Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Lions Links for Wednesday 1-7-26

Articles:





Is Dan Campbell Going to Call Plays Again in 2026? What We Know: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/is-dan-campbell-going-to-call-plays-2026-nfl-season

Al-Quadin Muhammad Shares How He Secured Double-Digit Sacks:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/news/al-quadin-muhammad-how-he-secured-double-digit-sacks





NFL coach movement intel on every team: What we're hearing on possible changes, rising candidates (Detroit Lions - The firing of offensive coordinator John Morton gives head coach Dan Campbell the chance to redefine the Lions' offense. The loss of Ben Johnson affected Detroit more than it probably wanted to admit. Campbell opted for continuity with Morton, a Detroit assistant in 2022. "I know [Campbell] likes calling plays, but they have so many weapons and that's a coveted job to get a really good playcaller in there," an NFC executive familiar with the Lions said.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47515440/2025-nfl-coach-coordinator-hiring-firing-candidates-intel-buzz-32-teams

NFL pass-rusher rankings after the 2025 regular season (3 Aidan Hutchinson.  Season Highlights - Most Pressures: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions.  Hutchinson returned to All-Pro form this year after having his 2024 season cut short after six dominant weeks by a fractured tibia and fibula, leading the NFL with 100 pressures without missing a game. A player has generated 100-plus pressures only six times in the PFF era, two of which are Hutchinson (2023 and 2025).  Week 18 Highlights - Highest Win Rate: Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions.  Hutchinson's 37.0% pass-rush win rate led all pass rushers in Week 18 as the Lions ended the year on a high note with a road victory over the Bears.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-pass-rusher-rankings-2025-regular-season

2025 All-Pro Team: Matthew Stafford, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Myles Garrett highlight roster (WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: St. Brown ranked third among all receivers in PFF receiving grade (90.6), marking the fourth straight year he has posted a grade above 90.0.  RT: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions - Sewell led all offensive linemen in PFF grade (95.2), driven largely by a dominant season as a run blocker. His PFF run-blocking grade (96.8) also led all offensive linemen and was 4.0 points higher than the next-best offensive tackle. He was solid in pass protection as well, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade (80.3) that ranked 10th at the position.  LB: Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions - In just his third season in the league, Campbell was the only linebacker to earn a PFF grade above 90.0 while playing 400 or more snaps, with only Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers grading higher on a smaller sample size.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-all-pro-team-2025-matthew-stafford-jaxon-smith-njigba-myles-garrett-highlight-roster

Weighing fifth-year options for 2023 NFL Draft's first-round selections (12. Jahmyr Gibbs:  Exercise the option? Yes -- EXTENSION CANDIDATE.  Gibbs has been a formidable part of the Lions' offense as a dual-threat playmaker, earning Pro Bowl nods in each of his three pro seasons. Gibbs has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 1,800 scrimmage yards in each of the last two seasons, despite topping out at 67 percent of Detroit's offensive snaps in any given campaign. Perhaps his greatest asset is his knack for the end zone. Gibbs has scored 49 touchdowns (39 rushing, 10 receiving), helping the Lions re-establish themselves as one of the toughest teams in the NFC.  18. Jack Campbell:  Exercise the option? Yes -- EXTENSION CANDIDATE.  Campbell has been a great player in the middle of the Lions defense. The Pro Bowler set numerous career-high totals in 2025, with 166 total tackles (third-most in the NFL), five sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Campbell is a staple for this unit.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/weighing-fifth-year-options-for-2023-nfl-draft-s-first-round-selections

Next Gen Stats 2025 All-Pro Team: Myles Garrett, Texans duo lead defense; plus, special teamers (LB Jack Campbell:  They say the best middle linebackers are involved in every play, and Campbell came as close as one can to achieving that feat this season. He made a tackle on 27.7% of his snaps in run defense, the highest mark in the NFL (min. 200 run snaps) and second-highest by any player in the last 10 seasons. He missed just 10 of his 176 tackle opportunities (5.7%). The average linebacker missed tackles at an 11.6% rate, more than twice Campbell’s.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/next-gen-stats-2025-all-pro-team-defense-special-teams

NFL 2025/2026 Regular Season wrap-up: NFC North (Detroit Lions Record: 9-8 – Final Division Rank: 4th.  Detroit started the season strong, securing wins in four of its first five games. However, the Lions’ season took a turn for the worse following their fourth consecutive win in week five. Starting in week six, Detroit went eight consecutive weeks with a loss followed by a win. It’s end to the season was tough to stomach, with three consecutive losses followed by a win in the season’s final game. There were several reasons for Detroit’s unprecedented season.  The Lions offense struggled for consistency, followed by the defense allowing a high number of points per game. At times, head coach Dan Campbell cost his team points by continuously bypassing field goals for failed fourth-down conversions. The bright spots of a letdown season saw quarterback Jared Goff finish 3rd in passing yards, running back Jahmyr Gibbs finish 4th in rushing touchdowns, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown finish 2nd in receiving touchdowns, and the defense finish 4th in sacks.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfl-2025-2026-regular-season-wrap-up-nfc-north/

The Biggest Offseason Need for Every NFC Team That Missed the Playoffs (Detroit Lions: Offensive line. The Lions fell off from Super Bowl contention in 2025 as inconsistent play plagued Detroit throughout the year. A key way for the Lions to return to contention is improving the offensive line. The sudden retirement of Frank Ragnow clearly hindered the line, and outside of rookie guard Tate Ratledge—who had a promising first season—the Lions’ interior offensive line has a number of question marks. With tackle Taylor Decker acknowledging he will consider retirement for the first time, the Lions need to both boost the interior and ensure they have depth across the line.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/biggest-offseason-need-every-nfc-team-missed-playoffs

QB Rankings:

Final 2025 NFL QB ranks: Drake Maye, MVP (Tier IV: Not quiiiiite as good, still mostly trustworthy - 12. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: 0.116 EPA+CPOE composite):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/01/07/2025-nfl-quarterback-rankings-final-drake-maye-mvp-matthew-stafford/88045423007/

2026 NFL Draft:

Posted by LionsFan at 8:26 PM

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