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Detroit Lions enter the 2026 season following last place NFC North finish

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 2, 2026, 2:08 AM

Last updated Sep 2, 2026

Detroit Lions enter the 2026 season following last place NFC North finish

Summary

The Detroit Lions open the 2026 season looking to rebound after finishing last in the NFC North last year. The team concluded the previous campaign with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs after a late-season loss to the Vikings. Following a coaching departure, the organization hired Drew Petzing as the new offensive coordinator to guide the unit. Roster changes include moving Penei Sewell to left tackle and acquiring center Juice Scruggs to handle duties while Cade Mays recovers from a wrist injury. The defense, which dropped to 22nd in points allowed last season, continues under the leadership of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Head coach Dan Campbell maintains his role as the team prepares for the upcoming schedule.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•The Lions finished 2-4 in the division last season.
•Drew Petzing joins the staff as the new offensive coordinator.
•Penei Sewell moves to left tackle for the 2026 season.
•Cade Mays is expected to miss the first half of the season.

Latest Updates

2:08 AMYahoo Sports — 2026 NFC North Season Forecast: Detroit Lions

What they're saying

"
Next up in this year’s series forecasting the Minnesota Vikings’ NFC North rival seasons is the Detroit Lions. Once again, we’ll look at coaching and roster changes this offseason, how last season unfolded and any luck and injury factors that affected their results, along with a comparison of how this year’s strength of schedule compares […]
— Yahoo Sports

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