If you’ve been an NFL fan for the past several years, then you know that the Detroit Lions have been bottom feeders in the league for over 30 years.
Hell, I’ll never forget when I started to really get into football back in 2008, and watching the Lions go a whopping 0-16. However, ever since Dan Campbell became the head coach back in 2021, the Lions have gone from a poverty franchise, to a serious playoff contender.
In 2021, the Lions only went 3-13-1, but were competitive in pretty much every game they played. Campbell took the team to another level in 2022, going 9-8 and narrowly missing out on making the playoffs.
And this year?
The Lions went 12-5 in the regular season, and picked up their first playoff win last night against the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 for the first time since 1992. A lot of the credit for the Lions’ success this season should go to Campbell, because the man’s energy is infectious. Campbell is known for his fiery pregame and postgame speeches that will have the most boring of people ready to run through a brick wall, and that was on full display again last night.
Following the Lions’ win, Campbell was videoed in the locker room telling the team:
“So look we’ve got the winner of Tampa and Philly which is tomorrow, we’ll be here at three o’ clock back at Ford Field because you guys f*cking earned it, dude how electric was it out there? I’m telling you what, it doesn’t get any better.
It’s everything you dream of and then more, alright? That’s outstanding work. I got two game balls. Alright when you come in two years ago like me and this guy did, and you had a vision and you start working together, and you’ve got an idea of how you wanna build it, and the type of players you’re looking for, and top to bottom offense, defense, special teams and you’re in f*cking lockstep. I’m telling you guys, it’s a sh*tty business, it ain’t always perfect, but we do a pretty good job dude.”
He then gave the game ball to the Lions’ vice president and general manager Brad Holmes, and then gave the second one to quarterback Jared Goff. Jared was pretty fired up himself, and after seeing a glimpse into this team’s locker room, it’s hard not to root for Dan and the boys. It’s just so easy to see why he is one of the most beloved coaches in the NFL.
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