On January 21, 2021, Dan Campbell’s first official press conference as head coach of the Detroit Lions. This moment would prove to be the beginning of a revolutionary new age for the franchise. Campbell brought a scary physical presence, as he was 6-foot-5 and weighed 250 pounds. His extraordinary, volcanic temperament complemented the profound impression he made on his contemporaries. His first news conference had the misfortune of becoming quickly infamous as the “kneecaps press conference.” It remains widely regarded as one of the best NFL intros ever.
Campbell’s passion for Detroit runs deep. He was with Detroit from 2006-08. While there is a deep and powerful connection, it took on a different level during his time as interim, and has only grown since. Growing up in Texas, Campbell thanks his parents, Larry and Betty, for instilling him the genuine virtue that makes him a rarity. “I don’t wanna be fake,” he said last year, an indication of not only his transparency but his no-nonsense style on the sidelines.
His first impression on the Lions came in the form of a declaration that he would represent the city’s reputation of toughness and grit. Here’s what I feel pretty confident about — that this team is going to adopt the identity of this city. And this city’s been knocked down, and every time it’s found a way to rise up again. It has proven resilient in the face of adversity,” Campbell said in no uncertain terms.
At the heart of Campbell’s coaching philosophy is deep empathy and emotional intelligence. He’s convinced that each player is different in terms of what they need, which means each player needs different approaches to motivation. “You want them to know you care. You can’t be perfect. But you do the best you can to set them up to have success,” he explained.
Under Campbell’s leadership, the Lions have surged to a solid start in 2023 with a 28-8 record. This comes in the form of two playoff victories, an incredible reversal for a franchise that had just one Super Bowl-era victory before his arrival. He was a believer in the talents of quarterback Jared Goff when no one else was. This really spoke to Campbell’s keen sense of how to work with his players.
In his uncompromising way, Campbell frequently employs striking metaphors to express the willingness to obliterate competition. “So this team’s going to be built on, we’re going to kick you in the teeth, all right? And when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you, and when you knock us down, we’re going to get up. And on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off,” he articulated during his initial press conference.
This mentality clearly strikes a chord with current and former players alike, all of whom credit Campbell’s honesty and his commitment to their success. Tim Patrick, a player under Campbell’s leadership, remarked, “It sets the tone for me of what he wants out of us.” This is a testament to the collective knowledge of the players that Campbell’s model creates a culture where they can flourish.
Away from the game, Campbell comes across as modest and grounded. And Davis is right, although he calls himself the “gym clothes guy,” because people see him out in the world in gym clothes. He drinks nearly a gallon of coffee a day. This practice exemplifies his frenetic style of play and wide intensity off the field. An anonymous fan humorously noted, “Caffeine doesn’t affect Dan. Dan affects caffeine,” highlighting his relentless energy.
Beyond his on-field efforts, Campbell focuses on developing close relationships with his players, taking personal investment in their lives. He just did a chalk-talk-style one-on-one session with offensive lineman Glasgow to help explain his thinking behind various team strategies. This personal touch illustrates the lengths Campbell is going to foster trust and open communication within the Agile team.
He once illustrated the competitive nature of football with an analogy about diving into deep waters: “You gotta get in the water to compete. There’s a number of teams that are in the shallows… If you can just get ahold of them, you can start dragging their ass out to the deep, dark abyss … and you can drown them.” This metaphor conveys Campbell’s aggressive coaching style and reflects his desire to instill a sense of toughness in his players.
While Campbell, the Lions and Motown’s musical legacy are all hitting their strides, Campbell is still looking to restore the pride in Detroit. “When we bring a winner to this city, it’s going to be something we can all be proud of,” he affirmed during one of his many passionate speeches.
Leave a Reply