The Detroit Lions open 2025 training camp with a 'Super Bowl or bust' goal. David Montgomery & Aidan Hutchinson lead a team hungry after a 2024 playoff loss.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The grills are fired up, the pads are ready to pop, and the Detroit Lions are back in Allen Park. But this isn't just another training camp. As players reported for duty on Monday, running back David Montgomery set a stark, unwavering tone for the 2025 season, declaring it a 'year of reckoning' for a team that tasted greatness but left the table hungry.
Everybody's tired of being close.
The sting of that 45-31 playoff loss to Washington still lingers. After a franchise-best 15-win season and back-to-back NFC North titles, just getting to the dance isn't enough anymore. Montgomery's words resonated through the facility as stars like Aidan Hutchinson, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams arrived with a visible determination. Head Coach Dan Campbell echoed the sentiment, telling reporters, 'There's a price to be paid to get yourself back into the dance... and that will never change.' The message is clear: the celebration of last year is over. The work to finish the job has begun.
Adding to the day's intensity, the full 2025 schedule dropped, laying out the path for Detroit's potential redemption tour. The season kicks off with a massive divisional showdown on the road against the Green Bay Packers. The slate is also dotted with high-stakes, prime-time matchups that will test their championship mettle, including showdowns with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles on NBC, and a clash with the Dallas Cowboys on Prime Video. This schedule isn't just a list of dates; it's a series of hurdles the Lions must clear to prove they belong among the NFL's elite.
Championships are won in the trenches, and that's where the focus was on day one. The coaching staff paid close attention to the offensive line, a perennial strength they're looking to reinforce with even greater depth. On the other side of the ball, Coach Campbell addressed the defensive line, acknowledging the loss of Levi Onwuzurike as a setback. However, he expressed confidence in the unit's depth, noting the presence of 'Tai' and the anticipated return of Josh Paschal before the season begins. 'You don't like to lose anybody... but it helps,' Campbell said, emphasizing the opportunity for younger players to step up and claim a role.
The first day of camp has set the stage. This is a team fueled by the frustration of falling short, armed with a challenging schedule, and focused on shoring up every facet of its roster. The 'Year of Reckoning' has officially begun. Next up, the Lions will get their first taste of action in the Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers on July 31, the first step on a long road they hope ends with a parade in downtown Detroit.
