Lions' GM Brad Holmes on season-ending loss: 'Obviously, it sucks' | FOX 2 Detroit

Lions' GM Brad Holmes on season-ending loss: 'Obviously, it sucks'

It's been five days since Lions fans went home from Ford Field with a bitter taste in their mouths; Five days since the Lions defense, full of backups, gave up 45 points to the Washington Commanders; Five days since Jared Goff threw three interceptions. It's been just 24 since defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn left the Lions for his ‘dream job’ as coach of the New York Jets and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson signed on as the new coach of the Chicago Bears.

But general manager Brad Holmes isn't looking behind too much. He's looking forward to the moves the team can make in the off-season to make the 2025 season even better than 2024.

On Thursday, Holmes held a season-ending press conference where he discussed the entire season – including what will happen next as he and head coach Dan Campbell try to move on and improve from a record-setting season.

"Look, 15 wins, that's hard to do in a year where you don't have all the attrition that we had to deal with," Holmes said. "I mean, that's about as difficult as it gets. So, you know, that was a heck of a job by him in the whole staff, the whole coaching staff."

The Lions won 15 games for the first time in team history – tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the most wins in the regular season – and held the number 1 seed in the NFC playoffs for the first time ever. But, despite all of that, fans were still disappointed that night.

"Our fans, look they still once again they showed up and did their part. And they held up their end of the bargain, (I) wish we could have done more for them," Holmes said. "I just think that we just stay the course and just keep building like we've been. I do think that we're very close."

Holmes understands where everyone is feeling very disappointed in how it ended. But, as Detroit knows better than most other cities, you can only do one thing: get back at it. 

"I mean, obviously it sucks. It's humbling. But no overreaction," Holmes said. "There's nothing else to do but get back to work."

The Lions had the most injuries of any NFL season this year, particularly on defense. Holmes referred to it as ‘attrition’ throughout the press conference and said it didn't deter the team, but instead fueled them.

"What are you going to do about it? What are you going to do about it? It happened just like I said that that divisional loss happened. What are you going to do? The injuries happen," Holmes said

What's next:

As the offensive and defensive coordinators will turn over, Holmes isn't worried about the guys on the field adapting.

"We feel so good about our young core and young nucleus of players," Holmes said. "I just think that all the pieces are in place that I don't really feel that walls closing. We'd kind of make an effort to avoid those kind of things."

Goodbye to Johnson and Glenn

As Johnson and Glenn graciously take their exit from Allen Park, Holmes and Campbell aren't lost without them.

"Obviously we were prepared to lose those guys. Those guys are great coaches," Holmes said. "We're lucky to have both of them this year. So. But, I know Dan has been preparing for it, and I have the full faith and trust in Dan to make sure that, you know, we're going to have the right people in place."

So the Lions can do only one thing today: start finding the next Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.

"I think he's going to have to be he's going to have to be adaptable. He's going to have to be smart. He's going to have to be able to adjust," Holmes said. "Make sure that he's put the players in the best position to succeed. Those are some of the characteristics I think is a good culture fit for a coach here."

Just don't expect massive changes from Campbell. Holmes said as long as he's here, the expectation for players won't change: be all in.

"If there are tweaks to the scheme and all that, as long as Dan's the head coach here and, you know, as long as I'm here, then those are things that we talk about that you know, are not going to change," Holmes said. "If a player's going to come in here, he's a Detroit Lion or he's not."

Where can Jared Goff go from here?

Despite the woeful finish to his season, Goff played at a level above most quarterbacks in the NFL. Holmes is adamant that Goff is just getting started.

"Obviously, he was very productive with (Johnson) as a coordinator. But he had a lot of prior success before he even got here as well, in a completely different system. And I think he's a better quarterback, a more mature quarterback now than he was then when you had early success. So, so I don't I don't foresee (him taking a step back). Again, I think the guy's in his prime. He's gotten better and better every year. And when I say prime, I think like just entering it, because he keeps ascending," Holmes said.

Focus on the pass rush

A glaring hole for the Lions was the lack of pass rushing. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson led the team in sacks with 7.5 – and he missed most of the season after breaking his leg in week six.

"But, you know, when we were at full health, I thought our pass was pretty good. I thought the whole defense, I think was self-explanatory in terms of the numbers of what we were able to produce before that attrition happened. But obviously we always look at all areas and we'll always add competition at all areas," Holmes said.

He said they'll look to free agency and the draft to bolster the defensive front – but they're not going to overlook the possibility of a trade.

"We're not scared of that. It has to be there with the right player," Holmes said. "But we've always said we're going to build to the draft, and I think that's why we're in the position that we're in."

The Source: FOX 2 was in Allen Park for Brad Holmes' final press conference of the season.

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