Breaking down the NFC North: Who will challenge the Lions for dominance?
The 2025 NFL season is set to get underway on Sept. 4 when the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys.
The Miami Herald broke down each division and continues with the NFC North, looking at the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS
Coach: Ben Johnson (first season as an NFL head coach)
Last season: 5-12 (fourth in the division)
Key additions: WR Luther Burden III, TE Colston Loveland, G Joe Thuney, C Drew Dalman, DE Dayo Odeyingbo
Key subtractions: WR Keenan Allen, G Teven Jenkins
Looking ahead: Year 1 for quarterback Caleb Williams was a dud, so here comes first-year coach Ben Johnson to the rescue. The Bears are trying to make everything easier for Williams in Year 2, getting the league’s best offensive coordinator to be their new coach, adding star guard Joe Thuney and center Drew Dalman in free agency, and spending their first two picks of the 2025 NFL Draft on tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III. At the very least, Chicago needs to see major improvement from Williams in Year 2.
DETROIT LIONS
Coach: Dan Campbell (fifth season with the Lions; 44-35-1 in the regular season, 2-2 in the playoffs)
Last season: 15-2 (first in the division), lost in the NFC Divisional round to the Commanders
Key additions: WR Isaac TeSlaa, G Tate Ratledge, DT Tyleik Williams, CB D.J. Reed
Key subtractions: G Kevin Zeitler, C Frank Ragnow, DE John Cominsky, DE Za’Darius Smith, CB Carlton Davis
Looking ahead: The Lions are in a similar position to the Eagles of three years ago, when they topped the National Football Conference and then lost both of their coordinators to coaching jobs. On paper, Detroit should be fine with still one of the most talented rosters in the league, but replacing both coordinators inevitably leads to uncertainty. Still, it’s hard to not like a team featuring superstars like quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta, tackle Penei Sewell and safety Brian Branch. The Lions are still loaded at some of the most important positions on the field—receiver, offensive line and defensive back—and so it’s hard to envision them taking too much of a step backward.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Coach: Matt LaFleur (seventh season with the Packers; 67-33 in the regular season, 3-5 in the playoffs)
Last season: 11-6 (third in the division), lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the Eagles
Key additions: WR Matthew Golden, WR Savion Williams, T Anthony Belton, CB Nate Hobbs
Key subtractions: C Josh Myers, CB Jaire Alexander
Looking ahead: Quarterback Jordan Love is consistently getting the Packers to the NFL playoffs. The next step is turning Green Bay back into an actual contender. The Packers are a trendy pick in the National Football Conference based largely on excitement about Love and LaFleur, but they still need to find some reliable offensive weapons beyond star running back Josh Jacobs. Notably, Green Bay majorly invested in weapons in the 2025 NFL Draft, spending early picks on Golden and Williams. On defense, safety Xavier McKinney turned into a superstar last season in his first year with the Packers, and provides an important veteran presence on anotherwise young and exciting unit.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Coach: Kevin O’Connell (fourth season with the Vikings; 34-17 in the regular season, 0-2 in the playoffs)
Last season: 14-3 (second in the division), lost in the NFC Wild Card round to the Rams
Key additions: RB Jordan Mason, G Will Fries, C Ryan Kelly, DT Jonathan Allen, DT Javon Hargrave
Key subtractions: QB Sam Darnold, QB Daniel Jones, CB Stephon Gilmore, S Camryn Bynum
Looking ahead: The Vikings were one of the surprises of the regular season last year, winning 14 games despite losing quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the regular season. Even so, Minnesota let quarterback Sam Darnold—who led the Vikings to those 14 wins—walk in free agency to give the reins to McCarthy in Year 2. Superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson should make life a little bit easier for McCarthy, as should a rock solid offensive line featuring star tackle Christian Darrisaw, and new additions in guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly.
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM.