The Detroit Lions aimed to retain their core on both sides of the ball for the upcoming season. Despite losing key coaching staff members, the team prioritized continuity. After a season filled with injuries, head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes are banking on better health and luck to push them further in 2025.
However, in the NFL, complete roster stability is impossible. Offseason departures are inevitable, and the Lions lost key players, including Carlton Davis and Kevin Zeitler.
Another notable departure was Ifeatu Melifonwu. The 25-year-old safety, a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, spent four seasons in Detroit. Injuries, however, limited him to just 37 games.
Looking for a fresh start and a chance to revive his NFL career, Melifonwu signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Upon joining his new team, he reflected on his time in Detroit.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated’s Emmett Matasovsky, the former Syracuse standout admitted to mistakes in his early NFL years that led to injuries.
“I think early on I didn’t do as much as I should have been, like just being young. But there’s definitely – sometimes it’s luck to be honest. Some stuff I had, like tackle and I got rolled up on with my ankle facing up.
Sometimes it’s just pure luck, but there’s definitely stuff I’ve approached this offseason with my trainer and nutrition-wise and different stuff like that to help prevent injuries going forward.”
– Ifeatu Melifonwu
At 21 years old when drafted, Melifonwu admitted he didn’t take proper care of his body.
In just his second NFL game, a thigh injury sidelined him for most of the season. Over his first two years, he played only 17 games.
While injuries are often unavoidable in the NFL, players can take steps to prepare their bodies for the grueling season. Melifonwu, who previously neglected that aspect, is now focused on elevating his game as he moves on from Detroit.