A Fight for the No. 2 Spot
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker was once seen as a possible heir to Jared Goff, but heading into the 2025 season, the former third-round pick is now in a battle just to hold onto his place on the depth chart. Despite showing promise since joining the team, Hooker has yet to cement himself as the No. 2 quarterback—a role he’ll now have to fight for in training camp.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes made it clear this week that nothing will be handed to Hooker. Speaking at the NFL’s annual league meetings, Holmes confirmed that Hooker will be in an open competition with veteran quarterback Kyle Allen for the backup role behind Goff.
“I mean, look, we like Hendon,” Holmes said, via USA Today’s Lions Wire. “He had the injury that first year, then last year that was the first year that he kind of was able to do a full year of training camp and during the season. And then we brought Teddy Bridgewater in just because we were gearing up for the playoffs and postseason and he just wasn’t ready yet, you know? And he understood that.”
Lions Set the Bar High for Hooker
Detroit’s front office still holds Hooker in high regard, but Holmes made it clear that the young quarterback won’t be gifted anything.
“Still got high hopes for [Hooker], but nobody’s gonna be given a job either,” Holmes said. “So if Hendon wants to be the number two quarterback, then win the No. 2 quarterback job.”
The Lions signed Allen to a one-year, $1.27 million deal this offseason, ensuring that Hooker will face legitimate competition in training camp. This move signals that Detroit wants to see him earn the spot rather than assume it by default.
While Hooker was initially drafted with the potential to succeed Goff, the veteran quarterback has only strengthened his grip on the starting job. Goff has led the Lions to back-to-back NFC North titles and solidified himself as one of the league’s most reliable signal-callers. In 2024, he posted a career-best 72.4% completion rate, leaving little doubt about his place as Detroit’s franchise quarterback.
Jared Goff’s Role Continues to Grow
Even as the Lions sort out their backup situation, Goff’s role within the organization continues to expand. Head coach Dan Campbell spoke highly of his development, noting that Goff has taken ownership of the offense and is beginning to provide valuable input on game planning.
“He continues to grow every year,” Campbell said, via MLive.com. “I would say the next step for him, and he knows this, every year, like last year he came to us, everything we wanted him to do in the offense, he did.”
Campbell added that Goff is becoming more proactive in suggesting adjustments based on his in-game reads.
“And then he began to bring stuff to us, as ‘Hey, man, I can see this look. Let me get to this play. I know I’ve got these options in the bag. But let me get to this, as well. Right?’ Those are the things where it’s like, he’s ‘OK, here we go, man.’ That’s beginning to show. I would anticipate that to take another step up.”
Final Verdict: A Pivotal Offseason for Hooker
The message from Detroit’s front office is crystal clear—Hendon Hooker has the talent, but he needs to prove he belongs as the team’s backup. With Allen providing legitimate competition, Hooker must show growth and command of the offense if he wants to climb the depth chart. The 2025 season will be a defining moment in his young career, and the Lions will be watching closely to see if he’s ready to step up.
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