Pride of Detroit
This offseason, the Detroit Lions’ narratives spun out of control. Of course, that doesn’t make it any different than any other offseason. That is the time to make baseless claims, overly bold predictions, and scream at the people who disagree with you. It’s impossible to be wrong when no games are being played, and if you prove to be wrong, just cross your fingers that no one is holding onto month-old receipts.
Well, it looks like plenty of NFL analysts are pulling their own receipts when it comes to the Detroit Lions. This offseason, many questioned whether the Lions could survive their “brain drain.” Losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators in one offseason was a hurdle to climb, no doubt, but some acted like it was a mountain. Some acted like the departure of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn meant the Lions’ 2-3 year window of Super Bowl contention was over in a flash.
Not only was that opinion disrespectful to their successors, John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard—who were assumed losers before they even got a shot—but it was an example of extreme ignorance when it comes to the influence of head coach Dan Campbell.
Campbell isn’t just the emotional leader and heartbeat of the team—although he is both of those things, too. He’s also a pretty damn smart football mind himself, an expert delegator, and if you haven’t noticed by now, he’s also got a damn good eye for talent, both in the player and coaching ranks.
Every bit of Campbell was on display during the Lions’ “Monday Night Football” win over the Baltimore Ravens. His analytics-forward, in-game aggression allowed his offense to put the game out of reach late. The ESPN cameras caught him several times on the sideline, intimately involved in the play-calling process. And then, of course, his two choices for coordinators, Morton and Sheppard, had their best collective games. Morton pulled all the right strings in critical moments, while Sheppard orchestrated a defense that did the unthinkable: bottle up two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and five-time Pro Bowler Derrick Henry.
It seems that, finally, finally, people are starting to notice that the force behind Detroit’s amazing turnaround wasn’t just one innovative play designer or a charismatic defensive leader. It was the man at the top all along.
It was Dan freakin’ Campbell.
Now, enjoy the following analysts finally giving Campbell the praise he’s rightfully earned over the past 71 games.
(To Mina Kimes’ credit, she’s been on the Dan Campbell bandwagon for years.)
You know it’s serious when a Chicago Bears fan is giving it up for Campbell:
