Detroit Lions All-Pro Selections Add New Level Of Disappointment For 2025 Season
The announcement of the 2025 NFL All-Pro team on Saturday brought a mix of validation and bitterness for the Detroit Lions and their fanbase. On paper, the roster looks like a juggernaut. Four Lions players—right tackle Penei Sewell, linebacker Jack Campbell, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson—were recognized among the league’s elite by the Associated Press.
4 Detroit Lions Named To All-Pro Team
For most franchises, landing four players on the All-Pro list is a sign of a dominant season, usually accompanied by a deep playoff run or a top seed. For Detroit, however, these individual accolades serve as a stark reminder of a season that fell well short of expectations. Despite fielding some of the best talent in football, the Lions are watching the playoffs from home, turning these prestigious awards into bittersweet consolation prizes.
Individual Brilliance Amidst Collective Struggle
The individual campaigns of the recognized Detroit Lions were nothing short of spectacular. Penei Sewell earned First-Team All-Pro honors for the third consecutive year, cementing his status as perhaps the best offensive lineman in the game. His dominance at right tackle has become so routine that it’s almost taken for granted, yet it remains the gold standard for the position.
Joining him on the First Team is linebacker Jack Campbell, whose breakout third season was a revelation. Campbell transformed into the heart and soul of the defense, racking up 176 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles. His 90.2 PFF grade trailed only Fred Warner among linebackers, proving that Detroit has found its defensive quarterback for the long haul.
On the Second Team, Amon-Ra St. Brown continued his assault on the record books with 117 catches and 1,401 yards, while Aidan Hutchinson finally earned his first All-Pro nod after a career-high 14.5 sacks and leading the league in pressures.
When a team possesses a top-tier quarterback protector, a relentless pass rusher, a tackling machine at linebacker, and an elite volume receiver, the expectation is championship contention. That the Lions couldn’t translate this star power into a successful postseason campaign makes the 2025 season one of the most perplexing and frustrating in recent memory.
A Wasted Opportunity?
The disconnect between the roster’s top-end talent and the team’s final standing is the narrative defining this offseason. General Manager Brad Holmes has undeniably built a roster loaded with blue-chip players. Hitting on draft picks like Sewell, Hutchinson, St. Brown, and Campbell is the hardest part of team building, and Holmes has done it with remarkable consistency.
Yet, the 2025 season unraveled due to inconsistency in other areas. While the stars played at an elite level, depth issues, situational coaching decisions, and lapses in complementary football plagued the team down the stretch. Having four All-Pros suggests a roster capable of winning the Super Bowl, not one that leaves fans debating the security of the coaching staff or the future of other veterans.
In the NFL, championship windows are notoriously fickle. Elite players get expensive—as evidenced by the looming contract discussions for several key pieces—and health is never guaranteed. Wasting a prime year of Sewell, St. Brown, and Hutchinson, along with a breakout year from Campbell, feels like a massive missed opportunity.
The Pressure Mounts for 2026
These All-Pro selections ultimately raise the stakes for the 2026 season. They prove that the talent is in the building. There are no excuses for a lack of playmakers or a need for a rebuild. The core is elite, young, and under contract.
Head coach Dan Campbell praised Jack Campbell as the team’s “bell cow” and “invaluable,” descriptions that fit all four of their honorees. But as the accolades roll in, so does the pressure. The narrative shifts from “building a culture” to “winning now.” When you have four of the best players in the world at their respective positions, moral victories and “grit” are no longer sufficient currencies.
As the playoffs kick off without them, the Detroit Lions must reconcile their individual greatness with their collective failure. The 2025 All-Pro team will forever list four Detroit Lions, immortalizing their personal excellence. But for the players and the city, the only list that truly matters is the one they aren’t on: the list of teams still fighting for the Lombardi Trophy.
