The Lions and Eagles didn’t play in the 2024 regular season en route to earning the top two seeds in the NFC playoffs. A potential playoff matchup was spoiled when the Lions were upset by the Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs.

"The Lions are not there. The teams who are there, I couldn't care less if they win or lose. ... I'll be doing laundry," one fan said.

Here are my thoughts on why the Lions are not playing in Super Bowl 59. It's true. The injuries along the defense were piling up. What made it challenging for the front office to take a big swing at the deadline was the team was still competing and winning games.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell smiles on the sideline during the first half of the NFL Divisional Round game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit. The Washington Commanders defeated the Detroit Lions 45-31. Jake May | MLive.com

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will compete in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, and each team has several players with ties to either the Detroit Lions or Michigan.

No team with a returning coach and two new coordinators has won a Super Bowl since the 2009 New Orleans Saints

Aug 28, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubiski (10) is brought down by Detroit Lions defensive linemen Charles Harris (53) and Aidan Hutchinson (97) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Four ex-Lions players are currently on the rosters of the teams that will appear in Super Bowl 59 from New Orleans, Louisiana.