No. 1 seed underscores that progress is not linear, and in the NFL there is no guarantee of success from one year to the next.
“Now, we fell short this year and look, we all admit it. I know I admit it. It’s bitter. It’s a bitter taste,” Campbell said. “I mean it’s good to win yesterday, but in the end it’s disappointing.
“But we have nobody to blame but ourselves. But I don’t believe we’re that far off,” he said. “There’s some things we can do and I just want to make sure we go after them. I’m not saying we haven’t been hungry, but let’s get that hunger back and we’re going to get some guys competing.”
The finals are almost here and you don’t want to miss a moment. Now you don’t have to! With NFL+ Premium, watch every playoff game live on mobile, get NFL RedZone during the regular season, stream replays and more! And for a limited time, get 40% off an NFL+ annual plan. The offer expires on 16.2.26. Register today!