The Detroit Lions open 2025 camp fueled by their NFC title loss. Dan Campbell & David Montgomery vow to 'finish the job' after a 15-2 2024 season.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The echoes of a 15-win season and a bitter NFC Championship loss to the Commanders still linger in Allen Park. But as the Detroit Lions kicked off training camp on Monday, that disappointment has clearly curdled into determination. The message from the top down was unified, aggressive, and unmistakable: The time for being 'close' is over. It's time to finish the job.
Everyone's exhausted from being so close... That’s not the legacy you wish to create, especially when you recognize the talent present on this team.
Head Coach Dan Campbell set the tone immediately in his opening press conference, making it clear that the 2025 season is about one thing: redemption. 'We're out to finish what we started, we're going to close out some of these debts. That's got to be the attitude,' Campbell stated, his words resonating with a fanbase hungry for a title. That sentiment was powerfully echoed by running back David Montgomery, who spoke for the entire locker room. 'Everyone's exhausted from being so close,' Montgomery said, referencing the playoff loss that cut their historic 15-2 season short. 'We aim to complete the task, so this is our year.' The message is clear: the Lions aren't just NFC North favorites; they're a team on a mission with a massive chip on their shoulder.
Central to that mission is the dynamic running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Both are healthy and ready to anchor the offense once again. Campbell specifically praised Montgomery's value, and it's clear the plan is to lean heavily on the one-two punch that terrorized defenses last season. With Montgomery eager to prove himself after an injury-affected 2024 and Gibbs looking to build on a spectacular campaign, the Lions' ground game is poised to be the engine that drives their 'finish' mentality. For a team built on physicality, having this tandem at full strength from Day 1 is a massive advantage.
While the overall mood was electric, training camp always brings health questions. The main update involved defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike, who is managing a knee issue that Campbell revealed developed about a month after he signed his new contract in the offseason. The team is managing his workload, and his progress will be a key storyline to watch. Campbell also confirmed a minor, short-term injury to an unnamed player, noting that all tests were negative and he should only miss a few days. For now, the Lions enter camp relatively healthy, but keeping key contributors like Onwuzurike on the field will be crucial for the long haul.
The pads haven't even come on yet, but the battle lines for 2025 have been drawn. The Lions are no longer sneaking up on anyone. They enter the season as the hunted, with the weight of sky-high expectations on their shoulders. From the coach to the players, the message is one of focused intensity and a refusal to accept anything less than the ultimate prize. The journey to finish what they started has officially begun.
