DETROIT — For the Lions, the hangover is getting hazier. The losses — a playoff game, a coordinator, another coordinator, maybe a couple of assistants, a sense of continuity — keep piling up.

No, it’s not the end of the Lions’ run as Super Bowl contenders. It’s practical proof that as different as they try to be, they’re not immune to the sport’s ravaging ways. They lost numerous players to injury. And now in the space of two days, they lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets, with potentially more assistants to follow.

Make no mistake, it’ll hurt. Losing talent and brainpower always hurts. But this is the price of doing business in the NFL and excelling at the business of winning. And if Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell are as bright as they’ve shown, they’ll identify and hire fine replacements.

If you trust Holmes and Campell, you have to trust they’ll adjust. That’s not a cop-out, it’s the only option. They built one elite staff who just went 15-2, and it’s not as if they’re ill-prepared to construct another. This has been inevitable for two years, as Campbell has openly campaigned for his coordinators to land promotions.

Johnson got a huge contract to take on a huge challenge as head coach in Chicago, where the Bears are hoping someone can polish their talented young quarterback, Caleb Williams. Glenn is taking over the New York Jets, where he may or may not coach the mercurial and rickety Aaron Rodgers, whose future is uncertain. Nobody can blame them for seizing opportunities they earned.

How does a team avoid getting raided? Well, I suppose you could lose more games and be dysfunctional and underpay your assistants. The Lions have stopped committing those sins, thankfully.

If it makes fans feel better (and less bitter), I think Johnson and Glenn will struggle in difficult situations, especially with the Bears’ perpetually scattered front office. Neither the Bears nor the Jets appear ready to win big, although they’re not that far off.

Fans can quibble — mildly — about the timing of Johnson, who departed two days after the Lions’ loss to Washington. He and Glenn had interviewed the previous week, not unusual on a team with the No. 1 seed and a bye. Some angry souls have wondered if Johnson was distracted by the job search, and if not, why did he have Jameson Williams throw a pass off a trick play that was intercepted and virtually sealed the 45-31 loss to the Commanders?

OK, calm down. It was a foolish call, even an arrogant one, but it was the type of risk Johnson famously takes, and usually succeeds. And before you call him Ben-edict Johnson for joining an NFC North rival, I would refer you back to the whole business-is-business angle. The Lions also now have valuable insight into an opposing coach, and how he handles his quarterback.

The Ben-Glenn debate will wane, then ignite when the Lions and Bears meet twice a year, although Johnson doesn’t sound inclined to stir anything up. At his opening press conference in Chicago Wednesday, he took a slight jab at the rival Packers and coach Matt LaFleur, saying he enjoyed beating them twice. Naturally, he gave appropriate respect to the Lions.

"I think we are going to have to give them our best shot each and every year from here on out because they've accumulated such great, young talent,” Johnson said of the Lions. “It doesn't matter who the play-caller is there anymore, in my opinion. I think that offense is going to be a good offense for the next three to five years."

It absolutely should be. There’s disappointment but no devastation, for obvious reasons.

Holmes isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Campbell. Neither are Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta or Williams. Neither are Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch or Alex Anzalone. Practically the Lions’ entire core of players is under 30 and under contract.

Promising potential coordinators

It’s fair to be a bit uneasy. Highly respected defensive line coach Terrell Williams is joining Glenn in New York. The Lions have promising potential coordinators on their staff and touted offensive line coach Hank Fraley, at least for now. Others could depart.

Johnson and Glenn aren’t easily replaceable, but they’re not irreplaceable. Campbell has an underrated offensive mind, displayed when he replaced Anthony Lynn as coordinator midway through 2021. After Campbell started calling plays, the offense began to turn around. Johnson’s creativity was brilliant, but the Lions’ overall aggressive mentality, going for it on fourth down and pounding on the ground, comes directly from Campbell.

Since starting 4-19-1 as head coach, Campbell has guided the Lions to a 37-11 mark, including two division titles. Johnson and Glenn played significant roles, but it’s silly to think they’re turning off the lights on their way out and closing the Lions’ Super Bowl window.

Campbell delivered the rallying cry Monday, and Holmes likely will do the same when he meets with the media Thursday morning.

“We’re not going to allow that to happen — I’m not,” Campbell said. “Does it hurt to lose those guys? Absolutely, they’re a part of what we’ve been. They’re one of the major reasons we came out of the dump and got to where we’re at. So, man, I will forever be grateful for those guys. Absolutely, it’s a loss, but we move forward, this train rolls on, and I’ll find the next best guys for us.”

Lions linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard worked closely with Glenn and is a candidate for defensive coordinator. Current assistant head coach/running backs Scottie Montgomery and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand will be considered at offensive coordinator. Outside candidates likely will emerge as well.

This is NFL life on the upper floors, where the top teams regularly get raided. It’s actually a positive, if painful, evolution. The Lions were punished for years for being bad, and now are punished for being good. Holmes and Campbell built something special and sturdy, and the sturdiness is about to be tested.

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