By Sunday 
From 4-19-1 to back-to-back division titles, Detroit’s head coach deserves a whole lot more respect than he’s getting.
There was a time—not too long ago—when the Detroit Lions were a punchline. A cautionary tale. A franchise buried so deep in mediocrity that fans learned to expect heartbreak by Halloween.
Then came Dan Campbell.
He didn’t just bring change; he embodied it. Bit by bit, through grit, culture, and an infectious belief that losing wasn’t destiny, Campbell reshaped the Lions into one of the NFL’s most exciting stories.
So… why is he still being disrespected?
Ranked 9th? Come on.
In a new list by Pro Football Focus, Campbell comes in at ninth among returning NFL head coaches. That’s right—ninth. Behind names like Andy Reid (sure), Sean McVay (fine), John and Jim Harbaugh (okay), and even Kyle Shanahan and Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni? The Eagles just imploded midseason.
And Shanahan? Let’s not pretend the 49ers’ Super Bowl run wasn’t built on generational talent across the roster.
Meanwhile, Campbell has led Detroit—yes, Detroit—to 35 wins in their last 44 regular-season games, flipped Jared Goff’s narrative, built a top-tier offensive line, and secured back-to-back NFC North crowns. The last time the Lions had anything resembling this kind of success, Barry Sanders still had knees that didn’t ache.
No Ben Johnson? No Aaron Glenn? No Excuses.
Critics are pointing to the departure of OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn as potential setbacks. And sure, it’s a challenge. But let’s not forget what Campbell’s greatest strength is: leadership.
He’s not just a good coach with good assistants—he’s a program builder. A culture architect. The kind of leader who can get a locker room to believe, fight, and punch far above its weight.
He made the Lions fun, fierce, and respected. That wasn’t Ben Johnson. That wasn’t the defensive scheme. That was Dan Campbell.
The NFL Loves a Narrative—Just Not This One
In many ways, it’s easy to understand why the national media drags its feet with Campbell. He’s not slick. He’s not overly strategic in pressers. He’s the guy who once talked about biting kneecaps and made everyone laugh.
But the joke’s long over. Dan Campbell isn’t a soundbite anymore—he’s a legitimate top-tier coach, and the numbers back it up.
Detroit’s Not Done
Campbell has the Lions poised for a deep playoff run, and maybe—just maybe—a Super Bowl appearance. If that happens, the narrative won’t have a choice but to change.
Until then, the Lions’ fanbase can keep the receipts. Because when Dan finally gets his due, we’ll all know it should’ve come sooner.