Following the Detroit Lions’ tough 45-31 NFC divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders, head coach Dan Campbell shared a poignant moment with All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. At 4 a.m., St. Brown texted Campbell, voicing the frustration that continues to linger within the team.
The Lions, who earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history, fell short of their ultimate goal. Campbell acknowledged the sting of the loss and the impact it had on his players.
“I know the guys, [the loss] eats away at them,” Campbell said Monday. “I know the right guys — they’re our guys for a reason, and that’s what will always give me hope and let me know we’re only going to be better. We’re going to come back stronger, we’re going to learn from this, and it’s just more fuel on the fire, is what it is.”
Despite the disappointment, Campbell remains confident in the team’s future. When asked if the Lions’ Super Bowl window remains open, he responded firmly: “Absolutely.”
Campbell emphasized the importance of the culture and identity they’ve built. “You want to know you’ve got your culture, you’ve got your identity, and you’ve got players that fit into that, and we’ve got that,” he said. “We’ve got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success and those guys are made the right way, so, absolutely, our window is open.”
As the Lions transition into the offseason, they face the potential departure of both coordinators. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is on the verge of becoming the Chicago Bears’ new head coach, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is set for a second interview with the New York Jets regarding their head coaching vacancy.
Campbell acknowledged the challenge but remains focused on keeping the team on track. “It’s my job to replenish and find the next man up,” he said. “We’re not going to allow that to happen. Does it hurt to lose those guys? Absolutely. They’ve been a part of what we’ve been here. They’ve been here for four years and they’re one of the major reasons why we’ve been able to get to where we’ve been.”
While expressing gratitude for Johnson and Glenn’s contributions, Campbell stressed the importance of moving forward. “We came out of the dump and got to where we’re at, so I will forever be grateful for those guys, and our team will,” he said. “And is it a loss? Absolutely, it’d be a loss, but yet we move forward. This train rolls on and I’ll find the next best guys for us.”
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs echoed Campbell’s optimism, noting the team’s progress compared to the 2023 squad that reached the NFC Championship Game. “We had these goals. … We met two of those goals this year and in a sense, went above and beyond what we were a year ago, but yet, we didn’t get any further and man, that’s disappointing. But it also eats at me. That drives me. That motivates me.”
For Campbell and the Lions, the pain of this playoff loss serves as motivation rather than defeat. With a renewed focus on growth, the Lions are determined to build on their success and push closer to their championship dream in the seasons ahead.
