The Detroit Lions have something to prove this season. They're coming off back-to-back impressive regular seasons, but don't have much playoff success to show for their work.
Dan Campbell took over in 2021 and started from the bottom, 3-13-1. But he turned that thing around quickly. By 2022, Detroit finished with a winning record of 9-8. Then came 2023, where they really started flexing—12-5 and made it all the way to the NFC title game before getting edged out by the Niners.
They followed that up with a monster 15-2 season in 2024, but the playoff magic fizzled out early, getting bounced right after the first-round bye.
Now, with both coordinators gone and doubters chirping from every corner, it’s time for Detroit to lock back in. And if there’s one thing we know, Campbell’s crew loves playing with their backs against the wall.
A lot of this season rides on Jared Goff’s shoulders. The Lions have hooked him up with weapons on all sides—Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are a nasty one-two punch in the backfield, Sam LaPorta is a rising star at tight end, and Amon-Ra St. Brown with Jameson Williams is a headache combo for any defense.
But while the Lions are living in the now, they’ve still got one eye on the future—and that’s where Hendon Hooker comes in.
Hendon Hooker Has a Lot of Convincing to Do at Lions Training Camp
Detroit scooped Hooker in the third round of the 2023 draft, hoping to strike gold. Dude balled out at Tennessee, tossing 58 touchdowns and over 6,000 yards in just two seasons. A late ACL tear in 2022 dropped his draft stock, but he’s almost three years out from that injury now and should be back to full throttle.
With just two years left on his rookie deal, it’s time to show out. Hooker’s deadly accurate when he’s hitting his first or second read, but once the play breaks down, things get a little shaky. He was only able to read part of the field in college, but it's time to show he's learned how to diagnose defenses at a higher level in the pros.
The Lions need to know if this guy can be a real-deal backup—or even a spot starter if Goff goes down for a game or two.
Camp is coming fast, and Hooker’s about to get a whole lotta reps. He’s gotta use every snap to show the coaches he’s not just here for vibes—he’s here to ball. The time is now. Let’s see if he’s built for it.