Detroit Lions fans deliver measured grade for Dan Campbell’s 2025 performance

Earlier this week, we published our latest SB Nation Reacts surveys, brought to you by the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook, asking Detroit Lions fans three questions:

1. Are you confident the Lions are headed in the right direction?
2. What grade would you give coach Dan Campbell for his performance during the 2025 season?

As for our weekly question, you can see Lions fans’ frustration throughout the season in each week’s poll results (below), rising and dipping after each win and loss, followed by consistently low returns near the end of the season as hopes for the playoffs slipped away. However, a Week 18 win in Chicago completed a sweep of Ben Johnson and the Bears and resulted in a nice bump heading into the offseason.

Previous results

Entering the 2025 season: 94%
After Week 1 loss to Packers: 53%
Week 2 win over Bears: 85%
Week 3 win over Ravens: 99%
Week 4 win over Browns: 92%
Week 5 win over Bengals: 94%
Week 6 loss to Chiefs: 82%
Week 7 win over Bucs: 98%
Week 8 Bye week: 97%
Week 9 loss to Vikings: 64%
Week 10 win over Commanders: 91%
Week 11 loss to the Eagles: 49%
Week 12 win over the Giants: 48%
Week 13 loss to the Packers: 34%
Week 14 win over the Cowboys: 68%
Week 15 loss to the Rams: 40%
Week 16 loss to the Steelers: 35%
Week 17 loss to the Vikings: 28%
Week 18 win over the Bears: 67%

As for our standalone question, overall, Lions fans weren’t as harsh as Campbell was on himself—“Not good enough. We didn’t get in (to the Playoffs). I mean, we underachieved. So, not good. I’m going to give myself a freaking ‘F.’”—and instead delivered a measured grade with a reasonable bell curve in results:

Let’s take a look at the comment section of our original survey for explanations on why fans voted the way they did (slightly edited for clarity):

• CoachingExpert2: “D+. Awful OC hire, awful DC hire. Terrible play calling and game management. Unable to beat any team worth a damn, finishing in last place, losing 6 more games than last year. Much more negatives than positives this season.
• Im Agree: “I gave Dan a C/C+ overall. A 9-8 season is a winning season, but ultimately didn’t get them in the tourney. Seems like a pretty average result. We already know he can do better, and I expect he will.”
• iwantmybarrybackbarrybackbarryback: “Gave Campbell a B. He’s a good leader, made some questionable decisions, responded to them appropriately…sometimes the best you can do is the best you can do.”
• icd8u2: “I am glad he gave himself an F, but as Lions fans we know what an F really looks like and this season was not it.”

Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.