Taylor Decker Earns Game Ball, Deserves To Be Part of Winner

Taylor Decker made 100th career NFL start on Sunday.

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker, a 2016 first-round pick of the Detroit Lions (No. 16 overall), has hit the century mark in career starts. It came on a day in which Detroit soundly defeated the winless Carolina Panthers, and improved to 4-1 for the first time in Decker’s NFL career. It also marks the first time the Lions have notched wins in at least four of their first five games since the 2011 season (when Detroit started off the year 5-0).

The aforementioned career milestone is a significant achievement to Decker, who has experienced much more losing than winning as a member of the Lions (Detroit has gone a combined 42-56-2 in games in which the veteran lineman has played).

“It means a lot to me,” an emotional Decker said of starting in his 100th career NFL game Sunday. “I’m passionate about being able to play for this organization. I’m passionate about continuing to be able to go out there and start for them. I’m passionate about the people who support me. I’m passionate about the fanbase, who s**t, they’re always there, even when we were losing, there were always people in the stadium, always people cheering. It’s just really meaningful, because I’ve played football my whole life, since like first or second grade, and I’m still getting to play. I’m just very blessed.”

Decker, now 30 years old, is just the fourth offensive tackle to start 100 games for the Lions.

He admitted Sunday that all the losing he has endured has made the above achievement all the more rewarding.

“I think the thing that makes it the most meaningful for me was kind of the bad times,” Decker expressed. “When we weren’t winning and nobody wanted to watch us play, and nobody thought we were a good team, nobody ever thought we were going to get it right and get it going in the right direction. But, that’s just one of those instances where you just keep showing up and you keep putting the work in, because the Lions are going to play football on Sunday whether I’m out there or not. And, it was important to me, and it’s been important to me to be a part of that, because I feel like that’s what I was brought here for. I feel like I was brought here to try and be a piece to help the team win, and it took a long time, man.”

All the losing continuously ate at the hard-working Decker. And, for a long time, it left him unsure of how he could help turn the Lions into winners.  

“There were just times for me personally when I would look at the big picture, and it would be overwhelming for me, because I wouldn’t know what to do to try and help the team win," Decker said. "It seemed like there was so much going on and I’m like, ‘Where do we start?’ And, I kind of got caught up to where I was focusing too much on that, and it was kind of bogging me down mentally, because when you’re just angry all the time, it’s exhausting. I think anger is awesome fuel, but when it’s all you have, it just wears you down. And, I just felt like I was worn down all the time."

"Nobody wants to be a loser. You are going to be what your record says you are, and I’ve always felt personally like I’m a winner. But, I wasn’t, because that’s not what the record said. But, again, it’s one of those instances where you don’t have any choice but to keep showing up. You’re not going to quit, you just have to keep showing up.”

Prior to the 2022 campaign, Decker’s only taste of winning football had come in 2016 (his rookie season). In ‘16, the then-Jim Caldwell-led Lions went 9-7, and qualified for the playoffs as a wild card team. They, however, were decisively defeated in the wild card round by the Seattle Seahawks, 26-6.

Fast-forward to 2023, and Detroit has won 12 of its last 15 games (dating back to last season). It’s also taken sole ownership of first place in the NFC North for the first time since 2017.

It’s been a refreshing reversal of fortunes to the eighth-year pro.

“I’m almost thankful for those, kind of, dark times, because it’s made this just sweet,” Decker commented. “I’m revitalized. I feel great, like I feel the best I’ve ever felt, regardless of how many games I played.”

In recognition of his 100th career start, Decker received the game ball from Lions head coach Dan Campbell after Sunday's win over Carolina. 

"For real, this means a lot to me," a reflective Decker said in the Lions' locker room, after receiving the game ball. "This organization, when they brought me in, it was to be a winner, man. And now, we're doing that, and it feels so f*****g good. Like I feel the best I've ever felt in my career, regardless of all the ball I've played. Because man, it just feels so good to be part of something special. So, I appreciate all of you guys."

"Did exactly what we're supposed to do." pic.twitter.com/HbRkTb4rWv

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 8, 2023