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2025 Detroit Lions awards: Pride of Detroit Moment of the Year

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Every now and then, we like to celebrate our own accomplishments. So in the middle of our 2025 Detroit Lions awards, we like to sneak ourselves in there and pat ourselves on the back.

The 2025 season was a big one for Pride of Detroit. The site went through some changes, our coverage continued to expand, and I believe our content is among the best available out there. So to spike the football a little, here are our nominations for Pride of Detroit Moment of the Year. Your vote at the bottom of the page will determine the winner.

Previous awards (voting still open!)


Ryan Mathews: Movember Charity Month

Every year in the NFL, it’s always the best quarterback winning the league MVP. Every year at Pride of Detroit, it’s Movember winning the site’s Moment of the Year award. It’s the perfect blend of community and compassion that makes me keep faith in humanity.

Erik Schlitt: Evolution of the Grit Index

The idea behind the Grit Index was to help narrow the field of NFL Draft prospects by attempting to quantify the intangible qualities that general manager Brad Holmes looks for in players. The original model was flawed and incomplete, but it helped us take massive steps forward, and last season, we finally saw tangible results from all the hard work. While still just a tool and certainly not perfect, of the seven players drafted by the Lions in 2025, four landed in the top 41 of our model (which features hundreds of prospects), with Tate Ratledge being the third-highest-matching prospect in last year’s draft class.

Al Karsten: Movember Charity Month (marathon stream)

Jeremy and the Pride of Detroit crew always go big for a special cause. The Movember live stream delivered equal parts insight and hilarity, while also showcasing the passion and dedication of the Pride of Detroit faithful. It was a star studded list of guest appearances that provided excellent commentary in the middle of the Lions season.

John Whiticard: Introduction of The Feed

Pride of Detroit is built on community, but given how social media has changed in recent years (Twitter, Facebook, so on), a severance was sometimes felt between us as writers and you as fans. This is why I loved the introduction of The Feed to the site. It is a way to bring up thoughtful discussion, share breaking news, or churn out your own content. There has been a schism of traditional social media, but now it feels like we have our own Lions-focused bubble. Coupled with our POD Office Hours, I think it is just another step in growing and strengthening the community.

Meko Scott: Movember Charity Month (6,500 calorie challenge)

I’ve said it before, but the Movember charity drive is easily my favorite thing we do hear at POD and fortunately(?) I got a chance to participate in a different way this year. Going through that challenge was one of the most humbling experiences of my life and will truly stick with me forever because on that day I learned what “being full” really meant.

Brandon Knapp: Madden Simulation streams

I had more free time during my Saturday morning/early afternoons to watch Jeremy answer questions and commentate on the game simulations and it was always a treat to watch when I could. Being a gamer myself, seeing us incorporate those weekly in a fun, interactive way with the community is always a nice touch.

Jeremy Reisman: NFL Combine coverage

Last year was the first time I attended the NFL Combine, and while I typically find NFL Draft coverage exhausting and wasteful, I really enjoyed my time there and think I produced worthwhile content. Not only was I able to be a part of coordinator interviews in their media debut, but I also was able to meet some of the NFL Draft prospects and get a sense of their character—and sharing those results with you all. I also asked Tate Ratledge a question and got an answer I’ll never forget.

“I know in the fourth quarter that you’re going to be a lot more worn down than I am.”
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I liked it so much, I plan on being there again next week.


Vote for your choice of the POD Moment of the Year, and share why in the comment section below.
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Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/prid...ns-awards-pride-of-detroit-moment-of-the-year
 
Detroit Lions team president Rod Wood to retire

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Detroit Lions team president Rod Wood speaks in honor of the induction of three former Detroit Lions players as Legends of the Pride of the Lions during halftime of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, October 28, 2018. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Detroit Lions announced on Wednesday that team president and CEO Rod Wood is retiring. The official press release says that he will decide to step away at some point before the 2026 regular season.

“I want to thank the Ford Family and ultimately Lions fans everywhere for trusting me to lead the Detroit Lions for the last 11 seasons,” Wood said in a written statement. “It has been an absolute thrill for me to lead this organization, and I am proud of what we have accomplished over that decade-plus. I am most proud of where I am leaving this organization, in the capable hands of Sheila Hamp, Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell.”

Wood will stay on until his replacement is hired. The team said that search will be conducted by Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search and leadership advisory firm.

Wood was hired as team president in 2015 as a familiar face to the Ford family. He had previously served as the president and CEO of Ford Estates.

Under Wood, the Lions saw both their stadium and training facility go through a series of renovations to keep the team resources up to date. Through his advocacy, the Lions were also able to host the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit and set an attendance record for draft weekend.

While there were some early concerns about his time in Detroit given his lack of football experience and some early tension with Calvin Johnson, Wood has undoubtedly been part of the reason for the Lions’ current rise to relevance.
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Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...troit-lions-team-president-rod-wood-to-retire
 
Detroit Lions offseason preview: Is Jake Bates due for an extension?

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 4: Jake Bates #39 of the Detroit Lions looks on during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field on December 04, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s time to close out our 2026 Detroit Lions offseason preview, as broken down by position. We’ve come to special teams, where there isn’t likely to be much drama. Although there are a few questions when it comes to the kicker position

Previously:

Lions 2025 recap: Special teams​

  • K Jake Bates stats (17 games)
    • 27-of-34 on FGs — 79.4% — 31st out of 39 kickers
    • 54-of-56 on extra points — 96.4% — 19th out of 33 kickers
    • 17 kickoff touchbacks
  • P Jack Fox stats (17 games)
    • 46.6 yards per punt (24th out of 35)
    • 42.8 net yards per punt (12th out of 35)
    • 28 punts inside 20 (seventh)
    • 2 touchbacks (t-fourth fewest)
  • LS Hogan Hatten stats (17 games)
    • 2 tackles

It was a bit of a step back for Jake Bates in his second season with the Lions. His kicking accuracy dropped from 89.7% in 2024 to just 79.4%, well below the league average (85.6%). However, it’s worth noting that five of his seven misses were from 50 yards or longer, and he actually improved his extra point accuracy. Additionally, Bates remained extremely reliable in clutch moments. For example, in Detroit’s overtime victory over the Giants, Bates drilled a 59-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to force overtime. He remains perfect in clutch situations:

In yesterday's win, @Lions K Jake Bates made a 59-yard field goal with 28 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

For his career, he is now 5-of-5 (100%) on go-ahead/game-tying FGs in the final two minutes or overtime.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/S16fno2akj

— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) November 24, 2025
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(Note: He is now 6-of-6 after kicking a game-winning 42-yard field goal against the Bears in Week 18)

Jack Fox also had a strong season. The numbers don’t fully capture it, because the Lions were often punting from midfield. But Fox was the only player with at least 50 punt with two or fewer touchbacks. His percentage of punts downed inside the 20 (50%) was tied for third-best in the league.

It’s a little harder to evaluate Hogan Hatten’s year as long snapper, but there were no memorable incidents where the snap appeared to negatively impact a field goal, extra point, or punt.

2026 for outlook​


Currently under contract:

  • P Jack Fox (signed through 2026)
  • LS Hogan Hatten (2026)

Pending free agents:

  • K Jake Bates (exclusive rights free agent)

Fox and Hatten are up for extensions, and both are very much worth the extra investments. In 2022, Fox signed a four-year extension worth a league-high $3.775 million per year. Now the league high is at $4.05 million a year (Michael Dickson). Fox is 30 years old, but Detroit should still consider locking him up for another few years.

Hatten is still on his rookie deal, set to make just over $1 million this year. No long snapper is averaging more than $1.65 million per season, so he can easily be locked up long-term, if the Lions want.

The biggest question here is Jake Bates. As an exclusive rights free agent, the Lions can offer Bates a league-minimum, one-year deal, and the Lions kicker would have two options: sign the tender or sit out a year. That would make for an easy, cheap decision for Detroit.

However, the Lions had four ERFAs entering this offseason, and Detroit already managed to re-sign the other three. Does that mean Bates is unwilling to sign his tender? Does it mean the Lions are, rather, in discussions to sign him to an extension? Or has Bates simply not signed a tender he fully intends on signing, because there is simply no rush?

The situation is unclear right now, but if the Lions are interested in signing Bates to a longer-term deal, the current market high is $6.4 million a year (Harrison Butker) with everyone else in the top 10 making at least $5 million per year.

The Lions could also consider bringing in competition this year after a down season from Bates, but based on everything special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said about Bates in 2025, the team remains confident in their own kicker.
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Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...on-preview-is-jake-bates-due-for-an-extension
 
2025 Detroit Lions awards: Most Valuable Player

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Jared Goff #16 and Penei Sewell #58 of the Detroit Lions wait to take the field prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s time to close out our nominations for the 2025 Detroit Lions awards. Of course, we finish with the biggest award of all: Most Valuable Player.

Before we get into it, make sure you cast your ballot for all of the other awards below.

Previous awards (voting still open!)


Onto our nominations for MVP.

2025 Detroit Lions MVP​


Jeremy Reisman: Jared Goff

With an inconsistent running game and relatively poor pass protection, Jared Goff still delivered arguably top-five quarterback numbers, a top-five scoring offense, and helped this team keep its head above water and in postseason contention until very late in the season. I know picking a quarterback for MVP is boring, but Goff’s overall reliability and consistency goes overlooked and underappreciated every year.

Al Karsten: Jared Goff

Goff delivered in 2025 against all odds. Despite a struggling offensive line, inconsistent playcalling, injuries at tight end and along the interior line, and an uneven run game, he put together arguably the most impressive season of his career. At times, he carried the team on his back, uplifting his play beyond what he had shown in the previous two seasons at times, finishing with a 34–8 touchdown-to-interception ratio, a 105.5 passer rating, and 4,500 passing yards. With an elevated offensive ecosystem surrounding him in 2026, Goff could be a serious contender for league MVP.

Erik Schlitt: Penei Sewell

The first pillar of this team’s foundation, Sewell has been in a leadership role for a few years now, and his on-field play is absolutely dominant. A freak of an athlete, Sewell has no limits as a blocker, as he can be left on an island in pass protection and steamrolls defenders in every blocking scheme. Sewell sets a tone of consistency and demands that his teammates rise to his level, a true MVP in every way.

Meko Scott: Jared Goff

The numbers tell the story of Jared Goff’s impact on this team. Amid constant changes to the offensive line and play calling, Goff remained a steady presence who consistently elevated those around him. While his performances against the Vikings left something to be desired, he still finished among the league’s top quarterbacks in passing yards, completion percentage, touchdowns, and explosive plays downfield. It was an impressive season from QB1 that deserves real praise and recognition.

John Whiticar: Jared Goff

I personally dislike how MVP is practically a quarterback award by default, but Goff truly earned it in 2025. In previous years, you could argue that he was elevated by a great offensive line, offensive coordinator, and run game. He had none of these in 2025. John Morton was effectively canned midseason. Aside from Penei Sewell, the offensive line was either injured or disappointing. The rushing effectiveness with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery took a sharp downturn. Despite all of this, Goff shined, putting together another great season.

Brandon Knapp: Penei Sewell

While Gibbs was a close second for me, the finalist for Protector of the Year has now taken over as the best OL on the team with Frank Ragnow retiring. He did miss one game due to injury, but he helped the most when it came to the run game for the OL and keeping Goff upright. If the team didn’t have him, the offense would’ve taken a huge step back.

Ryan Mathews: Jahmyr Gibbs

Gibbs was the one player, week in and week out, who felt in control of the Lions’ fate on offense. Check the box scores: if Gibbs was productive, Detroit was competitive and stacking wins. In the games where he was held in check, the Lions struggled. His explosiveness in both the run and pass game was something that buoyed an offense that struggled to be successful down to down.


Vote for the winner below, and make sure you vote for all the awards linked at the top of the page. Voting will run through this weekend, and the winners will all be announced on Monday morning!
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Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/prid...025-detroit-lions-awards-most-valuable-player
 
Detroit Lions mailbag: How much cap space do the Lions need for free agency?

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CANTON, OHIO - JULY 31: Executive vice president & general manager Brad Holmes of the Detroit Lions looks on prior to the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on July 31, 2025 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Before I get into this week’s Midweek Mailbag podcast, just wanted to share a word with the Pride of Detroit community. I’ve been having a lot of fun with our Office Hours chats in the comment section, and I want to continue those moving forward. Unfortunately, I’ve been sidetracked the past few weeks. Last week, it was the Drew Petzing interview. This week, I’ve been battling a cold/flu/COVID or something. Next week, I’ll be at the NFL Combine. So look for our Office Hours chat to resume the week of March 2.

As for this week’s Midweek Mailbag show, one of our biggest topics this week surrounded salary cap space. We know the Detroit Lions are currently projected to be over the 2026 salary cap. We also know that the Lions can (but won’t) create $128 million in cap space from restructures and over $17 million in cap space if the Lions part ways with Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow.

But what we don’t know is how much cap space the Lions should or will create.

The Lions may have a lot of starting holes to fill this offseason. That number could be upwards of seven players depending on the health and retirement of players. Though Detroit could very well fill those holes internally or via a few re-signings, the fact remains that the Lions could be seeking at least four or five starting-capable players in free agency. With only two top-100 picks in April’s NFL Draft, the best way for the Lions to fill those roster holes will be to spend some money.

So how much contract restructuring will the Lions need to do to create ample space to get everything they want this offseason? And what will be the consequences if they do? Additionally, how much will they need to set aside for the draft class, contract extensions, and carry-over into the regular season?

Erik Schlitt and I break it all down on this week’s Midweek Mailbag.

Other topics on this week’s show:

  • Reactions to Rod Wood’s retirement and discussion on his replacement
  • Do the Lions consider next year’s draft class when picking players this year?
  • OT or EDGE: Which position should be drafted first in the 2026 NFL Draft?
  • Should the Lions bring back Ifeatu Melifonwu?
  • Should the Lions move Tate Ratledge to center and sign a free agent guard? Or do the opposite?
  • If the Lions moved, would you still be a fan?
  • Who is our dream interview for the PODcast?

Listen to the show in the Spotify embed below, or on your favorite podcasting platform. And don’t forget to rate and review!

You can also catch the podcast on our YouTube and Twitch pages, which features a ton of bonus Lions talk in between segments.
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Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...h-cap-space-do-the-lions-need-for-free-agency
 
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