By Blessing 
Are the Lions Starting to Ease Up in Camp? Grit Still Has to Be the Standard
In Detroit, it’s usually better to tell the guys to dial it back than to ask them to turn it up.
That’s the kind of high-octane, gritty mindset Dan Campbell has built since taking over in 2021. From day one — when he was talking about biting kneecaps — it was clear Campbell wasn’t going to lead a typical team. And so far, the Lions have reflected that edge.
The players are fully bought in, not just to the system, but to the coach himself. And it goes both ways. Campbell would do anything to protect his team, and his guys are all-in to protect his vision, his job, and what they all believe could be a special season.
Lately, that same intensity has forced Campbell to hit pause during training camp — literally. Practices have gotten so fiery, he’s had to step in and ask players to ease up.
Imagine that: Coach Campbell — the face of grit and toughness — having to calm things down?
It’s wild, but also revealing. It shows how far Campbell has come as a leader. He knows this team is built tough, but he also knows the price of going too hard too soon. Last year’s playoff heartbreak was made worse by a wave of late-season injuries, especially on defense. That sting is still fresh.
But don’t mistake this for softening. If anything, it’s a sign of belief — in this roster, in this window, and in what they can achieve if they stay healthy.
“That core group is still intact and some of these guys are now — we’ve signed some back, some are up on contracts and that’ll be ongoing,” Campbell said. “But yeah, we absolutely do (have a window to contend still)… You’ve got your culture, you’ve got your identity and you’ve got players that fit into that, and we’ve got that. We’ve got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success. And those guys are made the right way, so absolutely, our window is open.”
You can feel that confidence. It’s in the way they practice. It’s in the way they hit — even when coaches ask them not to. Detroit has built one of the most physical rosters in football. Offensively, Gibbs and Montgomery give them a punishing one-two punch. Defensively, they ranked second in completion percentage allowed and fifth in rushing yards allowed last year. That identity isn’t going anywhere.
Still, Campbell knows the long haul matters. With the NFC North wide open, the Lions have to act like division favorites — not just in grit, but in how they manage camp. Giving everything in July doesn’t help if you’re limping in December.
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So, no — Detroit hasn’t lost its edge. They’re just learning how to sharpen it smarter.