Detroit Lions pulled off the perfect joke today, marking the four-year anniversary of Dan Campbell’s interview for the head coach position.
On this day four years ago, the Detroit Lions sat down with Dan Campbell, then the tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints, for an interview to fill their vacant head coach role. In celebration of the anniversary of what would eventually become a game-changing decision for the franchise, the Lions took to social media to share a lighthearted moment, quoting their original tweet from January 2021 about the completion of Campbell’s interview.
“Hopefully it went okay https://t.co/PstAGw4muY
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 11, 2025
A clever move by the Lions. But on a more serious note, Campbell’s interview went quite well, as he was officially announced as head coach just nine days later.
Of course, Campbell’s tenure hasn’t been without its growing pains. The fiery coach made a bold first impression during his introductory press conference, famously declaring that the Lions would “bite a kneecap” whenever they got knocked down. This brash statement raised some eyebrows, especially for a team coming off three consecutive losing seasons, with many skeptical about his ability to turn things around.
And that skepticism grew after the Lions stumbled to a 3-13-1 record in Campbell’s first season at the helm. But things started to shift in 2022, when the Lions, after a 4-7 start, went on a hot streak, winning five of their last six games to finish 9-8. The momentum continued into 2023, where they racked up 12 wins and advanced to the NFC Championship game, though they were ultimately defeated by the San Francisco 49ers.
Now, in 2024, Campbell’s fourth year, the Lions have exploded to 15 wins, earning the NFC’s top seed and securing home-field advantage in the playoffs. They’re now preparing for their Divisional Round matchup.
It’s safe to say Dan Campbell’s time in Detroit has been far from shabby, all thanks to that “okay” interview that started it all (wink, wink).
More news……
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson continues to be one of the most sought-after coaching candidates in the NFL for the third consecutive year. However, it appears he could remain in his current role with the Lions once again, despite the growing interest in his services.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there is no certainty that Johnson will take a head coaching position this year. He has consistently shown hesitancy to leave Detroit, and some league sources believe he could return to the Lions for another season.
Fowler stated, “Some people I talked to in the league believe Johnson could return to Detroit. And it doesn’t seem like a leverage play. That’s where he has been the past two cycles, and that could be the case again if his ideal head coaching destination isn’t there.”
Adding to the speculation, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported on Wednesday that Johnson has scheduled virtual interviews with multiple teams: the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots on Friday, and the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. While each of these teams offers a unique opportunity, Johnson has never been eager to make the leap from offensive coordinator to head coach without the right fit.
The 38-year-old coach addressed this decision-making process back in May, telling Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, “I’m not going to do it just to do it. I love what I’m doing right now. Love it. Love it. I love where I’m at. My family loves where we’re at. Love the people that we’re doing it with, and so I’m not willing to go down the other path yet unless I feel really good about how it’s going to unfold.”
If Johnson ultimately decides to stay in Detroit for another year, many fans will likely be disappointed by the missed opportunity to land one of the most innovative offensive minds in football today.
