Is Detroit's Super Bowl Window Closed?
The Detroit Lions must secure an elite offensive coordinator to complement head coach Dan Campbell’s culture-building skills or risk squandering their championship potential.
The 23-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings eliminated the Lions from playoff contention and forced an early offseason reckoning. Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports believes Detroit faces a critical moment: either retool decisively or watch its championship window slam shut.
"You have to look in the mirror. In any business — and football is a business — to turn around a sinking ship, you have to self-audit."
The Ben Johnson Effect
Head coach Dan Campbell transformed the Lions from an embarrassing franchise into a genuine contender, but Cowherd identifies a structural weakness: Campbell is a culture-builder, not a scheme architect. That distinction matters enormously.
The numbers tell the story. With former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (now Chicago Bears head coach), Campbell went 36-15. Without him, the record plummeted to 11-21-1. Johnson's departure stripped away the offensive innovation that made Detroit crisp and creative.
The Failed Experiment
Ten weeks into the 2025 season, Campbell took over play-calling from replacement John Morton, hoping to recapture that offensive dynamism. The strategy backfired spectacularly: the Lions went 0-4 against playoff-bound teams under Campbell's direction, exposing the limitations of a head coach trying to wear two hats simultaneously.
The Path Forward
To maintain contender status, Detroit needs another elite offensive coordinator—someone capable enough to manage that unit while Campbell concentrates on organizational culture. Without that addition, the Lions' Super Bowl aspirations will continue deteriorating.
"It's not all doom and gloom. I mean, you've really got an infrastructure and culture-creator. He is not a scheme guy."
The foundation exists. But foundation alone doesn't win championships. Detroit must act decisively in the offseason or risk becoming a playoff pretender once again.
