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A former Detroit Lions player has shared a report about a troubling experience he had with the team at the end of the season.
The Detroit Lions let a handful of players walk when the NFL free agency period started on March 11, and even outside of free agency. Now, one of those players is coming forward with a scathing and quite troubling take on his experience with the team, mainly when he was exiting the franchise.
This player detailed an exit where he was pretty much ghosted by the powers at be and left wondering, “What happened?” It’s a troubling report, because at the core of any team is its ethics and how it treats its players, both present and past. So, hearing this report is concerning and gives an inside look on how at least some things have gone down in the franchise.
Former Detroit Lions Player Shares Story About How He Was Treated During Exit: Report
At the end of the 2025-26 season, the Detroit Lions and left tackle Taylor Decker parted ways. Decker is a free agent, so he may very well pop up at a competing team for the 2026-27 season.
In an interview out on Saturday, March 28, with Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, Decker gives a troubling account of what happened to him as he was leaving the team.
“It’s been radio silence. It’s uncomfortable,” he told Rogers. “It’s awkward. It feels like a high school breakup, where you can’t make eye contact when passing each other in the hall.”
According to Decker, in his two of exit interviews with the team in January, it became obvious that the team wanted him back but that he was not going to be willing to take a pay cut. Eventually, Decker announced that he was leaving, but in the interview, he says that he talked to coach Dan Campbell the day before about his decision and tried to reach out to Holmes, but he didn’t hear back at all.
Ex-Detroit Lions Player Says the Situation Feels a ‘Little Personal’
According to Rogers, what’s hard on Decker is that “this does feel a little personal. Since talking to Campbell on Feb. 23, he hasn’t heard from team leadership. There wasn’t a follow-up from his coach, Holmes never reached out, and Decker had to make first contact with position coach Hank Fraley, a man he publicly went to bat for when Campbell was hired.”
Rogers adds, “After giving everything he had to the franchise for a decade, Decker expected more. He wanted to hear from his coach, from the general manager.” So, Rogers says that Decker wanted to hear a “thank you” on his way out or at least anything. He also wanted to say “thank you” to the team. But, none of that happened. It just leaves one with a bad taste.
It really does seem as if Decker should have gotten that final communication with the team. Sure, these players are paid a lot, but in reality, they’re giving their bodies to this team every time they step on the field. So, a “thank you” would have been nice. But, Decker didn’t get that, and it just makes the franchise look bad.
Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson
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