The Rise of the Detroit Lions

If people were to say that after going 5-11 in the 2020 season, the Detroit Lions would eventually be favored to win the Super Bowl then they would probably be laughed at. However, the Detroit Lions were just chosen by Sports Illustrated to win the Super Bowl. There is a reason the Detroit Lions have seen success in recent years. They made tons of adjustments to go from 5-11 to 12-6. The Detroit Lions found the coach of the future and the quarterback of the future.  

The Coach of the Future

Matt Patricia was the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018 to 2020, when they were 5-11. He seemed to have a controlling approach in the locker room.  Coming from a successful career with the New England Patriots as a defensive coordinator, he thought that he had a right to control the locker room. His players disagreed. The players who played under him felt that he treated them like they did not accomplish anything in the NFL. He was fired before the 2021 season and in came Dan Campbell.

Dan Campbell was an excellent candidate because he had played for the Detroit Lions himself as a tight end from 2006 to 2008. He embodied a passionate and tough coach who genuinely wanted the best for his team. In his speech, he explained that the team was going to be knocked down but that the team was going to bite the kneecaps of their opponents as they fell. This was a strange speech but a passionate and effective one. He progressed as a head coach and his players genuinely played for him.

The Quarterback of the Future

To say that Matthew Stafford was the problem in Detroit would be an outrageous statement. He played 12 seasons in Detroit where he threw 282 touchdowns and 144 interceptions in 165 games. The Detroit Lions were not losing because of Stafford they were losing despite having Stafford. Change was needed and Jared Goff was the player to do it. In a trade, Jared Goff was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford, who would go to the Los Angeles Rams. At first, Jared Goff only threw for 3,245 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2021. However, last season, he threw for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has shown massive improvement in his play and his confidence. Goff is now one of the core offensive weapons on the team and seems to continue to improve.

The Present

If people were to say that after going 5-11 in the 2020 season, the Detroit Lions would eventually be favored to win the Super Bowl, then they would probably be laughed at. The Detroit Lions are now coming off of a 12-5 season, where they made it to the NFC Championship Game. Sports Illustrated chose them as who they thought would win the Super Bowl. It seems like the Detroit Lions have found their quarterback and their coach. Dan Campbell has given the Detroit Lions a tough identity and Jared Goff has given the Detroit Lions a fresh start.