We have officially reached the halfway mark of the 2026 season, and the Lions are 6-2 and in a really good spot to make a playoff run because the stars are, well, playing like stars.
The Lions are loaded with talent and a couple of legitimate NFL MVP candidates. Dan Campbell has to feel good about where his team stands after eight games.
Let’s rank the Lions’ top five MVPs through the first half of the season.
1. Jared Goff
Surprised to see Jared Goff ahead of Jahmyr Gibbs? That’s how good the veteran quarterback has been this season.
In his 11th year, Goff is on pace to put up some career numbers through eight games. He’s passed for 2,134 yards and 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Goff was hot to start the year but has come down to earth a little more recently, but he’s still averaging over 250 yards and nearly two touchdowns per game. He’s always been reliable and steady in the pocket, but especially this year.
Goff is playing at a true MVP level, and he deserves to be in those conversations — and yet he’s still overlooked.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs
Some experts are calling Gibbs the leader in the MVP race through eight games, but he’s not even No. 1 on this list because, honestly, Goff should be leading those conversations. But Gibbs is a very close second.
The Lions have two legitimate NFL MVP candidates so it’s tough to choose between the two.
Gibbs is putting up ridiculous numbers this season that would put him on pace with past MVPs, if not ahead of pace. He has 847 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground to go along with 34 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Over 1,100 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns through eight games? If Goff wasn’t playing out of his mind, he’d be an easy No. 1.
3. Penei Sewell
Penei Sewell made the move from right tackle to left tackle this season, and he hasn’t skipped a beat, leading the team with a PFF grade over 92. He’s protected Goff’s blindside, and he’s a big reason the actual MVP candidate quarterback has been kept upright and healthy.
The Lions have allowed 18 sacks through eight games, which is 18th in the NFL. Not too shabby for an offensive line that suffered a lot of attrition, but Sewell’s play is a big reason for the success. Oh, and he’s paved the way for an MVP season for Gibbs as well.
4. Aidan Hutchinson
The only member of the defense to make the Lions’ MVP list is the most obvious. Aidan Hutchinson is the star of the defense, and he’s had to shoulder a lot of the leadership load with Jack Campbell injured for what’s likely to be a very long time, and he’s done a great job. He rallied the troops in the Minnesota game after Campbell went down, all while playing some of the best football of his young career.
Hutchinson commands a ton of attention from opposing offensive lines, which can free up guys like Alim McNeill, Tyliek Williams, Derrick Moore, and Skyler Gill-Howard to get after the quarterback. He also draws countless offensive holding penalties because opposing linemen can’t seem to keep up with his athleticism.
The numbers aren’t as impressive as they should be, but his impact passes the eye test.
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown
The leading receiver for an MVP candidate quarterback has to be on here, too, right? St. Brown is one of the reasons that Goff has had such a good season, and he’s as sure-handed as they come. He’s on pace to put up numbers similar to last season, which was the second-best of his already-impressive NFL career.
St. Brown’s 61 catches put him on pace to smash his previous career-high of 119 in 2023. He’s one of the best receivers in the NFL, catching 61 passes (5th in the NFL) for 657 yards (11th) and five touchdowns (10th). That’s MVP-worthy.
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