Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown hasn't forgotten how last season ended. But instead of dwelling on the disappointment, he's focused on what comes next.

Speaking on NFL Network, St. Brown said Detroit used its season-ending win over the Chicago Bears as a fresh starting point. He believes that mindset can help carry the Lions into the 2026 season.

"After last season, I think we are all kind of disappointed. Once we found out we couldn't make the playoffs going to the last game, we were disappointed," St. Brown said.

The Lions closed the season with a victory in Chicago after falling short of the postseason despite opening the year 5-2.

"But we weren't going to end the season on a low note. We were going to make sure we finished the season strong, and that's what we did versus Chicago," St. Brown continued on NFL Network.

The Lions entered the final week of last season's regular season on a three-game losing streak with an 8-8 record. Still, the team refused to roll over, deciding instead to fight for a victory in the season finale.

The Chicago Bears lost 19-16 to the Lions, allowing Detroit to conclude its season with a 9-8 record.

According to St. Brown, finishing with a win mattered because it prevented the team from carrying even more frustration into the offseason.

"Going into this OTA and going into this training camp, the motto for us is getting back to what we do, nothing fancy, hard work, grit," St. Brown said.

Detroit hopes that approach helps the team move on from an injury-plagued 2025 season. With training camp just weeks away, the focus has already shifted to what's next. 

St. Brown says Lions' veteran leaders must set the standard

In the same interview, Brown said the responsibility for turning things around falls on Detroit's established leaders rather than the incoming rookies.

"We've got a lot of leaders on our team...We just continue to do what we do. I think the young guys just follow along," he said.

After a poor season, he believes the veterans must raise the standard if the Lions want different results.

"For us to have been here for a while, we just have to raise our standards…because obviously last year wasn't good enough. So I think us as players, it's up to us,” St. Brown continued. 

St. Brown also revealed he has adjusted his offseason routine entering Year 6, explaining that preserving his body has become just as important as pushing it.

He also added that he wants to arrive at training camp fully prepared for the long season ahead.

Detroit will also be looking for a smoother transition on offense after Ben Johnson's departure last year. After that change, St. Brown still produced 117 catches for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning another Pro Bowl selection.

What do you think? Can Amon-Ra St. Brown and the veteran core lead the Lions back to the postseason in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore