Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell might be winless midway through his first season as a head coach, but he has yet to lose a press conference. This is the guy who cried after losing to the Vikings. In a league that values accountability, Campbell always says what you want a losing coach to say. But as Detroit’s winless season continues, is Campbell on the proverbial NFL hot seat?
Is Lions coach Dan Campbell on the hot seat?
Campbell was true to form Sunday after his Lions put together their worst game of the season — getting drubbed 44-6 by the mediocre Philadelphia Eagles.
“I felt like we got out-coached today,” Campbell said. “We got out-played. Across the board. It starts with me. It really does. You don’t play that bad with a number of guys in areas and turn the ball over and penalties. The low energy. You don’t do that unless it comes from the top. It’s on me. I did not set the tone or the tempo properly, obviously, because that was bad. We didn’t give ourselves a chance.”
But here’s the thing about accountability — it’s only credible if it’s consistent. And Campbell, from what we hear, lacks consistency in his message.
Privately, one plugged-in league source tells Pro Football Network, “he is blaming the players for everything.”
Campbell’s mixed messages
If that is indeed what’s going on, Campbell has a point. Detroit’s roster is terrible, probably the worst in football. Half of the guys that played Sunday might be gone before the start of the 2022 season. The Lions always knew this would be a bleak season.
But if Campbell was actively trying to turn rock-solid job security into a one-and-done proposition, it’s hard to see what he would do differently. In Year 1, he simply needed to show competency and change the culture in Detroit. Sunday, he was 0-for-2.
Are the Lions the worst team in football?
The Lions, for the first time, looked very much like the worst team in football. After hanging tough with the Ravens and Vikings, Detroit didn’t show up against the Eagles. The Lions surrendered more yards on the ground (236) than they gained total. They were disinterested and undisciplined, committing 8 penalties. The lack of execution was expected. The lack of effort was not.
“Sea of trash,” Campbell said at one point during his postgame briefing. “Bad News Bears,” he said at another. “… I got out-coached. I didn’t help these guys.”
He then added: “I really felt like we were flat. I’m not worried about my message. I guess maybe I should be worried about my message when you come out and play like that. … I’m not worried about losing this team. I am worried that I didn’t deliver the right message to get them ready to go.”
But if players really believe he’s saying one thing in public and another in private, it might not be the message that needs to change but the messenger.
Other NFL coaches on the hot seat
Back to the hurt locker for Jaguars coach Urban Meyer, who is now 1-6 after a 31-7 beatdown at the hands of the Seahawks. … Washington Football Team boss Ron Rivera is out of answers, and Taylor Heinicke should be out of time once (if?) Ryan Fitzpatrick gets healthy.
Vic Fangio absolutely needed a win Sunday. His struggling Broncos team cooperated against a bad Washington team. … Matt Nagy is now 3-5 and is likely coaching his final nine games for the Chicago Bears. … Jets coach Robert Saleh got his first signature win. Still, super-sub Mike White deserves most of the thanks.