‘He demands his respect’ – How Dan Campbell went from viral kneecap biter to Detroit Lions icon
Dan Campbell sometimes appears as a caricature. He’s a 48-year-old professional from Texas who shouts, punches the air, loves to say unpredictable things and regularly cries in front of his colleagues. GettyDan Campbell won over Lions fans and the city of Detroit[/caption] When an emotional Campbell vowed that he was going to revitalize a broken Lions franchise by creating a team that wasn’t afraid to “kick you in the teeth” and “bite a kneecap off,” social media treated Detroit’s new head coach as expected. “Whoever talked to this guy for more than 15 minutes and said, ‘This is the guy who will lead this team to the Super Bowl one day,” needs to be asked to clean out the whole d*** wing of offices that they are in charge of, because they all should be fired!” a fan tweeted on January 22, 2021. Four years later, the Lions are 15-2, Detroit is crazier than ever for its NFL team, and the NFC’s No. 1 seed is just two wins away from its first Super Bowl appearance. “Number one, he’s a leader of men. He demands his respect,” Eric Woodyard, Lions beat writer for ESPN, exclusively told talkSPORT. “He’s one of those guys, he walks in the room and everybody just sits up a little bit. Cause it’s just, you got that much respect for him. “The first year of 2021, that was my first season covering the team. And I think he’s just been genuine and authentic, so I think you can respect a guy like that who’s genuine and authentic. “A lot of people would just see the viral clips of him talking about the biting the kneecaps and telling these funny stories, but that was just literally him every day.” The love/hate divide that Campbell can create on the sideline was captured by a trademark fourth-down call in December against Green Bay. Announcer Kirk Herbstreit didn’t have a problem with the instantly controversial decision. “It’s easy to say, ‘What the heck is he doing, deep in his own territory?’ ” Herbstreit said. GettyCampbell isn’t afraid to show his emotions on the sideline[/caption] GettyHe was also a unique player as an NFL tight end[/caption] GettyThe Lions are two wins away from their first Super Bowl[/caption] “But listen, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.” Veteran announcer Al Michaels wasn’t as impressed. “A thin line between genius and bum,” Michaels said. Jared Goff has become one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks thanks to Campbell’s belief in a QB who was discarded by the Los Angeles Rams. Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, who has reconnected with the Lions in recent years, is an equally big Campbell supporter. “He’s very serious about the business of football and about his team, come hell or high water, coming out and and giving their best effort,” Sanders exclusively told talkSPORT. Detroit has withstood injury after injury during the 2024 season, only to become stronger as the Divisional Round of the playoffs has approached. Campbell has expertly guided the super-resilient Lions, who will be tested again on Saturday while facing Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. At his football core, Campbell is a small-town Texas native who became a college Aggie, bounced around the NFL as a tight end — Campbell played in 114 games but only caught 91 passes — and then kept proving himself as a pro assistant. “He’s just been 100 percent authentic and genuine to himself, and that resonates with his players,” Woodyard said. “He’s been a former player. So he understands when to push and pull on a practice schedule. If they went hard a couple of days, you give them a day off, you rest and walk through it. “Guys respect that — when it’s guys who played the game, who actually can coach as well. “Just because you were a player, it doesn’t mean you can coach.” Four years after social media turned Campbell’s first day on the job into a running joke, the city of Detroit and the NFL’s Lions believe in the kneecap biter more than ever. Every time the Lions start to fall, Campbell picks them up and inspires his team again. “I’m so freaking proud of you, man,” Campbell Detroit’s locker room after a last-second win. “That’s the way to show up. You talk about pressure — we live in pressure. That’s where we freaking thrive. “This has been in the making. We were all supposed to be here together, man. We’re destined for this.” Follow talkSPORT NFL on Facebook Follow our talkSPORT NFL page on Facebook for the latest breaking NFL news, exclusive video interviews, and the biggest talking points from around the league. Our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ will also keep you across the very latest NFL news with exclusive access and our weekly ‘Rundown’ review show.
Dan Campbell sometimes appears as a caricature.
He’s a 48-year-old professional from Texas who shouts, punches the air, loves to say unpredictable things and regularly cries in front of his colleagues.
When an emotional Campbell vowed that he was going to revitalize a broken Lions franchise by creating a team that wasn’t afraid to “kick you in the teeth” and “bite a kneecap off,” social media treated Detroit’s new head coach as expected.
“Whoever talked to this guy for more than 15 minutes and said, ‘This is the guy who will lead this team to the Super Bowl one day,” needs to be asked to clean out the whole d*** wing of offices that they are in charge of, because they all should be fired!” a fan tweeted on January 22, 2021.
Four years later, the Lions are 15-2, Detroit is crazier than ever for its NFL team, and the NFC’s No. 1 seed is just two wins away from its first Super Bowl appearance.
“Number one, he’s a leader of men. He demands his respect,” Eric Woodyard, Lions beat writer for ESPN, exclusively told talkSPORT.
“He’s one of those guys, he walks in the room and everybody just sits up a little bit. Cause it’s just, you got that much respect for him.
“The first year of 2021, that was my first season covering the team. And I think he’s just been genuine and authentic, so I think you can respect a guy like that who’s genuine and authentic.
“A lot of people would just see the viral clips of him talking about the biting the kneecaps and telling these funny stories, but that was just literally him every day.”
The love/hate divide that Campbell can create on the sideline was captured by a trademark fourth-down call in December against Green Bay.
Announcer Kirk Herbstreit didn’t have a problem with the instantly controversial decision.
“It’s easy to say, ‘What the heck is he doing, deep in his own territory?’ ” Herbstreit said.
“But listen, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.”
Veteran announcer Al Michaels wasn’t as impressed.
“A thin line between genius and bum,” Michaels said.
Jared Goff has become one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks thanks to Campbell’s belief in a QB who was discarded by the Los Angeles Rams.
Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, who has reconnected with the Lions in recent years, is an equally big Campbell supporter.
“He’s very serious about the business of football and about his team, come hell or high water, coming out and and giving their best effort,” Sanders exclusively told talkSPORT.
Detroit has withstood injury after injury during the 2024 season, only to become stronger as the Divisional Round of the playoffs has approached.
Campbell has expertly guided the super-resilient Lions, who will be tested again on Saturday while facing Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
At his football core, Campbell is a small-town Texas native who became a college Aggie, bounced around the NFL as a tight end — Campbell played in 114 games but only caught 91 passes — and then kept proving himself as a pro assistant.
“He’s just been 100 percent authentic and genuine to himself, and that resonates with his players,” Woodyard said.
“He’s been a former player. So he understands when to push and pull on a practice schedule. If they went hard a couple of days, you give them a day off, you rest and walk through it.
“Guys respect that — when it’s guys who played the game, who actually can coach as well.
“Just because you were a player, it doesn’t mean you can coach.”
Four years after social media turned Campbell’s first day on the job into a running joke, the city of Detroit and the NFL’s Lions believe in the kneecap biter more than ever.
Every time the Lions start to fall, Campbell picks them up and inspires his team again.
“I’m so freaking proud of you, man,” Campbell Detroit’s locker room after a last-second win.
“That’s the way to show up. You talk about pressure — we live in pressure. That’s where we freaking thrive.
“This has been in the making. We were all supposed to be here together, man. We’re destined for this.”
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