By Sunday 
Dan Campbell isn’t just coaching football—he’s riffing like Metallica.
As the Detroit Lions roll into the 2025 NFL season with a 15–2 campaign behind them and expectations sky-high, there’s one glaring shift: they’re missing two big pieces of last year’s brain trust. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson both landed head coaching jobs elsewhere. That kind of brain drain can rattle most teams. But not Dan Campbell.
Instead of panic, Campbell reached for… Metallica.
“It’s Not Easy to Replace, But…”
When NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero asked Campbell about how he plans to navigate the loss, the coach didn’t flinch. He leaned all the way in—with a surprisingly apt metaphor.
“Metallica did a hell of a job with what they did,” Campbell said, referencing how the iconic band bounced back after losing bassist Cliff Burton. “They continue to evolve every year, every decade, just getting better and better and putting out hits. That’s what I plan on doing.”
It’s not just talk. Campbell promoted Kelvin Sheppard and John Morton, two guys he knows inside and out. He’s not micromanaging, either. He’ll add his “spin” on things, sure—but he wants his coaches to do what they believe in. That’s trust. That’s culture.
Same Band, New Sound
Just like Metallica didn’t fold after losing a foundational member, Campbell believes the Lions won’t lose momentum either. The team may sound a little different, feel a little different—but that doesn’t mean the hits won’t keep coming.
And let’s be honest: if Campbell ever took the mic for “Seek and Destroy” at karaoke night, we’d all stop what we’re doing to watch.
Final Word
The Lions are entering 2025 with change in the air, but with Campbell’s steady hand and heavy metal mindset, this team still looks like a serious contender. If Detroit can keep evolving like its head coach plans, they might just be writing their own NFL chart-toppers this season.