Through 11 weeks, the Detroit Lions are 8-2 and have the second-best record in the NFL. On pace for their best season in the Super Bowl era, what changed? They hired Dan Campbell.
Campbell was hired in January of 2021 and has since led the Lions to a 20-23-1 record, including a 9-8 record in his second season.
Before he started coaching, he was a player. Where did Campbell play football?
Where Did Dan Campbell Play Football?
Campbell, also known as Motor City Dan Campbell and MCDC, played tight end during his playing days. He was born April 13, 1976, in Clifton, Texas.
His playing career started at Glen Rose High School. He would go on to sign with and play for the Texas A&M Aggies from 1995-1998. He had 27 receptions for 314 yards and three touchdowns during his time in College Station.
Following his college career, he was drafted in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Giants with the 79th overall pick. He started four games in his rookie season and was a part of the team that appeared in Super Bowl XXXV. During his four seasons with New York, he had 43 receptions for 369 yards and five touchdowns.
Following his time in New York, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys under Bill Parcells. He played behind legendary tight end Jason Witten and, in three seasons, had 25 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
MORE: NFL Prime-Time Games 2023
Finally, he spent his last three seasons with the Lions, where he now coaches. While still mostly being known as a blocking tight end, he still had career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2006 (23 receptions for 308 yards and four touchdowns).
OTD: Fifteen years ago, Dan Campbell caught the final touchdown pass of his career, even though it looks like it was fifteen hundred years ago (2006) pic.twitter.com/fYLghU17ys
— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) December 24, 2021
However, his final two seasons in Detroit were both injury-riddled. He was placed on injured reserve in both 2007 and 2008 and eventually released in February of 2009.
He signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2009 but was placed on injured reserve during training camp, where he spent the entire season. He was not granted a Super Bowl ring when the team won Super Bowl XLIV.
His coaching career started in 2010 when he was hired by the Miami Dolphins as an intern. He would then be hired by the Saints in 2016 as their assistant head coach and tight ends coach where he would spend the rest of his time before becoming the Lions head coach.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!