The 2025 season was the Detroit Lions' 96th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fifth under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.
The Lions failed to match their franchise-best 15–2 record from the previous season following a Week 9 loss at home to their division rival Minnesota Vikings. Despite entering the year as Super Bowl favorites by media experts and opening the season on a strong 7–4 start and one game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears, the Lions suffered a late-season collapse and won just two out of their final six games. They were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2022 following a Week 17 loss on Christmas Day to the Vikings; a game where they committed a season-high six turnovers after coming into the game with 8 total turnovers all season long. Frequent offensive line and secondary issues plagued the team’s year due to numerous season-ending injuries, retirements, and departures. They would also lose numerous close games this year, with 5 of their 8 losses being by just a touchdown or less, with 3 of their losses by a combined 15 points.
Player movements Free agents PositionPlayerFree agencytagDate signed2025 teamSource DE Myles Adams RFA March 12 Detroit Lions OLB Mitchell Agude ERFA March 17 Detroit Lions G Kayode Awosika RFA March 28 Detroit Lions K Michael Badgley UFA October 7 Indianapolis Colts ILB Derrick Barnes UFA March 10 Detroit Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater UFA August 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE Marcus Davenport UFA March 10 Detroit Lions CB Carlton Davis UFA March 13 New England Patriots CB Khalil Dorsey UFA March 20 Detroit Lions T Connor Galvin ERFA S Ifeatu Melifonwu UFA March 13 Miami Dolphins CB Emmanuel Moseley UFA DE Al-Quadin Muhammad UFA March 19 Detroit Lions G Netane Muti UFA January 22 Detroit Lions ILB Ben Niemann UFA September 23 New York Jets C Michael Niese ERFA April 23 Detroit Lions ILB Trevor Nowaske ERFA March 13 Detroit Lions DT Pat O'Connor UFA March 18 Detroit Lions DT Levi Onwuzurike UFA March 13 Detroit Lions WR Tim Patrick UFA March 14 Detroit Lions DT Kyle Peko UFA August 11 New England Patriots OLB Anthony Pittman RFA March 13 Detroit Lions RB Craig Reynolds RFA March 18 Detroit Lions WR Allen Robinson UFA T Dan Skipper UFA March 10 Detroit Lions ILB Ezekiel Turner UFA March 10 Detroit Lions CB Kindle Vildor UFA March 13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE Jonah Williams UFA March 17 New Orleans Saints G Kevin Zeitler UFA March 13 Tennessee Titans TE Shane Zylstra RFA March 18 Detroit Lions
Additions * = Practice Squad signings
Position Player Previous team Date Source WR Ronnie Bell San Francisco 49ers January 21 DT Roy Lopez Arizona Cardinals March 13 Lions sign unrestricted free agent DL Roy Lopez DetroitLions.com, March 13, 2025 CB D.J. Reed New York Jets March 13 Lions sign unrestricted free agent CB D.J. Reed DetroitLions.com, March 13, 2025 LB Grant Stuard Indianapolis Colts March 13 Lions sign unrestricted free agent LB Grant Stuard DetroitLions.com, March 13, 2025 QB Kyle Allen Pittsburgh Steelers March 14 Lions sign unrestricted free agent QB Kyle Allen DetroitLions.com, March 14, 2025 TE Kenny Yeboah New York Jets March 15 Lions Sign TE Kenny Yeboah Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2025 CB Rock Ya-Sin San Francisco 49ers March 20 CB Avonte Maddox Philadelphia Eagles March 21 WR Malik Taylor New York Jets May 12 DE Raequan Williams Carolina Panthers May 12 LB Zach Cunningham Denver Broncos May 27 CB Divaad Wilson New York Giants June 2 OC Trystan Colon Arizona Cardinals June 4 CB Dicaprio Bootle Los Angeles Chargers July 18 RB Jabari Small Tennessee Titans July 18 CB Nick Whiteside St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL) July 28 RB Jacob Saylors St. Louis Battlehawks (UFL) July 29 OT Justin Herron New Orleans Saints August 2 CB D.J. Miller Michigan Panthers (UFL) August 4 CB Luq Barcoo Dallas Cowboys August 5 TE Steven Stilianos San Antonio Brahmas (UFL) August 7 TE Gunnar Oakes Michigan Panthers (UFL) August 10 RB Deon Jackson DC Defenders (UFL) August 10 OG Gunner Britton DC Defenders (UFL) August 10 OG Keaton Sutherland Birmingham Stallions (UFL) August 10 OG Zack Johnson San Francisco 49ers August 14 CB Allan George Washington Commanders August 14 SS Daniel Thomas Jacksonville Jaguars August 27 DE Tyrus Wheat Dallas Cowboys August 27 DT Tyler Lacy Jacksonville Jaguars August 27 DE Andre Carter II * Las Vegas Raiders August 28 S Thomas Harper Las Vegas Raiders August 29 QB C. J. Beathard * Jacksonville Jaguars September 4 OT Devin Cochran * Cincinnati Bengals September 9 LB Monty Rice * New England Patriots September 9 WR Malik Cunningham * Baltimore Ravens September 16 TE Ross Dwelley San Francisco 49ers September 16 DT Quinton Jefferson Buffalo Bills September 24 LB Ty Summers New York Giants September 30 CB Tre Flowers * Chicago Bears October 1 CB Arthur Maulet Houston Texans October 9 CB Kendall Fuller * Miami Dolphins October 14 S Jammie Robinson Kansas City Chiefs October 16 OT Jack Conley * New England Patriots November 5 OT Chris Hubbard * New York Giants November 5 TE Anthony Firkser Kansas City Chiefs November 11 TE Giovanni Ricci * Minnesota Vikings November 30 WR Andrew Armstrong * Minnesota Vikings November 30 TE Hayden Rucci Miami Dolphins December 1 S Damontae Kazee * Cleveland Browns December 8 S Jalen Mills Miami Dolphins December 10 CB Keenan Garber * Indianapolis Colts December 16
Trades On August 27, the Lions traded wide receiver Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Releases Off-season PositionPlayer2025 teamRelease dateSourceDEZa'Darius SmithPhiladelphia EaglesMarch 10LBJalen Reeves-MaybinChicago BearsMarch 12QBJake FrommApril 23WRAntoine GreenApril 29TECaden PrieskornDenver BroncosTampa Bay BuccaneersCleveland BrownsMay 12LBAbraham BeauplanSt. Louis Battlehawks (UFL)May 27
Training camp/preseason PositionPlayer2025 teamRelease dateSourceCBGavin HolmesJune 2CBDivaad WilsonJune 4RBAnthony Tyus IIISeattle SeahawksCarolina PanthersJuly 17CBStantley Thomas-OliverJuly 27TELuke DealJuly 29DERaequan WilliamsAugust 2RBKye RobichauxDetroit LionsAugust 4RBJabari SmallDetroit LionsAugust 10OGKeaton SutherlandDallas Renegades (UFL)August 22CBDicaprio BootleAugust 22DEAhmed HassaneinDetroit LionsAugust 26DEMyles AdamsDetroit LionsAugust 26CTrystan ColonDetroit LionsAugust 26WRTom KennedyDetroit LionsAugust 26OGNetane MutiDetroit LionsAugust 26LBAnthony PittmanDetroit LionsAugust 26OTDan SkipperDetroit LionsAugust 26WRMalik TaylorAugust 26DEMitchell AgudeHouston Gamblers (UFL)August 26CBLuq BarcooSt. Louis Battlehawks (UFL)August 26WRRonnie BellDetroit LionsAugust 26OGGunner BrittonLouisville Kings (UFL)August 26OGKeith CooperDetroit LionsAugust 26CBAllan GeorgeOrlando Storm (UFL)August 26LBDaRon GilbertBirmingham Stallions (UFL)August 26SErick HallettDetroit LionsAugust 26QBHendon HookerCarolina PanthersNew York JetsAugust 26TEZach HortonDetroit LionsAugust 26RBDeon JacksonDC Defenders (UFL)August 26LBZack JohnsonAugust 26WRJakobie Keeney-JamesGreen Bay PackersAugust 26SIan KennellyAugust 26DENate LynnTennessee TitansAugust 26DTBrodric MartinKansas City ChiefsPittsburgh SteelersLas Vegas RaidersAugust 26WRJackson MeeksDetroit LionsAugust 26CBD.J. MillerColumbus Aviators (UFL)August 26OGMason MillerAugust 26CMichael NieseDetroit LionsAugust 26SMorice NorrisAugust 26TEGunnar OakesColumbus Aviators (UFL)August 26CBTyson RussellAugust 26RBJacob SaylorsDetroit LionsAugust 26TESteven StilianosOrlando Storm (UFL)August 26SLoren StricklandDetroit LionsAugust 26DEIsaac UkwuDetroit LionsAugust 26SNick WhitesideDetroit LionsAugust 26
Regular season PositionPlayer2025 teamRelease dateSourceDEIsaac UkwuMichigan Panthers (UFL)September 4LBAnthony PittmanSeptember 9LBMonty RiceLouisville Kings (UFL)September 16WRRonnie BellNew Orleans SaintsSeptember 30CKingsley EguakunDetroit LionsOctober 11DTChris SmithDetroit LionsOctober 11SLoren StricklandDetroit LionsOctober 14DEKeith CooperCleveland BrownsOctober 16LBTy SummersDetroit LionsOctober 20CBKendall FullerOctober 27OTJustin HerronNovember 4TEKenny YeboahNovember 4SJammie RobinsonAtlanta FalconsNovember 8OTJack ConleyNovember 11OTPat O'ConnorDetroit LionsNovember 15SErick HallettDetroit LionsNovember 22LBTy SummersChicago BearsNovember 22DTQuinton JeffersonNovember 25CBArthur MauletDetroit LionsNovember 25CBNick WhitesideDetroit LionsNovember 25RBCraig ReynoldsNew England PatriotsNovember 26CBTre FlowersPittsburgh SteelersNovember 30OGNetane MutiDecember 1WRAndrew ArmstrongDecember 8TERoss DwelleyCarolina PanthersDecember 9TEHayden RucciMiami DolphinsDecember 10
Practice squad poaching PositionPlayer2025 teamRelease dateSourceDEAndre Carter IIMiami DolphinsNovember 5SErick HallettTennessee TitansDecember 16
Retirements
PositionPlayerDate retiredSourceDEJohn CominskyMarch 31, 2025CFrank RagnowJune 2, 2025QBJake FrommAugust 18, 2025WRAntoine GreenAugust 28, 2025
Draft
+ 2025 Detroit Lions draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 28 Tyleik Williams DT Ohio State 2 57 Tate Ratledge G Georgia from Broncos 60 Traded to the Denver Broncos 3 70 Isaac TeSlaa WR Arkansas from Jacksonville 92 Traded to the New York Jets 102 Traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars 2020 Resolution JC-2A selection 4 130 Traded to the Denver Broncos 134 Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles from Eagles 5 164 Traded to the Cleveland Browns 171 Miles Frazier G LSU from New England Patriots 6 182 Traded to the New England Patriots from Jacksonville Jaguars 196 Ahmed Hassanein DE Boise State from Buccaneers 204 Traded to the Cleveland Browns 7 228 Traded to the New England Patriots from Cowboys 230 Dan Jackson S Georgia from Cardinals via Panthers and Broncos 244 Dominic Lovett WR Georgia Draft trades
+ 2025 Detroit Lions undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Keith Cooper DL Houston Luke Deal TE Auburn Leif Fautanu C Arizona State Gavin Holmes CB Texas Zach Horton TE/FB Indiana Jakobie Keeney-James WR UMass Ian Kennelly S Grand Valley State Jackson Meeks WR Syracuse Mason Miller OL North Dakota State Caden Prieskorn TE Ole Miss Kye Robichaux RB Boston College Tyson Russell CB Vanderbilt Anthony Tyus III RB Ohio
Personnel Staff
Final roster
Preseason On April 23, the NFL announced that the Lions would play the Los Angeles Chargers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at 8:00p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 31, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.
The remainder of the Lions' preseason opponents and schedule was announced on May 14—in conjunction with the release of the regular season schedule. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap HOF vs. Los Angeles Chargers L 7–34 0–1 Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Recap 1 at Atlanta Falcons W 17–10 1–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 2 Miami Dolphins L 17–24 1–2 Ford Field Recap 3 Houston Texans L 7–26 1–3 Ford Field Recap
Regular season Schedule