Amid an era of theatrical schedule releases on social media, the Detroit Lions had just two words for fans when introducing their 2026 calendar: “Strictly business.”

The image of head coach Dan Campbell ignoring a variety of noise about the validity of the Lions’ Super Bowl window isn’t just a statement about Detroit sticking strictly to business. It’s also a symbol of the light at the end of the tunnel for Lions fans. 

After facing one of the most difficult gauntlets in the league last season and failing to deliver on high expectations, Campbell and Detroit will face the NFL’s easiest schedule based on 2025 opponent records.

For 2026, the Lions’ quest for a championship continues.

Last Place Finish A Blessing in Disguise for Detroit

Since falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 NFC Championship Game, Detroit’s hopes of a deep playoff run have been on a downward trajectory.

The Lions followed a season where they won its first two playoff games since the turn of the century with an NFL-best 15-2 record. However, they fell to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in the divisional round, sending the Lions back to square one. And after coming out on top of a gauntlet in the NFC North, Detroit earned the tough calendar of a first-place team. 

Last year, the Lions couldn’t handle the league’s second-hardest regular season schedule, narrowly missing the playoffs and finishing last in the division with a 9-8 record.

That last-place finish could be a blessing in disguise for Campbell and company. The Lions return largely the same core that was 30 minutes from the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance. Paired with the league’s easiest schedule, they have every reason to compete for a Lombardi.

Holmes Locking Down Stars for Lions

General Manager Brad Holmes did not splash in free agency. Instead, he ensured the young stars who fueled Detroit’s rise stayed put. Nearly every franchise cornerstone is 25 or younger, and Holmes hasn’t let any of them walk yet. 

All four All-Pro-caliber players — Aidan Hutchinson, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Kerby Joseph — have already signed long-term extensions in the past couple of years. This offseason, the Lions locked down Jameson Williams through 2029. They also extended Jack Campbell after his first-team All-Pro campaign.

Detroit has also shown signs of working on extensions for Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. Brian Branch is still on the final year of his rookie deal. For now, the Lions have avoided tough roster decisions and get at least one more run with their full arsenal.

Jared Goff finished top three in passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating last season. With LaPorta returning from injury, Detroit’s offense is poised to return to the top of the league. And for 2026 at minimum, they’ll retain the difference makers on defense requisite to compete for a championship.

Non-Division Foes Give Detroit Potential for Strong Start

Last year, a season-opening loss to the Packers served as a reality check for the Lions, who were forced to fight tooth-and-nail to compete in one of the league’s strongest divisions. A brutal non-division lineup — including losses to the Chiefs, Eagles, and Rams — didn’t help matters, leaving Detroit scrambling to prepare for its NFC North bouts.

Apart from a Week 2 trip to Buffalo, the Lions will face four of the NFL’s bottom-10 teams over the first five weeks of the season, including the Saints, Jets, Panthers, and Cardinals. As a fourth-place team, Detroit draws other bottom finishers in most non-division matchups. That means 10 opponents from the bottom half of last year’s standings. 

Unlike the quarterback-less Jets and Cardinals, the Lions aren’t lacking for talent or team identity. It’s not often that a legitimate contender gets the chance to play the schedule of a rebuilding franchise. But Detroit has a unique opportunity to flex its muscle early and build up momentum for another playoff run. 

And with easier matchups outside the division, Campbell will be able to divert additional focus to the NFC North gauntlet, where the Lions were swept by both Green Bay and the Vikings in 2025. If the Lions turn talent gaps into blowout wins the way they did in 2023 and 2024, and keep the defense healthy, they will be in prime position for another playoff push. 

Clock is Ticking for the Lions

Holmes and Campbell don’t have forever to keep this squad together. Without the high picks they enjoyed during the rebuild, sustaining that draft success gets harder. The talent pipeline will thin. Eventually, they’ll be forced to let key players walk and a championship run slip away.

As Caleb Williams and the Bears continue to blossom in one of the toughest divisions in football, the margins will continue to decrease for the Lions. Boasting an advantage in offensive talent doesn’t mean they’ll be able to run the table against surging divisional foes. And if Detroit can’t conquer the NFC North, bringing down other contenders like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle appears less likely.

The league’s easiest schedule gives the 2026 Lions an opportunity to remain in contention.

But if they can’t take it, the voices in their release video will start to ring more and more true.

The post The Lions’ Championship Window Is Still Open — for Now appeared first on The Lead.

A former Detroit Lions assistant coach is unexpectedly back in the headlines.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers have parted ways with senior special teams coach Derius Swinton II.

Schefter reported that the separation was the result of a violation of club policy.

“Pittsburgh Steelers and Sr. special teams coach Derrius Swinton have parted ways due to violation of club policy, per league sources.”

At this time, no additional details regarding the nature of the policy violation have been released.

Swinton Previously Worked for the Detroit Lions

While many Lions fans may not immediately recognize the name, Swinton does have ties to Detroit.

The Lions hired Swinton as an offensive assistant in 2018 during Matt Patricia’s first season as head coach. His stay in Detroit lasted one season before he moved on to other coaching opportunities around the league.

Since leaving Detroit, Swinton has built a lengthy NFL coaching résumé that includes stops with the Steelers, Raiders, Chargers, Cardinals, Bears, Chiefs, Broncos, Rams, and 49ers.

He had most recently served as Pittsburgh’s senior special teams coach.

Steelers Now Face Coaching Vacancy

The timing of the move is notable as teams around the league are currently conducting Organized Team Activities and preparing for mandatory minicamp.

The Steelers will now have to determine how they plan to handle special teams responsibilities moving forward as the 2026 season approaches.

For now, Pittsburgh has not publicly announced a replacement, and further details regarding Swinton’s departure remain unavailable.

The Detroit Lions have one of the deepest linebacker groups they have fielded in years, but that does not mean roster spots or starting jobs will be handed out.

In fact, one of Detroit’s most beloved players may be entering the most important offseason of his NFL career.

Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez returns to Detroit on a one-year prove-it contract after injuries disrupted the final years of his rookie deal. While the Lions clearly value what Rodriguez brings to the locker room and defense, his path to a starting role is far from guaranteed.

With OTAs underway and training camp approaching, Rodriguez will be battling to reclaim a prominent role in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.

Opportunity Knocks After Alex Anzalone’s Departure

The biggest reason Rodriguez finds himself back in the spotlight is the departure of longtime starter Alex Anzalone.

For years, Anzalone served as one of the emotional leaders of Detroit’s defense while occupying the WILL linebacker position.

Now, that role is available.

Detroit already has two established starters in Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes. However, the third linebacker spot remains one of the most intriguing position battles heading into training camp.

Rodriguez enters the competition as a strong candidate, but he will not be alone.

Free agent addition Damone Clark and rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder will also be pushing for opportunities.

Rodriguez Has Already Proven He Can Play

Lions fans know Rodriguez’s story well.

The former sixth-round pick out of Oklahoma State Cowboys football quickly became one of the feel-good stories of the 2022 season.

After an impressive training camp, Rodriguez earned a starting role as a rookie and started 15 games while becoming a fan favorite because of his toughness, instincts, and relentless motor.

However, circumstances changed quickly.

The emergence of Barnes and the drafting of Campbell altered Detroit’s linebacker hierarchy. Then injuries began to interfere with Rodriguez’s momentum.

In 2024, he worked his way back into a significant role after Anzalone suffered an injury, only to suffer a season-ending ACL injury himself.

Last season, Rodriguez returned midway through the year and appeared in seven games while making one start.

Now fully healthy, he has another opportunity to prove he belongs in Detroit’s defensive plans.

Malcolm Rodriguez Career Statistics

Here is a season-by-season look at Rodriguez’s NFL production entering the 2026 season:

While the numbers may not jump off the page compared to some starters around the league, Rodriguez has consistently delivered when given opportunities.

OTAs Could Set the Tone

One thing the Lions have repeatedly emphasized under Dan Campbell is competition.

No player receives special treatment based on past performance or popularity.

Rodriguez understands that.

Despite entering camp as many observers’ favorite to win the WILL linebacker job, he will need to prove himself once again. That process begins during OTAs and continues throughout training camp.

The coaching staff will closely evaluate communication, coverage responsibilities, athletic movement, and overall fit within Sheppard’s evolving defense.

The good news for Rodriguez is that he has already won a starting job once before.

Now he must do it again.

A Huge Year Ahead

Few players on Detroit’s roster have more at stake entering 2026.

Rodriguez is playing for more than just a starting spot. He is also playing for his long-term NFL future.

A strong season could position him for a significant role beyond 2026 and potentially earn him another contract with Detroit or elsewhere.

A disappointing camp could leave him fighting for roster security.

That reality makes Rodriguez one of the most fascinating players to watch throughout OTAs, minicamp, and training camp.

And if history has taught Lions fans anything, it is never wise to count out Rodrigo.

The Detroit Lions have built one of the NFL’s deepest rosters over the past several seasons, but there is still one lingering question entering 2026.

Who consistently steps up opposite Aidan Hutchinson?

That question has followed Detroit throughout the offseason, and one NFL analyst believes the answer could come through a major trade involving Josh Sweat.

According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, the Lions should aggressively explore a deal for the veteran pass rusher because he could provide the steady edge presence Detroit has lacked alongside Hutchinson.

And there may be another important reason for Detroit to act quickly.

NFC North rivals are reportedly connected to Sweat as well.

Detroit Still Needs More Pass Rush Production

The Lions addressed the edge position this offseason, but there are still legitimate questions surrounding the group behind Hutchinson.

Last season, Detroit relied heavily on players like Al-Quadin Muhammad and Marcus Davenport opposite Hutchinson. Muhammad has since joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Davenport remains unsigned after an injury plagued and largely forgettable stint in Detroit.

The Lions responded by adding D.J. Wonnum, Payton Turner, and rookie Derrick Moore.

The problem is certainty.

Wonnum has flashed at times during his career but has struggled with consistency and injuries. Turner still has intriguing physical tools, but his NFL production has fallen well below expectations after entering the league as a first round pick.

That uncertainty is exactly why Sweat’s name keeps surfacing.

Josh Sweat Would Immediately Upgrade Detroit’s Defense

The production difference is difficult to ignore.

According to the report, Wonnum and Turner combined for just nine sacks over the past two seasons. Sweat, meanwhile, recorded 20 sacks during that same stretch.

That is the type of proven pass rush consistency Detroit has been searching for opposite Hutchinson.

Sweat would immediately give defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard another reliable edge threat capable of collapsing pockets and forcing offenses away from constantly double teaming Hutchinson.

That matters tremendously for a defense trying to take the next step in 2026.

If Detroit can consistently pressure quarterbacks with four rushers, the entire defense changes.

Derrick Moore Could Complicate the Equation

One major factor working against a potential Sweat trade is Moore.

The rookie second round pick from Michigan Wolverines football enters the league with intriguing upside and the type of athletic traits that could allow him to contribute earlier than expected.

Detroit likely wants to see what Moore can become before sacrificing developmental reps for a veteran acquisition.

At the same time, the Lions are fully in win now mode.

If Moore struggles to develop quickly enough during training camp, or if Detroit believes the roster is one proven pass rusher away from seriously elevating the defense, the front office could become much more aggressive.

That is where Sweat becomes fascinating.

Blocking the Packers and Bears Adds Another Layer

There is also an important divisional angle to this conversation.

According to Knox, both the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have also been linked to Sweat.

That makes plenty of sense.

Chicago still needs edge help after failing to adequately address the position during the draft, while Green Bay has direct familiarity with Sweat through defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who previously coached him with the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Arizona Cardinals.

For Detroit, landing Sweat would not only improve the roster directly.

It would also prevent a division rival from getting him.

That alone could become part of the calculation if trade discussions ever become serious.