All good things must come to an end, but is this really the beginning of the end for the Detroit Lions' duo of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell?
That was the subject of discussion late last week after Mike Valenti of 97.1 The Ticket brought up that his source, who he says covers the team, suggested that there's a first-time disconnect between Holmes and Campbell over how the Lions' roster is built.
It was a rumor that was always supposed to be taken with a grain of salt, given that whoever this alleged source is didn't think it was worth reporting themselves. But, as these things do, those rumors took a life of their own within the Lions' fanbase. Especially when there's disappointment over how the Lions have handled this offseason.
On Tuesday, Holmes appeared on the Lions Collective podcast for an exclusive interview, and it took until the very end before this rumor was brought up. Holmes was asked about coming off a disappointing season, and if that meant those roster-building conversations with Campbell are more intense because of that:
"I think the only intensity I would say is just that when you have a disappointment of a season like we had, it's more intense in terms of -- I think what I spoke about at the end of the season press conference is that it is a deeper, harder look from top to bottom on everything. And that's what me and Dan have done in joint alignment," Holmes said.
"So that would be the only intensity that was probably a little further because you get this eye opener and it's like, 'Woah, hold on now.' And so let's just make sure that we're not overlooking something, or if there's not a tweak or adjustment that needs to be done. So that I would say that would be the intensity. That's what's happening."
"I don't know where the other stuff came from, but no, I mean, if anything, it's me and Dan in total lock step like we always have been, and, you know, we're just kind of looking at everything top to bottom, which we already have done, and that we will continue to do for sure."
The clock is still ticking for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell
Naturally, when there's trouble on the field, there's going to be some trouble in paradise. The Lions finished last in the NFC North with a 9-8 record. With limited wiggle room, financially, there's bound to be some "intensity" with the multitude of tough decisions, such as which positions to prioritize or if now's the time to swing a big trade.
Not that Holmes would ever outright confirm the rumor if it were true, but his response is a reminder that a GM and HC can still have a strong and healthy working relationship during tough-to-navigate circumstances. If his response is to be believed, then things are just fine between the two.
This upcoming season will mark the sixth year of the Holmes-Campbell era, which began in 2021. Those previous five seasons saw the Lions struggle to get a single win, reach the NFC Championship game, and win a franchise-best 15 games.
But cracks are currently showing with the current makeup of the team. Players are getting older, younger players have signed big deals or will soon do so, and injuries continue to be a problem. The Super Bowl window may be closing, whether Holmes and Campbell believe it or not.
Holmes and Campbell have brought Lions fans the best Super Bowl era stretch in franchise history. However, last season saw the team go in the wrong direction, barely salvaging a record above .500. For a franchise that is now better run at the top than possibly ever before, that trust in Holmes and Campbell can wane if the team continues to struggle to get back into contention.
Year six will be a big test for both Holmes and Campbell, and if there isn't a strife between the two now, then there almost certainly would be if the team misses the playoffs again.