Taylor Decker opens up on Detroit Lions divorce
· Yahoo Sports
As the free agency period continues with the 2026 NFL draft approaching, former Detroit Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker opened up on what led to his surprising March 9 release from the franchise after Decker indicated his intention to return to the Motor City for the 2026 season just days before.
In an exclusive interview with Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network, the former 2016 No. 16 overall pick shared his perspective on how and why things fell apart so quickly with the Lions.
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After Decker publicly detailed how injuries and time away from his family had started to wear on him, both Decker and the Lions knew that retirement was an option for the veteran left tackle following last season. But, according to Decker in his conversation with Detroit Football Network, two things were clear in his exit interviews with Detroit: the Lions wanted him back and Decker was not interested in taking a pay cut.
However, when both sides reconvened after Decker announced his intentions to return for an 11th NFL season, Decker said he was shocked when the team told his agent that the Lions only wanted Decker back if he agreed to a pay cut.
From there, negotiations broke down and Decker requested his release.
Decker said that he talked to Lions head coach Dan Campbell about his decision to return the day before he announced it. According to Decker, he tried to reach out to Lions general manager Brad Holmes about his decision to return, but he did not get a responding call or text.
Holmes said last week that the only thing that could have been considered surprising was the timing of Decker's public announcement that he was returning.
“I think a lot of those situations that happen, it all starts with communication and what you communicate with the player, what you communicate with the player’s agent, and so it starts there,” Holmes said. “There was really no surprises. Again, you don’t know when a player is going to put something out. So if you want to say there was a surprise, maybe it was that a surprise, but in terms of the decisions that he made, I wouldn’t say that that’d be a surprise.”
It's clear that there's some lingering frustration from Decker toward the Lions with the way things ended in Detroit. Decker is unhappy that none of Holmes, Campbell or Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley reached out after Decker requested his release.
From Detroit Football Network's Justin Rogers:
But here’s what’s driving Decker crazy. 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.
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. He just wanted a simple “thank you” on his way out the door. And, just as badly, he wanted to say “thank you” for everything the organization has meant to and given to him. - Detroit Football Network
According to Decker, former Lions offensive coordinator-turned-Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has touched base. Johnson apparently reached out to check in on Decker after hearing about his request to be released by Detroit.
While Rogers said Decker is still undecided about playing at all next season, a few teams have expressed interest. Given the nature of the divorce between Decker and the Lions, it can be assumed that his career in Detroit is done.
Despite the bad blood, Decker is still interested in potentially signing a one-day contract so he can ceremonially retire as a Detroit Lion.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Taylor Decker opens up on Detroit Lions divorce