Lions’ Dan Campbell confident team’s Super Bowl window remains open after disastrous loss to Commanders

January 20, 2025

Dan Campbell is one of those head coaches who believes in his team no matter what, but even the most optimistic person can feel depressed after a heartbreaking loss at home to the top-seeded Washington Commanders in the divisional round. There is.

However, Campbell reiterated his belief that this is not the case, and that the path to a championship remains wide open for the Detroit Lions.

“Yeah, I think so,” Campbell said during the championship when asked via ESPN. “We're talking about that core. That core group is still intact, we've re-signed some guys, we've got some guys under contract. And that will continue. But yeah, We absolutely do.”

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Lions head coach Dan Campbell addresses the media after the game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 5, 2024 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

“I think the most important thing is you want to know that you have your own culture, you have your own identity and you have players that fit into that, and we have that.”

A perfect example is star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who signed a long-term contract with the Lions this offseason, who texted Campbell at 4 a.m. Saturday night after a 45-31 loss to the Commanders. Sent.

Although the loss hurt him, it showed Campbell that there were hungry players in the building, especially a leader like St. Brown.

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“I know the right players. They're our players for a reason. That always gives me hope and tells me we're going to get better. I'll give it to you.”

“We're going to come back even stronger and we're going to learn from this, but it just adds fuel to the fire.”

Campbell said all of this before it was reported that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was being traded to an NFC North rival to become the team's next head coach. The Chicago Bears are bringing in Johnson to turn things around, but he clearly knows the ins and outs of the organization after his role in Detroit the past three seasons.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to the media after their district playoff game against the Washington Commanders. (AP Photo/Mike Mulholland)

But this shouldn't come as a shock to Campbell, who also has to prepare for the loss of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn will have a second interview with the New York Jets on Tuesday and could potentially fill the head coaching vacancy.

Campbell told ESPN that if they lose a coordinator, they have to be ready for the next man up, but winning remains the same for now.

“We're not going to allow something like that to happen,” Campbell said of the potential change in mindset. “Doesn't it hurt to lose those guys? Absolutely. They're part of what we were here for. They've been here for four years and they're what allowed us to win. That's one of the main reasons “where we went.'' ”

Simply put, the Lions shouldn't have been thinking about the future as they already lost their innovative offensive coordinator and are preparing for the offseason. With their ability to put points on the scoreboard, they seemed destined to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XI.