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By Anne Erickson
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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has reached out to a disgruntled former Detroit Lion following the player's parting ways with the team, according to a new report.
In an interview published on Saturday, March 28, with Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, former Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker talks about his disturbing experience leaving the team. Decker and the Lions cut ties after the 2025-26 season, and according to Decker, he felt ghosted by the franchise, especially head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.
"It's been radio silence. It's uncomfortable," Decker said in the interview with Rogers. "It's awkward. It feels like a high school breakup, where you can't make eye contact when passing each other in the hall."
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According to Decker, after he realized that the two parties would have to split, largely because he didn't want to take a pay cut, he talked to Campbell but tried to reach out to Holmes with no response. He felt rejected.
Per Rogers, Decker said it felt "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."
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He added that "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."
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In a March 26 feature for Bleacher Report, Gary Davenport says that Decker has a lot of options for future teams. "There are multiple teams in need of help at tackle, and Decker should have his choice of numerous landing spots—although he may have to wait until after the 2026 draft to pick one," he states.
He adds of Decker that in 2025 the player "allowed just two sacks in almost 900 snaps per Pro Football Focus."
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Decker announced that he and the Lions were parting earlier this year, stating on social media, "I am opting for a clean and amicable close to what has been such a beautiful 10 years going to war as a Lion. It has been the absolute privilege of my life to be your LT for the past 10 years and I am forever grateful for the opportunity the Ford family and Lions organization afforded me."
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