Pride of Detroit
The Detroit Lions received some postseason honors from the PFWA—then the Bears weirdly tried to take credit for it.
The Detroit Lions season may not have ended the way they wanted, but the organization still commands a ton of respect across the league and throughout the media. Case in point, Lions general manager Brad Holmes was named the 2024 Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Executive of the Year. It’s the second straight year he’s come away with the title, and deservedly so. His ability to give the Lions a deep roster allowed them to survive as long as they did with a historic amount of injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
Unfortunately, coach Dan Campbell just missed out on Coach of the Year, with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell walking away with the honors from the PFWA.
Ben Johnson also was named Assistant Coach of the Year, for his work as the Detroit Lions coordinator in 2024. Johnson helped Detroit produce the most points in the league, the most points in franchise history, and a whopping five games with 40 or more points.
But that’s where things get a little weird. Johnson has since taken the Chicago Bears’ head coaching job, and for some reason, the Bears felt the need to celebrate Johnson’s accomplishment, as if it were their own.
It’s a pretty embarrassing look, in my opinion. It’s one thing to celebrate an employee of yours but to post a picture of him in Bears garb when his accomplishment was during his time with the Lions. But, hey, I guess the Bears have to find creative things to celebrate these days.
With Kelvin Sheppard getting a promotion to defensive coordinator, now’s a good time to revisit one of the best stories Sheppard told—about his meeting with Dan Campbell upon his hiring;
More Sheppard coverage: Justin Rogers transcribed an hour-long 2023 interview with the Lions’ new defensive coordinator, with topics ranging from his transition from player to coach, and his coaching influences.
Alim McNeill dropped a new song this week entitled, “STOP HATIN’”
Dan Campbell is up for Coach of the Year and both former Lions coordinators are up for Assistant Coach of the Year. But somehow, Kerby Joseph isn’t one of the finalists for Defensive Player of the Year.
Alex Anzalone is in no mood to watch Conference Championship football:
Terrion Arnold’s offseason is off to a rough start:
