The Detroit Lions didn't meet expectations in 2025, and in the aftermath of the season, finding out why has become the major focus of Dan Campbell and others in the franchise.
Injuries and inconsistencies added up to help the Lions lose in the margins this season where they have previously won, but that explanation is only one piece of a bigger puzzle that has played out with the team lately.
The Lions haven't capitalized on their Super Bowl window the last few years, and the reason can also be explained by inaction from Brad Holmes. Heading toward 2026, Holmes is already sending the wrong message as it relates to needed urgency in the new year.
Speaking with the media last week including 97.1 The Ticket, Holmes was asked about his approach this offseason. Alarmingly, he wouldn't commit to being any more aggressive than in the past in terms of roster construction.
"I don't want to sit here and say more activity is going to be the answer. Honestly, a lot of the things we'll look at and a lot of the changes we will make probably won't come with a headline. That's not to say we won't do something that's in that "splash" category, but I don't think it's indicative of a lack of effort (or) work ethic."
Holmes also offered an excuse of sorts when it came to the reasoning for inactivity in the past, centered mostly around the work involved with chasing and landing top names.
"Our work ethic has always been high. A lot of times you have to put so much work into making sure you don't make a mistake. The easier thing to do is see a name of interest that you've heard of and you just make the move. Then you didn't put in the time and effort to see why this player is even available or why is this player not being signed back. There's a lot of work that goes into it. That's not going to change."
No matter what excuses are dreamed up, Holmes hasn't been active enough outside the organization, and many of his safer moves have failed spectacularly. This has to change, and it's alarming he feels unwilling to commit to any shift in mentality after 2025's epic flop.
Holmes risks his legacy if he doesn't make bold moves to improve Lions
It's not fair to say this iteration of the Lions is running out of time, but the NFL changes dramatically year to year. New teams leap to the forefront, while others that look like contenders can get passed by at the drop of a hat.
While the Lions are still one of the league's best even after an uninspiring 2025, that won't mean much if they don't do everything to chase a championship in 2026. It must start with hiring the right offensive coordinator and moving into the offseason to chase top upgrades for positional needs.
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If Holmes remains averse to the big move when it comes along, he might run out of time in Detroit. One need only look at the current coaching carousel and realize that if the Lions continue to fail to meet expectations, a reckoning might come.
Arguably, Holmes has been as much responsible for the turnaround in Detroit as anybody thanks to his consistent talent identification, but goodwill doesn't always last. A poor 2026 season would only lead to more questions about his viability running the front office.
Hopefully, Holmes is merely being coy with the press and is preparing his most aggressive offseason thus far. Unfortunately, he didn't strike the right tone publicly to inspire that confidence with the fans.