Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker did not just walk off the field after the Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears. Instead, he walked off Ford Field carrying something heavier. A decision about his future, and now, after the win in the regular season finale, he finally opened up about it.

Decker did not sound like a player running out of gas. In fact, he said he can still play. However, the real fight now lives off the field. It is about the wear that does not get tracked. The soreness that lingers, the mental strain, and most importantly, the pull of home. Because for Decker, the question is no longer, ‘Can I play?’ It is what playing costs.

“The expectations of my job…so if that’s not something that I’m, if that’s what my future is going to be, to continue to play, that’s not something I’m willing to do because I’m not willing to put my family through [it], and I’m not willing to be distant and not be a present father. Because your kids are only little once, and, God willing, we have more. I want to be able to play with him, and I want to be able to throw the ball with him,” he said.

Because of that, the picture became clear. Decker still has that edge, pride, and grind in him. Yet now, awareness sits right next to it. He even admitted where he stands physically.

“I mean, I can’t throw a football right now, no way. But could I, given the right set of circumstances, maybe? But I need to go through that process,” he said.

That process matters more than any timeline. So, this was never about doubt. Decker is not running from the game. He respects what comes with it. Meanwhile, the timing makes it heavier.

The 32-year-old offensive tackle played 140 games with the Lions and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2024.

Detroit just closed a tough season. Now, the Lions enter an offseason packed with choices: contracts, depth charts, and culture. Whether Decker stays, restructures, or steps away will shape that room. And in the Motor City, that decision will echo far beyond the offensive line.

Taylor Decker & the Lions end the season with a win

In Week 18, the Lions edged out the Bears 19-16 to close a frustrating 2025 run. The final record landed at 9-8. That is respectable, but it still feels short in the Motor City. Especially after a 15-2 ride in 2024 that raised expectations sky-high. Missing the postseason altogether hit hard for Lions’ fans.

However, the regular season finale was anything but comfortable. In Week 18, Taylor Decker’s Lions nearly let it slip late. The first three quarters felt controlled. Then suddenly, the fourth quarter turned chaotic.

After being shut down early, Chicago flipped the script late. Caleb Williams was on fire. He delivered two quick touchdowns. Both came with successful two-point tries. Just like that, the game was tied at 16. At that point, the Lions had no choice but to dig deep. The defense had to hold, and they did. That stand opened the door for a late field goal that sealed it in the final moments.

Still, that ending could not erase what came before. Because for Decker’s Lions, the real damage happened earlier. Three straight losses turned an 8-5 position into an 8-8 hole. That slide erased their playoff hopes. Now they are on 9-8, and the season is over.

However, the Lions enter the offseason full of questions. Planning begins immediately, and one storyline sits near the top: Taylor Decker’s future. The Lions will watch it closely.