DETROIT — The offseason silence in the Motor City didn’t last long. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy just threw a grenade into the conversation, labeling the Detroit Lions one of his “top five loser franchises of all time.” He didn’t stop there, lumping the reigning NFC North contenders in with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, New York Knicks, and New York Mets.
For a fanbase riding the high of four consecutive winning seasons—a feat not seen here since the Nixon administration—the jab felt personal. But does the controversial media mogul have a point, or is he ignoring the reality of what general manager Brad Holmes has built?
The “Loser” Label vs. The New Reality
History is a tough stain to scrub out. Portnoy isn’t wrong about the resume. The Lions haven’t hung a championship banner since 1957. That’s nearly 70 years of dust. The ghost of the 0-16 season in 2008 still haunts the record books. Entering the 2026 campaign, Detroit remains the only NFC team never to play in a Super Bowl.
But context matters. Calling the current iteration of the Lions a “loser franchise” ignores the tectonic shift inside Allen Park. Since taking over, the Holmes-Campbell regime has stacked 27 wins and two division titles between 2023 and 2024 alone. They haven’t just been winning; they’ve been bullying teams in the trenches.
“Honestly I know my Lions have been bad for years but it’s like we’re allowed to say that as fans…hearing it from this clown feels like when someone talks crap about a family member.”
— Lions Supporter, via Social Media
From Draft Picks to Lombardi Dreams
The conversation in Detroit has flipped. Five years ago, fans spent February arguing about draft positioning. Now, anything less than a Super Bowl berth feels like failure. That pressure is a privilege. Holmes has assembled a young, violent core that expects to win, and Dan Campbell has instilled a grit that travels.
Portnoy’s comments might sting, but they also highlight the final hurdle. Regular season dominance and division crowns are nice, but they don’t erase 70 years of history. Only a ring does that. Until Jared Goff or his successor hoists the Lombardi Trophy, the “loser” darts will keep flying from the national media.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
This noise sets the table for the most critical offseason of the Holmes era. The roster is loaded, the window is wide open, and the expectations are suffocating. Portnoy provided the bulletin board material, but it’s on the Lions to burn it. If they break through in 2026, those “loser” lists expire instantly. If not, the critics get louder.
