The Detroit Lions have officially been eliminated from playoff contention following their loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day. With that, the focus turns to the offseason and the 2026 campaign much sooner than anyone in or around the franchise would have hoped.
For several reasons, the upcoming offseason will be of paramount importance for the Lions, and that only adds to the pressure that will be facing Detroit GM Brad Holmes. With big-money veterans already under contract and a head coach in place in Dan Campbell, who is loved throughout the Motor City for his approach, tweaking the 53-man roster in meaningful ways won't be easy for Holmes, but it could be the only thing that keeps him in his job beyond the 2026 campaign.
Brad Holmes Should be on Hot Seat Entering 2026 NFL Season
After going 15-2 during the 2024 campaign, Detroit took a major step in the wrong direction during the second half of this season and will now need a win over the Chicago Bears in Week 18 just to avoid finishing the year with a losing record. That should be enough for key figures on the coaching staff and in the front office to take a long look in the mirror, as their jobs could be on the line in 2026.
With Jared Goff having a cap number of just under $70 million for the upcoming season, the only thing he will have to worry about this offseason is being approached by the front office in hopes of restructuring that deal. In the grand scheme of things, the starting QB is down the line when it comes to immediate fall guys for an underperforming team.
As noted above, despite not being known as an offensive or defensive-minded genius, Campbell is beloved by fans and players for his attitude toward the game. While the team's successes and failures ultimately occur under his watch, any rumblings regarding Campbell needing to be concerned with his status in Detroit moving forward would be raised closer to the end of the 2026 campaign, assuming there is not a major turnaround this coming season.
That leaves Brad Holmes. No one's footprint is tied more to this roster than that of the GM, and with the draft class of 2023 being extension eligible starting this offseason, some big decisions will be on Holmes' plate in the not-so-distant future. Holmes has earned the right to make those calls, as well as lead Detroit's efforts in the draft, but he should not be feeling anywhere near as comfortable in his seat this coming offseason as he was on Christmas Day in 2024. Especially since his 2024 free agent and draft class didn't have the impact he would have hoped for.
Holmes has been in this role with the Lions since the 2021 season and has been part of the change in culture that has lifted Detroit from the cellar of the NFC to one of the league's premier teams. There is no doubt that this will be a pivotal offseason to ensure this train remains on the tracks and continues to move the Motor City's team in the right direction.