When they came aboard as the general manager and head coach tasked with rebuilding the Detroit Lions, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell were unburdened by pressure. When a 3-13-1 first season was followed by a 1-6 start to the the 2022 campaign, owner Sheila Hamp stood by them and insisted they were the right men for the job(s).
Hamp's patience has of course been rewarded. Eight wins in the final 10 games of that 2022 season yielded the Lions' first winning season since 2017. The franchise's first division title since 1993 and an NFC Championship Game appearance followed in 2023, and that was followed by a 15-2 record in 2024.
Expectations were naturally still high going into last season. But the Lions never really got consistent traction going in any way, on their way to a 9-8 record and a last place finish in the NFC North.
Once upon a time, not that long ago in Lions' history, finishing above .500 would have been fine and the franchise hadn't done so four seasons in a row in a very long time before the last four seasons. But that fairly minimum standard of more wins than losses does not exist right now, and things have to turn back for the better in 2026.
Analyst becomes the latest to raise the 2026 stakes for the Detroit Lions
On Woodward Sports recently, Braylon Edwards and Matt Shepard had a discussion about pressure being on the Lions next season, focused on Campbell. Shepard sees a path to Campbell and Holmes being on the hot seat a year from now if things don't improve, and it's not a far-fetched idea.
Along the same line, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport has the Lions as one of eight teams under ther most pressure to crush the 2026 draft.
In light of what Holmes and Campbell have done since coming to Detroit, Davenport acknowledged he may be overestimating the amount of pressure on the Lions this year.
But...
"But with success comes expectations, and last year the Lions failed to meet them—a 15-win season two years ago turned into a 8-9 (actually 9-8) campaign in 2025 in which Detroit missed the playoffs altogether."
"To be clear, the Lions are replete with offensive firepower. When healthy, Aidan Hutchinson is one of the NFL's best edge-rusher(s). And the silver lining of that disappointing season is a decently high pick in Round 1—No. 17 overall."
READ MORE: Lions could shake up entire offensive line without drafting a tackle
The Lions can focus on some specific needs in this year's draft, but Davenport pointed to how a relative lack of current pick capital could impact things.
"Detroit also has just two picks inside the top 100. A major need at left tackle after Taylor Decker's release. And a pass defense that has been below average (at best) the past two years."
Davenport finished his idea the Lions are under pressure to nail the upcoming draft with a couple broader thoughts.
"If the Lions don't rebound in 2026, the grumbling in Motown is going to grow louder."
"And there won't be any overestimating the pressure on the Lions in 2027."
We're a long way from calling the job status of Holmes and/or Campbell into question. But another underachieving season in 2026 will invite the idea something has to change, and the odds it's one or both of them feels less likely compared to another possibility.
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