One of the more annoying parts of this year’s Super Bowl was the fact that it was between two teams that have been there recently—and with regularity. This was the Seattle Seahawks’ fourth appearance since the 2005 season. This was the New England Patriots’ 11th appearance since 1996. For all the NFL talks about in regards to parity and the lack of “super teams,” it still feels like the championship is often between two very familiar teams.
But the Detroit Lions have certainly changed the narrative surrounding their franchise’s reputation. Sure, they may still lack a Super Bowl appearance, but thanks to the job Sheila Hamp, Brad Holmes, and Dan Campbell have done, the Lions currently are believed to be a strongly led organization, one that puts the in the resources required to be a winning team and does things the right way to develop a strong culture.
In the past four years, the Lions have been one of the most winningest franchises in football.
Record since 2022:
- Eagles: 50-18
- Bills: 49-18
- Chiefs: 46-22
- Lions: 45-23
- Vikings: 43-25
- Ravens: 43-25
- 49ers: 43-25
- Seahawks: 42-26
- Steelers: 39-29
- Cowboys: 38-29-1
Three of the past four Super Bowl winners (Eagles, Chiefs x2) are right there in overall record, and the Lions have had more regular season success recently than the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks.
It certainly stands to reason that has had a talent level worth of Super Bowl contention over the last three years. But questions have been raised about whether the team can keep that competitiveness going with a tightening salary cap and less draft capital. So today’s Question of the Day is:
Will the Lions make the Super Bowl in the next three years?
My answer: I have my doubts.
This isn’t to say that the Lions can’t or won’t. Their core of blue chip players (Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Penei Sewell, Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell) is still very young, and they are all likely to be with this team for at least the next three or four years. But 2025 was a strong reminder of just how fragile everything can be in the NFL. The Lions entered the season with the best safety duo in football, and it appeared Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph were going to be tentpoles of a disruptive Lions defense for years to come. Now, the Lions enter 2026 with Branch expected to miss the start of the year, and Joseph’s long-term health in question.
Entering this offseason, the Lions have a fair amount of short and long-term questions. Will David Montgomery be back? Who will be this team’s left tackle and center? Will LaPorta be ready after back surgery? Who will play opposite Hutchinson? Can Alim McNeill return to form? Will Alex Anzalone be retained? Can Terrion Arnold and Tyleik Williams reach their potential? Who the hell is starting at safety?
That’s a lot of “ifs” for a team that only has two top-100 picks and is currently over the projected salary cap. Yes, the Lions can do several salary cap gymnastics to be as active as they want in free agency, but given Holmes’ measured approach in not overburdening future cap hits, I don’t believe he’d be super aggressive.
Still, the Lions’ core players will keep them competitive. Detroit should be in about every game they play, and that will give them a chance. A favorable schedule, some good injury luck, and the ball bouncing their way one, two, or seven times [Editor’s note: Like the Bears this year!], and you never know. I do believe Detroit has a good enough roster to make the Super Bowl, but I’d be surprised if they could manage to have the NFL’s best roster in the next couple years.
That means—like any team in the Super Bowl—they’re going to need some luck in their favor. Luck has never been Detroit’s strong suit, but I’m not counting it out completely.
Let’s hear your thoughts. Tell us whether you think the Lions will make the Super Bowl in the next three years in the comment section below, and share why!
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