Justin Rogers: To win a Super Bowl again, the Lions must make a difficult reset.

Michigan’s Allen Park Coach Dan Campbell loved to tell his players that their roster was designed for this when the Detroit Lions overcame hardships and history in the final stretch of the 2023 campaign. He wished to remind every player in that locker room that he and general manager Brad Holmes had personally chosen them for their physical and mental toughness, their capacity to overcome hardship, and their football playing prowess. But, Campbell’s next task has been made public, demonstrating that the Lions are designed to compete at this level year after year, even after the team was eliminated from the playoffs and missed out on the franchise’s first Super Bowl participation. “I believe the main objective was to establish a core

The Lions can take comfort in the knowledge that the nucleus of the squad is unlikely to change significantly this offseason. The majority of their top players, including seasoned starters like quarterback Jared Goff and linebacker Alex Anzalone, up-and-coming talents like Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Aidan Hutchinson, and seasoned offensive linemen like Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker, who would be valuable additions to any foundation, have contracts that expire after this season. But every offseason inevitably brings with it change. Twenty players, or about one-third of the squad, are unrestricted free agents for the team. While many will not be retained, some will. Both new signings and draft selections will be made. However, Campbell clarified that each and every one of those arriving

First and foremost, new players will be a good match for the culture. “We’ve got to add more talent, more competition that thinks the same way that group of guys in that locker room does,” Campbell stated. It is not negotiable. No amount of skill is sufficient to justify bringing anything that is incongruent with our mission. Thus, that’s really crucial.

There is a lot of overlap in the answers provided by the locker room veterans when you ask them about the process of selecting a guy that fits. Work ethic is emphasized by Anzalone, Ragnow, and Decker as the most important quality. “I kind of look at it like an old-school player, guys that relish putting in the hours and the hard work to be able to put yourself in a position to be successful when it comes to game day,” Decker stated. GOFF’S MORE DETAILABLE VIEW However, Goff provided a more in-depth analysis of the characteristics of a locker room fit after spending the previous month basking in the warm embrace of the supporters who cheered his name at athletic events throughout the state. If you pay close attention, you can hear

him outlining the reasons behind his success in Detroit. “I think it’s guys that aren’t afraid of the long road, aren’t afraid of the hard times, and aren’t afraid of adversity and thrive in those situations,” Goff stated. These are men who are prepared to be written off, to have their faith questioned, and to respond with a “alright, we’ll prove it.” It’s the guys who put in a lot of practice, work hard, are pros, make terrific teammates, and—most importantly—win.”

After the team’s loss in the NFC Championship on Sunday, Campbell made some candid remarks in his locker room that he thought this might be their last chance. He stated unequivocally that while he didn’t particularly agree with it, the NFL operates in that manner. Many Hall of Fame players have reached the Super Bowl but never returned, or like in the cases of the two greatest Lions in history, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, never made it. It’s challenging to win divisions, playoff games, and the top of the standings. The Lions weren’t able to check those boxes for thirty years. But achieving those objectives consistently to remain there presents another difficulty.

all in all. Goff is aware of this. In 2019, he attended a Super Bowl with the Rams; however, he did not make it to the postseason the following year and was eliminated in the divisional round. It was the reason he ended up in Detroit to begin with. The Lions’ schedule for the following season will be more difficult, in line with their final standings. Competitors from various divisions are pitted against each other in four games. Thus, those contests will be against other winners of the first position.

It won’t be simple, Goff admitted on Monday. “Everyone will get their best shot, so we need to be prepared. As we achieve success, our standards will only rise further.” Assuming offensive coordinator Ben Johnson fills one of the last head coaching positions, as many believe, the Lions will likely approach that challenge with a familiar core, some new parts, and definitely some new faces on the coaching staff. Campbell will be regarded as the unifying force behind everything. Yes, the foundation is in place. While there are certain things we won’t have to start from scratch, there are still certain things that require work, hunger, and determination.

There has to be that urgency in order for there to be that attention to detail, Campbell stated on Monday. And you’re beginning afresh in that sense. And you’ve got another thing coming if you don’t and believe you’re just going to go because you attended the NFC Championship game.