Minutes after they walked off the field in Santa Clara, Lions players immediately talked about being motivated going into next season.
That’s a sentiment at the top, too.
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Lions general manager Brad Holmes met with the media on Monday to wrap up the season. His message to everyone is that this new sensation of winning needs to be normalized.
“It’s only going to get better,” Holmes said. “This wasn’t a one shot, Cinderella magical journey. No, it’s real.”
You can see why Holmes believes in that moving forward. The starting quarterback, the top two rushers and top two receivers are all returning, along with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Holmes started his press conference with a 10 minute opening statement as he thanked fans on this history ride, and also went into recent history, too.
The Lions GM kept receipts of criticisms he’s heard since taking over in Detroit, especially in drafts. When pressed about that, Holmes said it comes down to one thing across the board: accountability.
That ideal, along with grit, is what’s helped the Lions get to this point. It’s an attribute they will also look for with potential incoming players.
The Lions have some big months coming up with free agency starting in mid-March and the NFL Draft coming to Detroit in April. Holmes said that they have to keep doing what they have done since he and Dan Campbell took over when evaluation players, looking beyond the “most talented” label to find their best fits.
This year will be a different experience for the Lions in both free agency and the draft. They’ve created a new perception for prospective free agents and they’ll also be picking much later in the draft than they’ve been accustomed to.
But whatever happens in the next couple of months, Holmes wants Lions fans to keep perspective. The Lions GM adding that the moves they make in March & April are not to win off the field in the spring, but to win on it in November and December when it matters the most.
The objective is also to improve. The Lions have been loyal to the team members that have got them to this point, but Holmes made the comment that there will be competition in training camp to make the best team possible.
Holmes said that this wasn’t an “I told you so” type of moment at the podium as his team finished off it’s best season in three decades.
His vision is that the best is yet to come for the franchise. The formula is working so far, as the long road back to the NFC Championship begins now in the offseason.