The Lions Brand Is Still Hot Despite Missing the Playoffs
Look, we all know the 2025 season was a disappointment. Missing the playoffs after back-to-back January runs? That hurt. But here’s the thing about what Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have built in Allen Park: it doesn’t just disappear because of one down year.
Four Lions players still landed in the NFL’s top-50 jersey sales despite the regression. That tells you everything you need to know about where this franchise stands now compared to the wasteland we used to call home.
Remember when you couldn’t give away Lions jerseys? Back in 2021, the Lions had no players in the top 50 for jersey sales. Not a single player. In 2020, they did not have a single player. Not even Matthew Stafford was selling jerseys then.
Those days feel like a different lifetime now.
Four Lions in the Top 50 Proves This Brand Has Staying Power
Despite the down 2025 season, four guys are still moving merchandise at a national level. Aidan Hutchinson sits at 14th, Jahmyr Gibbs at 16th, Amon-Ra St. Brown at 17th, and Jared Goff at 36th.
That’s not just Michigan supporting their team anymore. That’s random kids in California rocking Gibbs jerseys. That’s people in Texas buying Hutchinson gear. That’s what happens when you build something real instead of the smoke and mirrors we suffered through for decades.
And honestly? This might just be the beginning. Jameson Williams has the kind of explosive play style that sells jerseys. Jack Campbell and Brian Branch are building national recognition. The foundation Holmes has built runs deeper than one disappointing season.
The Lions are on a different plane than what we’re used to seeing. The brand has staying power now. One bad year doesn’t erase what this regime has accomplished in transforming how the football world sees Honolulu Blue.
So are we witnessing a permanent shift in the Lions’ national appeal, or is this just the calm before another inevitable letdown? Sound off below and tell us if you’re buying the hype or waiting for the other shoe to drop.
