Lions Fans Respond Firmly to Analyst’s Claim That Their Division Title Run Is Over

The Detroit Lions have secured back-to-back NFC North titles, but some analysts are uncertain about their chances of winning a third straight division crown.

Losing both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn presents significant challenges for the Lions, who will have new leadership in both units. Teams facing similar changes during an offseason have often struggled to adjust to new systems. NFL Network analyst Manti Te’o is among those who believe the Lions’ reign at the top of the NFC North may be over. He pointed to the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles, who lost both coordinators to head coaching roles following a Super Bowl appearance.

After Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon left for head coaching jobs, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni brought in Brian Johnson and Sean Desai to replace them. Despite the coaching changes, the Eagles lost five of their final six regular-season games and were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs. “I think losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn will have a bigger impact on the Lions,” Te’o said on Good Morning Football. “Dan Campbell doesn’t call the offense; Ben Johnson did. That’s a major loss for them.”

Te’o also noted that the NFC North is a tough division, with each team having the potential to make a splash. The Bears, now with Johnson, could spark their offense, while the Vikings, who finished just one game behind the Lions, are uncertain at quarterback but have high hopes for J.J. McCarthy. Te’o believes that with so much uncertainty in the division, the Lions’ hold on the top spot is far from secure.