Last season, the Detroit Lions emerged as the top team in the NFL regular season, finishing with an impressive 15-2 record. However, their playoff run was cut short in a surprising loss to the Washington Commanders in the opening round. That early exit from the postseason has served as motivation for head coach Dan Campbell and his squad throughout the offseason.
But Detroit has had to deal with some major changes. Both of their coordinators departed for head coaching jobs—offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was hired by the Chicago Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn took over the New York Jets. Those exits present a big challenge for the Lions going into the new season.
Even so, former NFL MVP Cam Newton doesn’t believe these changes will derail Detroit. When asked if the loss of both coordinators might set the team back, Newton was direct in his response:
“Not at all,” he stated. “When you’re part of a great team, you adapt. You reload, even when coaches leave. People often overlook how success breeds opportunity. Just look at Sean McDermott in Buffalo—he came from a system that develops leaders. Bill Belichick’s coaching tree is another great example. Winning organizations naturally lose coaches because everyone wants to know their formula for success.”
Newton’s perspective highlights a key truth in the NFL—losing assistant coaches is inevitable when a team performs well. It’s part of the business.
To address the coordinator vacancies, the Lions hired John Morton as offensive coordinator and promoted Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator. Both are expected to bring fresh energy to the team.
However, Detroit has also seen some key players leave. Cornerback Carlton Davis III and guard Kevin Zeitler left in free agency, veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith remains unsigned, and star center Frank Ragnow retired. Despite these personnel losses, Newton remains optimistic about the Lions’ chances.
He believes the team’s foundation is strong enough to weather the changes and continue competing at a high level in 2025.
