The Detroit Lions' wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown admitted the Lions had successful years in the past 3 to 4 years, but also that the last season was a disappointing one for the Lions.

"You can become numb to losing as you can to winning,” St. Brown said, per Will Burchfield. “I feel like we won so many games these past years that you feel like you can just keep getting by with what we were doing, and the target only gets bigger on your back as you keep winning games." 

The Lions were at their absolute best during the 2024 season, as the team finished with a 15-2 record and made it to the playoffs. But they lost to the Commanders in the divisional round.

And last year didn't match those expectations at all, as the team finished 9-8 and out of the playoff picture. St. Brown posted 117 receptions for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, earning his fourth Pro Bowl and Second-team All-Pro honors.  

During the Lions media session on the third day of OTAs, St. Brown said that the team is more motivated and confident to get back to who they were.

“Not just me, I think everyone is excited and motivated,” St. Brown said. “We’re excited to be back out here on the grass. Last year is behind us now, and I think we’re all happy about that because it wasn’t the year any of us wanted or expected."

The Lions are heading into the 2026 season with a renewed mindset, focusing on winning and returning to the standard they set for themselves.

Jared Goff Echoes Detroit's Winning Mindset

The Lions quarterback, Jared Goff, also agreed that the team is more focused on winning games and expressed a sense of urgency, considering 2026 to be a make-or-break season.

"I think we are hungry," Goff said, per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.  "We were a fourth-place team last year, and we need to come out and play a lot better this year."

The team reached the NFC Championship game in 2023. They also earned their second consecutive NFC North title and the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time in team history in 2024, according to the Associated Press.

With Goff and St. Brown agreeing on getting back to the winning form, the Lions are focused on ensuring last season's loss becomes only a temporary setback in their Super Bowl pursuit.

Can the Lions bounce back and reclaim the NFC North in 2026? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore