Detroit Lions’ 2025 season hasn’t gone as planned, especially considering how high the team was a year ago. Detroit came into this season thinking it was ready for another deep playoff run after a dominant 15-2 season in 2024 that included an NFC North title and the conference’s top seed. Rather, the year has become a frustrating grind full of missed opportunities, injuries, and inconsistency.
It felt like a breakthrough last season. Before injuries finally caught up with them, the Lions had the best record in the league because they were resilient, balanced, and self-assured. When Washington shocked Detroit in the Divisional Round and ended a promising postseason early, that incredible run came to an abrupt end. Despite that setback, there was still a lot of hope going into the offseason.
Then there was a big shift. Detroit lost two of its most esteemed coordinators. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn became head coach of the New York Jets, while offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears. Although the loss of the two key figures in the Lions’ success was devastating, most people in the league continued to think the team was capable of competing at the top of the NFC.
But the season soon strayed from the plan. Detroit lost four of its first five games, stumbling from the start. Another difficult stretch ensued just as the Lions seemed to regain their footing. They lost four of five games once more, including last Thursday’s particularly agonizing loss to the Minnesota Vikings, which many said was unacceptable considering the circumstances. The Lions were virtually eliminated from playoff contention as a result of that setback, which left them sitting at 8–8 and turned the final weeks into a time of introspection rather than pursuit.
However, one player has advanced while the team’s record has declined. Jack Campbell, a former linebacker for the Iowa Hawkeyes, has become the backbone of Detroit’s defense and has had a season that has improved his standing in the league. Campbell’s consistency has been hard to overlook during the team’s struggles. Recently, Campbell left his mark on the Lions’ record books. With his most recent efforts, he overtook DeAndre Levy as the team’s second-highest tackle total in a single season. With 151 tackles in the 2014 season, Levy previously held that record. With 165 total tackles under his belt, Campbell has demonstrated both his tenacity and his football instincts.
Additionally, those tackles are not meaningless statistics. With 85 solo stops and 80 assisted tackles this season, Campbell is one of the top three players in the NFL. He has consistently been the first to arrive, cleaning up plays and preventing drives from getting out of control. His influence extends far beyond his ability to tackle. When called upon, Campbell can rush the passer, as evidenced by his five additional sacks. In addition, he has three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries—a unique combination that demonstrates his adaptability and awareness. Campbell has fulfilled the defense’s requests by blitzing off the edge, filling a gap against the run, and dropping into coverage.
More significantly, he has developed into a leader. Campbell appears at ease carrying that burden in his third season as a professional. Coaches rely on him to set the tone, and teammates thrive on his enthusiasm. His effort never falters, even in the face of mounting losses—a quality that is evident in the locker room but not on the stat sheet.
This season may go down in Detroit’s memory as a lost chance, one in which expectations exceeded actual performance. However, Campbell sees it as a significant advancement. He’s having the best season of his young NFL career, demonstrating the continued strength of the Hawkeye pipeline to the league. One of the Lions’ best building blocks, Jack Campbell serves as a reminder that even in a disappointing season, progress can still be made as the team looks to reset and retool.
