The Detroit Lions‘ problems heading into 2026 pale in comparison to the decades of losing the once hapless franchise faced before pairing head coach Dan Campbell with GM Brad Holmes, but the team’s clear step back last season spurred recent reports of conflict atop the organization.
Campbell addressed those reports in emphatic fashion on Friday, March 27 in a clear attempt to put them to rest.
“Brad and myself do everything together,” Campbell said, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And despite what’s been out there, that’s a bunch of … listen, we’re golden, man. We are as good as we’ve ever been. We want to win, and we’re going to get it right.”
Holmes also recently addressed his alleged issues with Campbell.
“I don’t know where the other stuff came from, but no,” Holmes said. “I mean, if anything, it’s me and Dan in total lockstep like we always have been, and we’re just kind of looking at everything top to bottom, which we already have done, and that we’ll continue to do for sure.”
Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes Have Put Together Solid Free-Agency Period for Lions to This Point
GettyDetroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
Mike Valenti of 97.1 in Detroit cited an unnamed reporter while answering a question on his radio show last week about how the Lions have tackled the free-agency period this offseason.
“Someone who covers the team told me that this was the first offseason there are definite differences of opinions in roster construction between Dan and Brad,” Valenti said, per Candace Pedraza of FanSided.
Detroit hasn’t been overly aggressive and has yet to make a truly splash signing or trade, as the team heads into April with the Nos. 17 and 50 picks in the first and second round, respectively, of the upcoming NFL draft.
But despite that, Ben Solak of EPSN ranked the Lions as the No. 3 most-improved team after the first two waves of free agency based on the moves they have made.
Detroit has more needs than it has money to throw around, but it did extremely well to take high-upside swings in the margins. [Isiah] Pacheco can’t be 100% of what David Montgomery was for them, but the Lions don’t want that anymore — they want a capable short-yardage, pass-protecting back to relieve Jahmyr Gibbs, and they got that for near the veteran minimum.
The Lions also got a functional starter at center in [Cade] Mays for $8 million per year in an offseason in which the center market was exploding. [DJ] Wonnum is ideally a No. 3 edge instead of a No. 2 option, but opposite Aidan Hutchinson, he can fill the Al-Quadin Muhammad shoes and then some. At corner, [Roger] McCreary can start if he’s healthy, too. This class is filled with great value.
Lions Still Have Time, Potential Opportunities to Make Major Offseason Roster Moves
GettySan Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.
Several analysts dubbed Detroit a potential player for five-time Pro Bowler and star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby earlier this offseason, though no reports of a solid trade offer to the Las Vegas Raiders for Crosby from the Lions ever emerged.
Because of that talk, however, Detroit is also a team that writers and talking heads have mentioned as a potential player for Myles Garrett, if and when he becomes available following recent news of Garrett and the Cleveland Browns changing his contract language in a fashion that makes him more tradable every offseason from now until 2030.
The Lions could also be in the mix for offensive lineman Trent Williams should he and the San Francisco 49ers part ways this offseason, as the two sides remain embroiled in a contract dispute that could end with the future Hall of Famer’s release in the name of $33 million in salary cap savings.
Detroit has a need at left tackle after granting Taylor Decker his release earlier this month.
Lions’ Dan Campbell Responds Strongly to Reported Conflict Among Team Brass